Bristol workshops for nonviolent protests
David Mowat encouraging Friends to be ‘an intergenerational (non-judgemental) bridge between older activists and younger ones less familiar with nonviolence as an ethos and set of approaches’.
Bristol Quakers have launched their first nonviolence workshop for demonstrators, following a concern raised by a local Friend. The course ran on 1 July at Central Bristol Meeting House, where Jenny Smith talked of her pioneering role as liaison person in earlier Bristol demonstrations.
Bristol Friends first planned to offer workshops in nonviolent activism 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. 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. Friends then considered what they could do to help reduce tensions between protesters and the police.
David Mowat told the Friend that Bristol Quakers are hoping to run more training sessions this autumn. He said he was particularly interested in encouraging Friends to be ‘an intergenerational (non-judgemental) bridge between older activists and younger ones less familiar with nonviolence as an ethos and set of approaches’.
According to the Bristol Quakers newsletter, ‘a lot has happened involving Friends. All along James Deane has been involved in Bristol Defendants Solidarity as a volunteer observer of police action on demonstrations. David Mowat focused on involving the Cathedral Dean in the actions of police on College Green on March 23rd, and Chris Gwyntopher and other Friends have begun attending the weekly Bristol Peace Vigil on Saturdays on College Green.’
Bristol Area Meeting set out its intention in an open letter sent to all Avon and Somerset police and crime commissioner candidates.
