Bristol Riots

MotherMayI · 22 Apr 2011 at 11:00

Surprised not to see a thread about this already. There was a massive riot in Stokes Croft, Montpelier and St Pauls in Bristol last night. The area is very strongly independant and full of small shops, squats, local community actions, art projects and so on. There have been months of demonstrations against a Tesco opening in the area which the council ignored, it opened this week. Last night riot police came in to the area to evict a number of squats. Squatting is a huge part of the culture around here. This is what happened. People from all walks of life from the area rejecting the police intervention.

After the police retreated:

Chants of "Our streets" echoed around, with Micheal Jackson - Just Beat It played out. Quite a moment.

teaboy5 · 22 Apr 2011 at 11:02

Looks like a load of scum out for a fight?

Yeah lets support our local area by smashing it up

bhavv · 22 Apr 2011 at 11:03

What???

All this over a Tesco opening?

cHk4 · 22 Apr 2011 at 11:03

Still think they should be shot.

KautoStar · 22 Apr 2011 at 11:05

Scum of the earth. Hope the police did a number on a fair few of them.

Glaucus · 22 Apr 2011 at 11:08

That's why the road has been closed all day.

As others as said scum. At least it looks like most showed their faces, so they can be dealt with.
Even the independent shops aren't opposed to it, as it will bring in more foot passage, as one shop owner said better to have a tesco, than a derelict shop.

MotherMayI · 22 Apr 2011 at 11:13

For what reason are they scum?

Smashing up tescos is ridiculous, granted - But was entirely allowed and almost encouraged by the police actions. Stopping police interfere with local matters and groups however is entirely to be fought for.

Glaucus · 22 Apr 2011 at 11:14

Breaking property including police stuff is not on at all. And it is to do with the police, how can you say it isn't matter for the police of course it is. How is it allowed? What a daft opinion. It wasn't just tesco smashed up either.

Paul11 · 22 Apr 2011 at 11:17

teaboy5 said:
Looks like a load of scum out for a fight?

Yeah lets support our local area by smashing it up

this

buchtis · 22 Apr 2011 at 11:22

Half term, loads of kids kicking in Tesco's windows in picture 2. Any excuse to cause some damage.

MotherMayI · 22 Apr 2011 at 11:23

AcidHell2 said:
Breaking property including police stuff is not on at all. And it is to do with the police, how can you say it isn't matter for the police of course it is. How is it allowed? What a daft opinion. It wasn't just tesco smashed up either.

I'm not saying smashing tescos isn't a police matter, of course it is. But people being allowed to govern themselves in their own area is important - And the police action yesterday proved that this wasn't happening. Smashing Tesco's was retarded in some ways, but was the representation of all which was being rebelled against.. The police knew this and allowed it to happen. They intentionally backed away and left it open after keeping it covered for hours. All for this very reason - So people like yourself focus on the 'mindless thugs vandalising property', not the real issues at hand.

shroomz · 22 Apr 2011 at 11:24

MotherMayI said:
For what reason are they scum?

Smashing up tescos is ridiculous, granted - But was entirely allowed and almost encouraged by the police actions. Stopping police interfere with local matters and groups however is entirely to be fought for.

I'm sorry, what? Police encouraging vandalism and destruction of private as well as government property?
notsureifsrs.jpeg

Glaucus · 22 Apr 2011 at 11:25

How did it prove that, petrol bombs where confiscated, bins set on fire windows smashed. This is nothing to do with governing. It was just violence for the sake of it.
They backed of because 8 officers where injured, not because they allowed.

Nothing justifiable about it and you stance is complete nonsense, where you there by any chance, or just wish you where. Not everyone has the same opinion as you including some of the shop owners, who would prefer tesco and the passing trade, than a derelict building.

MotherMayI · 22 Apr 2011 at 11:27

shroomz said:
I'm sorry, what? Police encouraging vandalism and destruction of private as well as government property?
notsureifsrs.jpeg

If you were going to pick a particular time, place, and situation to spark a riot in bristol, here's how you'd go about it

1) Weekend or a Public Holiday, ideally a hot day, so there's lots of people who don't mind standing around outside late at night.

2) Block off one of the busiest bits of Bristol at around about 9pm, ideally somewhere where there's been some "political" unrest recently.

3) Stand for a very long amount of time blocking off the area, don't tell anybody what's going on. Maybe put a helicopter with a spotlight above the area, even though it's well lit anyway, and then lots of people will show up.

4) When one or two locals start to throw bottles, don't bother going to arrest them with any of the dozens and dozens of policemen, just let it continue until you charge the whole crowd into another area.

5) Conveniently allow people somehow right into the middle of the blocked off area later on, conveniently forget to move one of the police cars from the area you're driving bystanders who have now become "protestors" due to the actions of the police. Watch as Tesco and police car get smashed up!

6) Release hasty PR statements out to the media, laugh as your stories of "potential petrol bombs" and "trouble following an eviction" get pushed right up the agenda over the next few days.

From a Bristol forum, sums it up quite well. They knew exactly what the outcome would be. There was absolutely no reason to leave Tesco's open like that after hours of coverage, nor to leave a police landrover outside it with its doors open. Not saying that this makes the actions right, but it was predictable it would happen and what the police were banking on.

SpeedFreak · 22 Apr 2011 at 11:28

MotherMayI said:
For what reason are they scum?

Smashing up tescos is ridiculous, granted - But was entirely allowed and almost encouraged by the police actions. Stopping police interfere with local matters and groups however is entirely to be fought for.

Never been through that area have you? Scummy sums it up nicely.

Glaucus · 22 Apr 2011 at 11:28

Why not read some news reports, rather than propaganda.

flibbage0 · 22 Apr 2011 at 11:29

All of this over a supermarket :eek:

Easy solution for local residents don't shop there! Its as simple as that. :rolleyes:

shroomz · 22 Apr 2011 at 11:29

MotherMayI said:
I'm not saying smashing tescos isn't a police matter, of course it is. But people being allowed to govern themselves in their own area is important - And the police action yesterday proved that this wasn't happening. Smashing Tesco's was retarded in some ways, but was the representation of all which was being rebelled against.. The police knew this and allowed it to happen. They intentionally backed away and left it open after keeping it covered for hours. All for this very reason - So people like yourself focus on the 'mindless thugs vandalising property', not the real issues at hand.

I think they would be more worried about being overrun than sensationalising this riot at the time.

bhavv · 22 Apr 2011 at 11:30

MotherMayI said:
I'm not saying smashing tescos isn't a police matter, of course it is. But people being allowed to govern themselves in their own area is important - And the police action yesterday proved that this wasn't happening. Smashing Tesco's was retarded in some ways, but was the representation of all which was being rebelled against.. The police knew this and allowed it to happen. They intentionally backed away and left it open after keeping it covered for hours. All for this very reason - So people like yourself focus on the 'mindless thugs vandalising property', not the real issues at hand.

How can people be so strongly against having new jobs set up in their local area?

Am I missing something here?

teaboy5 · 22 Apr 2011 at 11:30

MotherMayI said:
I'm not saying smashing tescos isn't a police matter, of course it is. But people being allowed to govern themselves in their own area is important - And the police action yesterday proved that this wasn't happening. Smashing Tesco's was retarded in some ways, but was the representation of all which was being rebelled against.. The police knew this and allowed it to happen. They intentionally backed away and left it open after keeping it covered for hours. All for this very reason - So people like yourself focus on the 'mindless thugs vandalising property', not the real issues at hand.

We focus on it, because all we see is scum smashing up their local area and for something as silly as a Tesco opening.

And it's a Tesco express not a full sized one, so it's hardly going to take over the whole area.