News / Ashton Gate Stadium
City fans join protest as arms fair takes place at Ashton Gate
Dozens of people blocked two entrances to Ashton Gate as a military conference was due to start inside the stadium.
The Future Indirect Fires Conference is taking place on Tuesday and Wednesday, promising military, government and private sector delegates from across the world the chance to “examine the likely development of Joint Lethal & Non Lethal Indirect Fires during the next decade”.
‘Arms are for hugging’ was written on one banner at the Ashton Road side of the stadium, while both the red and black anarchist flag and Palestinian flags were waved by protesters wearing marks at the Winterstoke Road entrance.
Among the protesters was Bristol City fan Stanley Hughes, a 28-year-old social media manager who also hosts the One Stream in Bristol podcast.
“I’m not just here as a Bristol City fan,” Hughes told Bristol24/7.
“I was born on Ashton Gate Terrace two minutes away, I went to Ashton Gate Primary School, I went to secondary school at Ashton Park.
“BS3 has practically been all of my life and this stadium has been a huge part of all of my life.
“As a caveat, I have friends who work in the defence industry. But it’s very different to exist in a city where those things are present, than to see the sellers of arms, murderers, pillagers, people who benefit financially from war, terror and suffering in my stadium.”
Bristol City fan Stanley Hughes says he is “disgusted” at his club for allowing the arms fair to take place at Ashton Gate – photo: Martin Booth
Hughes added: “On Saturday, I watched the Severnside derby and walked the very same corridors that will today host people who profit from war and murder and pillaging.
“I am disgusted at my club. I think they have failed to represent the community. They have failed to consider the community.
“And their deliberate ignorance, their deliberate lack of knowledge, is a choice and I think it’s disgusting.”
The owners of Bristol City and Ashton Gate, Bristol Sport, have previously declined to comment.
A spokesperson said: “We would not comment on any event booked by an external client held behind closed doors at Ashton Gate.”
Main photo: Martin Booth
Read next:
Our newsletters emailed directly to you
