News / protest
Protesters march through Bristol in support of hunger strikers
“Christmas is cancelled”, said activist Leigh Evans while addressing protesters marching in solidarity with prisoners hunger striking in prisons across the country.
Evans and dozens of other people marched through the city centre on Saturday afternoon, chanting slogans in support of the ‘prisoners for Palestine’, some of whom have now refused food for over 40 days.
The march started near the empty Colston plinth, moving through Broadmead, Cabot Circus and Quakers Friars.
Shoppers inside Cabot Circus looked on as protesters loudly chanted slogans in support of the hunger strikers
Evans said: “Christmas has been cancelled.
“There is no silent night. There are only eight hunger strikers.
“You’re working three jobs because your government is stealing up to 20 billion pounds of your money and using it to support a genocidal state.”
The protesters’ loud chants in support of the hunger strikers echoed through Cabot Circus, as they halted on the shopping centre’s lower floor for some time.
Protesters said they wanted people to take a pause from their festive shopping and reflect on the condition of the hunger strikers.
Two of the eight prisoners hunger striking in HMP Bronzefield, HMP New Hall, HMP Peterborough and HMP Pentonville are believed to have concluded their strikes.
Some of those still striking are among the ‘Filton 24’, who were arrested for allegedly breaking into Elbit Systems’ premises in north Bristol.
Organised by Palestine Solidarity Bristol, a similar march is planned on December 27, also set to start from near the empty Colston plinth.
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Photos: Rob Browne; videos: Karen Johnson
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