Anarchists and antifascists in Bristol send love, respect and solidarity to all those involved in the uprisings across the US of white supremacy. Your rage, courage and solidarity is an inspiration to us all. We share the same enemies and the same struggles. Stay strong, keep fighting and never give up until white supremacy and it’s racist, brutal protectors are destroyed. Make the cops pay and make the police history. Remember you will never walk alone! All strength to all the comrades on the streets. In solidarity and with love and rage, some Bristol anarchists and antifascists.
For up to date reports and analysis of the situation stateside:
This Sunday 7th June, join the Bristol demo in solidarity with all those fighting back against white supremacy and the racist, brutal and murderous police in the U.S and worldwide.
“7th June 13:00- Speakers and information stations 14:00- Protest moves In alignment with the protests in the USA and the London BLM protest, we want to hold a protest in Bristol for the vile killings of black people and those harmed by the police. If you are in Bristol- or Bath and any other neighbouring cities- please come to College Green at 1PM 7th June. This is a peaceful protest- we will not condone or participate in violence. Please bring masks, gloves, food, water, none recognisable clothes and anything to keep yourself safe.”
We send solidarity and strength to all the people on the streets of Minneapolis and everywhere fighting back against racist, killer cops and the murderous system they protect. We will remember the killing of George Floyd and add it to our rage. Time and time again and all over the world these uniformed murderers get impunity in the courts but they will never get off so lightly on the streets. We have to make them pay.
Here are a few links to more critical analysis of the pandemic, it’s ongoing exploitation for capitalist gain, the sickening and murderous negligence of the rulers and the bosses, and how we can resist:
Solidarity with Sam and Paul Newey, who are facing “terrorism” charges for their support for Dan Newey (Paul’s son, Sam’s brother), a YPG volunteer. The YPG – People’s Protection Unit – is an antifascist organisation that along with the YPJ (Women’s Protection Unit) has defended the people of Mesopotamia from the genocidal Daesh (ISIS) and defended the revolution in the autonomous region of Rojava, northern Syria.
Another YPG volunteer, Dan Burke, is currently in prison on remand, also facing terrorism charges.
This prosecution, and the criminalisation of people who have been to support the revolution in Rojava or volunteered with the YPG/YPJ, is part of a broader repression strategy by the British state against those who are actively working towards creating a better world. The resistance to fascism, patriarchy and capitalism has growing support around the world – we won’t be intimidated by state repression and we won’t give up!
We call this day of action on Monday 27th April to demand the release of incarcerated women and others held in women’s prisons. COVID-19 is spreading through prisons and detention centres, exacerbated by insufficient hygiene and social distancing measures. At least 15 incarcerated people have already been killed by COVID-19 in prisons across England and Wales, including one woman: the true number is likely to be much higher than official statistics. Yarl’s Wood Immigration Detention Centre has known cases of COVID-19, but the people detained there are not able to socially distance.
Prison abolition is, and always has been, a feminist struggle.
People are being locked in for 23.5 hours a day. This constitutes solitary confinement, as defined by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture. This inhumane treatment is having a grave impact on those with pre-existing mental health problems. The situation is particularly serious in the women’s estate. According to the NGO Women in Prison, the women’s estate constitutes 5% of incarcerated people and 18% of recorded self-harm incidents in the year ending September 2019.
Many of those held in women’s prisons are survivors of violence: according to Women in Prison, 7 in 10 have been a victim of domestic violence and over fifty per cent were abused as children. Many experience further abuse while incarcerated, including trans women held in unsafe conditions at men’s prisons. Incarcerated women, trans, non-binary and intersex people are being punished by a system built on the back of their exploitation: a system which disproportionately punishes poor and working-class, black, brown, trans, disabled and migrant women.
To safely stop the spread of COVID-19, we must release all imprisoned people so that they can socially distance. Plans for the early release of some incarcerated people are insufficient to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the prison estate, and even this promise has already been broken. As of 7th April, only 6 pregnant people had been released: even less than the meagre promise made by the government to release 30 pregnant people. This is unacceptable, according to the prison services’ own measures. Supposed plans for the release of ‘low risk’ prisoners will be processed through assessments that systematically advantage white people over black and brown people and adhere to racist narratives that assume risk is a static fact within a person. Being selective in who receives this extra punishment of being infected by COVID-19 is nothing short of inhumane, and will be ineffective in fighting the spread of the virus inside and outside the prison and detention systems.
During this public health crisis, we need more than ever to provide humane solutions over criminalisation. We cannot continue to condemn people to death by holding them in prisons and detention centres. Instead, we must build the communities that are needed to support ourselves and one another. Echoing the feminist collective, Survived and Punished- we need: “funding for housing and non-coercive healing resources e.g. physical health services, trauma-informed counselling, substance use support, so all people have immediate and stable housing options and access to holistic, restorative care upon release.”
Now is the time for strong communities, not cages.
BASE and Roses free food distribution collective has been working hard over the last few weeks, delivering free meals and food boxes across Bristol. Check out the facebook page here:
The mutual aid solidarity project needs funds to buy food and fuel for getting people the food they need. Please donate to the crowdfunder if you can and share it as widely as possible.
There’s some really good articles being written about the state we’re in and what we can do about it. Here’s a few solid reads to keep us questioning authority and sharpening our critical knives!
BASE and Roses is a newly formed collective organising free food parcel and cooked meal deliveries in East Bristol.
We do not means test and deliver food to anyone who requests it.
We do not ask for anything in return.
We believe in mutual aid and food security for all.
We work on principles of solidarity, not charity.
We will join our efforts and co-operate with other groups doing similar work in East Bristol.
If you or anyone you know needs a food delivery, get in touch.
We deliver cooked meals on Wednesdays and food boxes on Saturdays.
If you would like to help out with this food solidarity project, get in touch.
Phone 07731845211 Email baseandroses@riseup.net
We are looking for sources of regular donations of food from businesses in Bristol. We also need drivers and people to help with packing food parcels.
Let us know if you can help.
If you can support the project with a donation, here’s our crowdfunder:
