autonomist - may 2011
DESCRIPTION
Autonomist Issue 2 May 2011TRANSCRIPT
Issue 6 May 2011
A recycling bin of factual bottles for your intellectual riot
Police Return to the Smashed Tesco (photo: Jonathan Taphouse)
It’s Not Just About Tesco Anymore
The recent wave of rioting in Bristol has made international news, but has
been widely portrayed as the work of a few anti-supermarket extremists. Sto-
ries of petrol bombs, placards, and the ‘People’s Republic’ have made every
paper, but the real story, of a community under attack, has been ignored.
Behind the bohemian facade of Stokes Croft lies a community with low wages,
high unemployment, and a simmering resentment against the police. As the
council invest millions in shopping centres for the privileged, areas such as
St Pauls have seen little but increased repression and policing. Tesco pro-
vided a focus and a flashpoint for that - it has become a symbol of the disre-
gard those in power have for the wishes of the community - but it did not start
there, and will not end there.
Many passers-by were injured during the major police incursion into the area
on the 21st, leading to a Party Against Police Brutality being called for the
following thursday. Police, eager to demonstrate their contempt, attacked
the party, and further fighting ensued. A local resident explained to us “We
will not be intimidated. We drove them out of the area last thursday and we
can do it again tonight. Our communities are under attack, and we intend to
defend them. We’re not going to take this any more.”
Arts Eviction Resisted
There was celebration all round on the last day of Temporary Autonomous
Arts, as bailiffs and police were forced to retreat after an attempted illegal
eviction. Despite agreements with the landlords to leave after the week-long
exhibition, thugs from Bailiff UK and Gallowglass Security broke down the
main doors early in the morning and assaulted several of the occupants.
A tense stand-off ensued for several hours, punctuated by short bursts of vi-
olence including an unsuccessful arrest attempt and a bailiff throwing a cab-
inet into the crowd by the gate, injuring a child. Occupants of the building
took to the roof with music and dancing, and large numbers of local residents
joined the angry crowd outside. Sensing an increasingly problematic and
volatile situation, the police ordered the bailiffs out of the building and the
event was allowed to continue.
The Stokes Croft Freeshop and Emporium
Gallery face eviction on the 5th May. The
buildings have been occupied for over two
years and provided a wide range of com-
munity resources.
Nick Clegg’s press conference at the Wa-
tershed was attended by a spirited crowd
of protestors despite a heavy police pres-
ence and threats of arrest.
JobCentre Plus call centre staff in Bristol
went on strike on the 18th April over
changes to working conditions. They ex-
pressed particular concern over ‘time-per-
call’ targets that would punish them for
spending too much time trying to help peo-
ple, instead of just fobbing them off onto
another office or department.
The We Be Free collective, formerly of the
Open Arms in Kingsdown, are planning to
open a new building in St Werburghs for
regular open Mic nights and workshops.
Sabotage Round-Up
Strategic outsourcing firm MITIE, who
stand poised to benefit from the govern-
ment’s planned decimation of public serv-
ices, have borne the brunt of saboteurs
last month. One of their vans was torched
in Staple Hill, and separately in Hartcliffe
their offices were attacked & dozens of
windows smashed.
Stokes Croft Fallout
A passerby who was attacked by police
whilst trying to get home during the anti-
Tesco riot had his thumb broken and may
have to have it amputated as a result.
A film showing of footage and analysis of
the riots was nearly stopped by the police.
Equipment was confiscated and arrests
threatened under anti-rave legislation, but
once the event moved to allotments in St
Werburghs the police restrained them-
selves to erecting a roadblock and prevent-
ing anyone else from entering the City
Farm area.
A source within the police informs us “A lot
of these people are going to get away with
it. If people wear masks, and don’t have
identifying logos on their clothing, we’ve
very little chance of even finding them, let
alone of proving anything in court.”
The Autonomist is a news sheet and
directory for Bristol's radical commu-
nity. If you have news you want cov-
ered, a group or space to include, or
an upcoming event for the calendar,
or to help out, get in touch.
