ammonnews.net

Ammon News - Crowds have gathered peacefully in Manchester city centre to show solidarity with demonstrations in Bristol where 10 arrests were made last night following violent clashes with police, Mirror reported.

More than 150 people have turned out for a Kill the Bill protest in Manchester hours after violence broke out at a demonstration in Bristol, Mirror noted.

Crowds gathered in the northern city's St Peter's Square this afternoon, in opposition to the controversial Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which includes increasing police powers over the right to protest.

It comes after 10 arrests were made in Bristol last night following clashes between protesters and police.

Manchester organisers have urged attendees to remain peaceful, calling for social distancing measures to be adhered to, reports the Manchester Evening News.


Dozens of demonstrators are also sitting side-by-side on the city's Portland Street and the Metrolink line at Piccadilly Gardens.

And some have moved to Stevenson Square where an eight-minute silence was carried out in memory of George Floyd.

A speaker addressing the crowds sat on the tram tracks said the bill is "the biggest attack on our civil liberties ever”, with protesters chanting "whose streets? Our streets".

Others can be heard repeating "the Tories caused the violence" and "revolution".

There have so far been no arrests and police liaison officers are keeping an eye on proceedings.

On Friday night, violent clashes broke out in Bristol with shocking footage showing police battering one protester with riot shields before he was dragged away.

Demonstrators called for the crowd to sit down in the streets as police moved at around 10pm.

Backed by mounted units and police dogs, riot-cladded officers pressed on with shouts of “forward”.

Some protesters responded with fury and began throwing bottles at the police lines as scuffles erupted.

According to the government, the measures set out in the bill would allow the police to take a more proactive approach to managing protests that cause serious disruption to the public.

Campaigners and human rights groups have warned that the measures would undermine freedom of expression and the right to peaceful protest.

The move follows high-profile protests in recent years, including demonstrations from Extinction Rebellion.

The bill passed a second reading in Parliament earlier this month, with 359 Conservative MPs voting in favour, and 263 opposition MPs voting against - including 194 Labour MPs.