Bristol Friends act on ‘Kill the Bill’ divisions
Local Quakers write open letter to police and crime commissioner candidates.
Bristol Quakers plan to offer workshops in nonviolent activism to help reduce tensions between protesters and the police. Bristol Area Meeting set out its intention in an open letter sent to all Avon and Somerset police and crime commissioner candidates.
The move came after Quaker David Mowat asked Friends what they could do to ease tensions witnessed in local ‘Kill the Bill’ protests against the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which is currently before parliament. Acting as a legal observer at some of the gatherings, David Mowat wrote about the violent scenes he had witnessed in the Bristol Quaker newsletter.
The letter sent to the police candidates says Friends are hoping to offer the workshops ‘to introduce nonviolent approaches to some who may not be aware of how powerful and effective these can be’. It also argues that the bill threatens the right to peaceful protest, views it as a danger and places a new burden on the police to decide when, where and how citizens should be allowed to protest. It said the situation in the city since the protests is ‘uniquely challenging and sensitive’.
‘As Quakers, we would like to hear your views on the Bill and how you plan to re-build trust in the Avon and Somerset Police Service in the wake of these divisive events in a way that respects the rights of every citizen and builds unity across our divided city’, the letter ends.
Richard Drake, clerk of Bristol Area Meeting, told the Friend that one candidate, the former deputy police and crime commissioner, had responded so far. The independent candidate John Smith offered to meet with Quakers to discuss the issue. While there were good things in the bill, he wrote on 20 April, it is ‘unnecessary and not thought through’ and does not value peaceful protest. While the area has a history of peaceful protest, he said he was concerned that ‘unlike before the lockdown, organisers are not stepping forward to work with the police to plan safe routes… and other safer arrangements such as stewarding’.
The candidacy results are announced on 6 May.