Radical Spaces
28 Portland Square - Cave St, St Pauls -
www.freefactory.wordpress.com - cavestreetfac-
[email protected] - 01179249533
Classics Freeshop - 35 Stokes Croft
Eastside Roots - Next to Stapleton Road station,
Easton - www.eastsideroots.org.uk -
Kebele - 14 Roberston Road, Easton - www.kebele-
coop.org - [email protected] -
01179513086
Smiling Chair Radical Library - 40 Stokes Croft
The Cube Cinema - Dove Street South -
www.cubecinema.com
The Emporium Gallery - 37 Stokes Croft -
http://emporium37.wordpress.com/ - empo-
Groups
Anarchist Black Cross - Prisoner support network -
bristolabc.wordpress.com - [email protected]
Anarchist Federation - bristolaf.wordpress.com -
Anti-Cuts Alliance - bristolanticutsalliance.org.uk
Antifa - Antifascist Action - bristolantifa.org
Bath Activist Network - Umbrella group for Bath -
Bristol Animal Rights Collective - bristolanimal-
rights.org.uk - [email protected] - 07794891226
Bristol Feminist Network -
bristolfeministnetwork.com -
Bristol Housing Action Movement - Squatting and
emergency housing - public-interest.co.uk/bham -
[email protected] - 07833 100399
Bristol Hunt Sabs - huntsabs.org.uk -
[email protected] - 07866980701
Bristol No Borders - Migrant solidarity -
bristolnoborders.wordpress.com -
Campaign Against the Arms Trade - bristolagain-
starmstrade.wordpress.com - bristolagainstarm-
Class War - bcwthebristolhum.blogspot.com - Bris-
Defend Asylum Seekers Campaign - asylumbris-
tol.org.uk - [email protected]
East Bristol Debtors Alliance - Practical support
with debts - eb-da.org - [email protected] - 07878
384439
Industrial Workers of the World - Radical union -
iww.org.uk/bristol - [email protected]
LGB Forum - bristol-lgb-forum.org.uk - info@bristol-
lgb-foum.org.uk
Oh Fuck, It's The Apocalypse - Economic collapse
survival group - OhFuckItsTheApocalypse.Word-
Press.Com - [email protected]
Permaculture Group - bristolpermaculture.pb-
works.com - [email protected] -
0117 9027913
Radical History Group - brh.org.uk -
Upcoming Events
Mondays
11am - Shiatsu - 28 Portland Square - Call Cassie
on 0771 7435 357 to book
8pm - Bristol Housing Action Meeting - Emporium
Gallery - For people in need of housing
Tuesdays
9:30-10:30am - Credit Union - North Bristol Advice
Centre, Lockleaze - Community Banking
10am-2:30pm - Credit Union - SCART Shop,
Greystoke Ave, Southmead - Community Banking
10:30-12am - Credit Union - Welcome Centre,
Mowcroft Road, Hartcliffe - Community Banking
2-3pm - Credit Union - Bristol Community Housing
Foundation, Filton Avenue - Community Banking
7-9pm - Co-op Meeting - Kebele (every other week)
- Get involved with running Kebele
7-9pm - Voice Workshop - Kebele - Learn to be in
harmony (literally, not metaphorically)
7-9pm - No Borders Meeting - Kebele (alternate
weeks)
8pm - People's Kitchen - 28 Portland Square - Free
vegan dinner and film
Wednesdays
11am-1pm - Credit Union - The Withywood Centre,
Queen's Road - Community Banking
12:30-5:30pm - Bike Workshop - Kebele
6pm - Reading Group - 28 Portland Square (Alter-
nate Weeks)
6pm - Campaign Against the Arms Trade Meeting -
Smiling Chair Library (alternate weeks)
7-8:30pm - Yoga - Kebele
7pm - Free Film Night - 28 Portland Square
7:30pm - Bristol Animal Rights Collective meeting
- Kebele (every other week)
8pm - Boardgames Night - 28 Portland Square
Thursdays
10-11am - Credit Union - Robinson House, Hockeys
Lane, Fishponds - Community Banking
11:30am-12:30pm - Credit Union - St Anne's Park
Children's Centre, Lichfield Road
