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Protests against Tories planned in Bristol
An anti-austerity protest has been arranged in Bristol following the formation of a Conservative government.
Similar protests in London ended with violent clashes and 15 arrests on Sunday, with “Tory scum” being daubed on a war memorial.
But the Bristol protest, planned for Wednesday at 5pm in Queen Square, promises to be “entirely peaceful”.
A group called Bristol Against Austerity have organised the protest in a call for an end to funding cuts to public services.
On Monday the Facebook event page had 2,500 people signed up to attend the protest.
A statement reads: “This is a protest against the government who’ve made £12bn in welfare cuts, the bedroom tax and the privatisation of the NHS that has targeted the poorest people.
“A protest against the party who has the backing of the press, manipulating and scaremongering voters. The party who secures its donations from its wealthy friends who dodge their taxes.
“We want an end to austerity. An end to the right-wing media who are allowed to run amok. An end to the poor getting poorer and the rich getting richer. An end to an unfair voting system.”
Organisers added that the protest would be entirely peaceful, with offensive chants or actions “not tolerated”.
Avon and Somerset Police said they were aware of the event and have opened up a dialogue with the protesters in an attempt to help ensure the demonstration remains peaceful.
Photo by Joanna Papageorgiou