On Saturday October 23rd Bristol’s Castle park was awash with colour as over 1000 protesters (the organisers say 4000) marched through Bristol city centre to voice their anger at the governments cuts to services and welfare and their attack on the working classes.
Trade unions were represented including PCS, Unison, CWU, GMB and NUT along with a more radical side from The IWW, Anarchist Federation, Class War, Bristol Resistance and the Solidarity Federation along with many other groups and individuals.

The banner was finished just before the demo

Despite the weather the crowd were in good spirits and fine voice the IWW had printed out song sheets and a contingent from Youth Fight for jobs kept the chants coming think and fast.

We hear that the Police had been warning the organisers “Bristol & District Anti-cuts Alliance” that Anarchist were planning to infiltrate the march. What the police did not know is that the organisers were aware anarchists would be attending and on the whole were cool with it, saying it was not their job to say who can attend and what they can do.

There were a large number of cops around for an un-policed march and as soon as we left the park the police attempted to snatch a banner saying “Fuck The Cuts, Smash The State”. Their attempt failed as marchers ploughed in to save their banner and protect their comrades taking the pigs by surprise. Ten minutes later, their egos bruised, the cops had another go at snatching the banner, this time more violently causing some injuries to protesters.

Cops try to steal banner from Baby Orangutan - Bastards!

At the Rally point of College Green we relaxed to listen to the speeches but then came the final show down. Some comrades were approached by Police as they went to collect the Anarchist Federation banner, they tried to take their details and video them. One was told to take his mask off under section 60, another was told he had to give his details under section 50 because he was suspected on anti-social behavior (aka holding a banner saying fuck on it – which he never did). The anarchist contingent and other marchers came along to give their support, the cops panicked and sent in mounted police, pushing and shoving ensued and two token arrests were made. Many of the “moderate” protesters split from the rally and joined the melee. Severely outnumbered and with their lines broken the cops were forced back out of the park and past the cathedral. Arguments broke out as other marchers told us to go back to the rally and let the police do their jobs. Afterwards one woman told a friend of mine who had not attended the demo “It was a good rally but the anarchists were there causing trouble”.

The un-policed march?

After this the demo split up, Around 20 or so people headed up to the police station to show their solidarity with those arrested by singing songs, playing cards, tag and the guitar, eating hobnobs and partaking in a strange Spartacusesque moment, all of which was noted down by the officers sent to mind us and video us. Regarding one of the games we were playing on cop was heard saying to other “it appears to be some sort of modern version of Buckaroo”.
Both were released on police bail after five hours in custody for afray and obstructing police. The local rag reported that cannabis was found on one of the arrestees, this was a complete fabrication on the part of the media.

As the cuts take hold demos like this will become more common and more angry. The violent attacks from the Police also show what we can expect as things turn increasingly nasty.

Apart from a few individuals (on both sides of the political divide) on the whole the day’s events proved that Socialists, Trade unionists and Anarchists can get along and work together.

So in Brum we got kettled for two hours and in Bristol we saw off Police incursions and forced em out of the park, we reckon that’s one point each!