12-5pm - Volunteer Day - Eastside Roots (Trinity
Site)
12:30-3pm - Family Group - Kebele - Stay and Play
session for carers and children
1-2pm - Credit Union - Barton Hill Settlement
7pm - Social Centre meeting - 28 Portland Square
- All welcome
Fridays
9:30-11am - Credit Union - Re-Work Shop, Filwood
Broadway - Community Banking
10am-4pm - Volunteer Day - Eastside Roots
11am - Shiatsu - 28 Portland Square - Call Kitty on
0771 710 5470 to book
1-2pm - Credit Union - Bedminster Library, St
Peter's Court - Community Banking
5pm - Self-Protection Classes - 28 Portland Square
8:30pm - Oh Fuck, It's The Apocalypse - Smiling
Chair Library - Preparation and survival group
Saturdays
11am-4pm - Volunteer Day - Eastside Roots
11:30am - Infoshop & Vegan Breakfast - Kebele
Sundays
6:30pm - Vegan Cafe - Kebele - Donation-based
vegan meals
Less Frequent Events
01/05 - 1:30pm - Whose Stokes Croft? - Outside
Tesco, Stokes Croft
01/05 - 2pm - Mayday Picnic - The Downs (by the
water tower)
02/05 - 8pm - The Road to Haymarket - Cube Cin-
ema - May Day, and its Relevance Today - films and
discussion
02/05 - Feminism and Polyamory Discussions -
Cafe Kino
03/05 - 7pm - Freeskilling – All About Clutter - Bet-
terfoods, St Werburghs
04/05 - 7:30-10:30pm - Viva Mexico - Hamilton
House, Stokes Croft - A new film on the Zapatista
rebels in Mexico
04/05 - 8pm - Anarchist Bookfair Benefit Gig - The
Plough, Easton - With Thee Infidels, Luvdump, and
Po-Lice
05/05 - 6-8pm - East Bristol Debtors Alliance
Dropin - Kebele - For help and advice
05/05 - 7:30pm - Anti-Cuts Alliance Open Meeting
- Hamilton House
05/05 - 7:30pm - Anarcha-Feminist Meeting - Smil-
ing Chair Library
07/05-26/05 - Sistershow Revisited - Centre-
space Gallery, Leonard Lane - Theatre, films, and
talks about the history of the Women's liberation
Movement in Bristol - programme at sistershowre-
visited.wordpress.com
07/05 - 10:30am-6:30pm - Bristol Anarchist
Bookfair - Hamilton House - Stalls, work-
shops, films, food, and more!
07/05 - 9pm - Bookfair Afterparty - Attic Bar,
Stokes Croft - Featuring Ankylum, Colectif Mary
Reed, China Shop Bull, and Aberrant.
09/05 - 7:30pm - Feminist Network Book Group -
Cafe Kino - Delusions of Gender by Cordelia Fine
10/05 - 7pm - Freeskilling - Tofutastic! - Better-
foods, St Werburghs
10/05 - 7-9pm - No Borders Picket - Trinity Rd Po-
lice Station - In support of migrants forced to sign-
in at the station
11/05 - 7pm - Letter-Writing to Prisoners - 28 Port-
land Square - Supporting political prisoners in the
UK and beyond.
17/05 - 7pm - Freeskilling – An Introduction to
Herbal Medicine - Betterfoods, St Werburghs
19/05 - 6-8pm - East Bristol Debtors Alliance
Dropin - Smiling Chair Library - For help and advice
20/05 - 7pm - Anarcha-Feminist Social - Smiling
Chair Library
21/05 - 1-4pm - International Day Against Homo-
phobia and Transphobia - Queen's Square - Picnic,
talks, and open mic
21/05 - 7:30pm - No Borders Benefit Gig - The
Plough, Easton - With Kilna Boy, Spanner, Anarcho
Folko and Na, No + Nachos
23/05 - 7-9pm - Queer Reading Group - Kebele
24/05 - 7pm - Freeskilling – Neuro-Linguistic Pro-
gramming - Betterfoods, St Werburghs
25/05 - 8pm - Bluescreen - Cube Cinema - Bristol's
longest-running independent open screen film
event (£3/2)
27/05 - 5:30pm - Critical Mass Bike Ride - The
Fountains, Town Centre
28/05 - 8pm - CarFree Bristol Meeting - The
Golden Guinea, Guinea Street
For loads more events, visit:
BristolAutonomist.Blogspot.com