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Activists staged another ‘Kill the Bill’ protest in Manchester city center today.
This follows a protest on Friday in which protesters with placards and banners appeared in St. Peter’s Square objecting to the new police, crime, sentencing and court bill.
Under the latest Covid lockdown easing rules that began Monday, socially distanced protests are now allowed.
Around 200 or more people joined the demonstration that began in St. Peter’s Square, before protesters marched through the city center shouting “kill the bill.”
Other chants such as ‘our streets’ and ‘tories out’ were heard as protesters sat down and blocked several road crossings, temporarily halting the passage of traffic.
The protest remained peaceful until the end of the day, when a fight appeared to break out between a small group of protesters.
A handful of protesters also made their way to the tram tracks in St. Peter’s Square shouting “kill the bill” as they blocked the path of entering trams.
A 48-hour police dispersal order was maintained for the entire city center allowing police to disband any group engaging in antisocial behavior, expiring at 3pm on Saturday.
The order gives the police the power to tell a person engaged in antisocial behavior, or who is likely to have antisocial behavior, to leave a specific area.
It got underway after a number of large gatherings took place this week, including at the Castlefield Bowl and Platt Fields Park in Fallowfield.
The demonstration also follows a similar one held in St. Peter’s Square last Saturday (March 27). Some protesters who were sitting on the tram tracks were forcibly removed by the officers and 18 people were arrested.
Follow our blog below for the latest updates on this incident.
Benjamin Blosse
Police on the scene
Sophie Halle-Richards
Sophie Halle-Richards
Woman ‘held against a police van’
Our reporter Tom, who is currently in St. Peter’s Square, says that there is currently a woman arrested against a police van.
She is “visibly upset,” he says.
KEY EVENT
A strip of cops descends upon the crowd
A strip of police officers has descended into St. Peter’s Square to carry out arrests @MENnewsdesk pic.twitter.com/Ci6cE1FK8f
– Tom Molloy (@TOMolloyMEN) April 3, 2021
Sophie Halle-Richards
Protesters moving between the tram tracks
Protesters at a ‘Kill the Bill’ protest against the new police bill move between tracks to block trams in St Peter’s Square, Manchester. pic.twitter.com/uCrM3eycAa
– Rachael Hesno (@RachaelHesno) April 3, 2021
Sophie Halle-Richards
Protesters on tram tracks shout ‘kill the bill’
Protesters on the tram tracks continue to shout “kill the bill” @MENnewsdesk pic.twitter.com/E1e4g7350r
– Tom Molloy (@TOMolloyMEN) April 3, 2021
KEY EVENT
More policemen begin to arrive in St. Peter’s Square
More police begin to arrive in St. Peter’s Square @MENnewsdesk pic.twitter.com/vyDde2Ennl
– Tom Molloy (@TOMolloyMEN) April 3, 2021
KEY EVENT
Protesters blocking the tram tracks
Protesters block the tram tracks @MENnewsdesk pic.twitter.com/FIqZ9PrhMq
– Tom Molloy (@TOMolloyMEN) April 3, 2021
KEY EVENT
Fight breaks out between protesters
The organized protest has now ended with the crowd starting to leave. However, a fight has broken out between some of those who have remained in St. Peter’s Square, captured by our reporter on the spot.
A fight has broken out between protesters still on St Peter’s Way @MENnewsdesk pic.twitter.com/xQkBtXIyyZ
– Tom Molloy (@TOMolloyMEN) April 3, 2021
Sophie Halle-Richards
Sophie Halle-Richards
The protesters have returned to St. Peter’s Square
The Kill the Bill protesters have returned to St. Peter’s Square, where they sit to listen to the speakers @MENnewsdesk pic.twitter.com/yvcQcf2i3y
– Tom Molloy (@TOMolloyMEN) April 3, 2021
Sophie Halle-Richards
Rally returns to St. Peter’s Square
The protesters are now heading towards St. Peter’s Square.
They are singing ‘whose streets … our streets’.
There seems to be at least 200 people in the crowd currently.
Sophie Halle-Richards
Protesters block Deansgate crossing
The protesters are now seated at the intersection of Deansgate and John Dalton Street.
Currently, buses and other vehicles cannot pass.
Sophie Halle-Richards
Protesters on the move again
The protesters have left Spinningfields and are returning via Deansgate.
Sophie Halle-Richards
Speeches on the steps of Manchester Crown Court
Kill the Bill have gathered in front of Manchester Crown Court for more speeches @MENnewsdesk pic.twitter.com/fgmBTaqHei
– Tom Molloy (@TOMolloyMEN) April 3, 2021
Sophie Halle-Richards
Sophie Halle-Richards
Sophie Halle-Richards
Protester claims GMP assaulted her in protest last week
A woman took the microphone on the steps of Manchester Crown Court and claims she was assaulted by GMP at a Kill the Bill protest last weekend.
Addressing the crowd, he said:
“Last week I was attacked by a police officer and thrown fifty feet into the air in front of a tram.
“Can we make some noise for Andy Burnham, who approves of violence against minorities?”
The Manchester Evening News has contacted GMP about this claim.
Sophie Halle-Richards
Protesters gather on steps at Manchester Crown Court
The group is now heading to the steps of Manchester Crown Court in Spinningfields.
A speaker has taken the microphone and is addressing the crowd.
There are chants of “there is no justice … there is no peace.”
Sophie Halle-Richards
Protesters head towards Salford
The protesters are now heading up Bridge Street towards Salford.
They can be heard chanting ‘this is what democracy looks like’.
There is a large group of 200 people touring the city center.
Sophie Halle-Richards
Live off the protest
Our reporter Tom is live from the rally as protesters make their way through Deansgate.
Our reporter @TOMolloyMEN it’s in Manchester city center, where hundreds of Kill The Bill protesters are on the march again; You can see what’s happening, live on Facebook, here https://t.co/2jMRirHrMn
– Manchester News MEN (@MENnewsdesk) April 3, 2021
Sophie Halle-Richards
Protesters on the march
A large group of protesters is now marching through Manchester city center.
They are currently moving down Deansgate, momentarily stopping traffic.
Protesters can be heard chanting “our streets” and “kill the bill.”
Charlotte cox
More signage
Charlotte cox
Protesters waving EU flags are in force
Charlotte cox
A selection of posters
A selection of posters at the Kill the Bill protest in St. Peter’s Square @MENnewsdesk pic.twitter.com/ad42u28YgW
– Tom Molloy (@TOMolloyMEN) April 3, 2021
Charlotte cox
The speeches are in progress
Charlotte cox
Now ‘around 400’ protesters in St. Peter’s Square
The crowd in St. Peter’s Square is growing @MENnewsdesk pic.twitter.com/l5ijlwDYgy
– Tom Molloy (@TOMolloyMEN) April 3, 2021
Charlotte cox
Groups of people arriving
There is currently a ‘Kill the Bill’ protest in St Peter’s Square in Manchester city center. Currently, the crowd is relatively small, but groups of people are slowly arriving. @MENnewsdesk pic.twitter.com/5gHURsEdvj
– Tom Molloy (@TOMolloyMEN) April 3, 2021
Charlotte cox
‘About a dozen’ protesters
Our photographer on the scene says that there are currently only about a dozen protesters in St. Peter’s Square.
There are more photographers and legal observers than participants, although that is expected to change as more protesters leak from Piccadilly.
The only visible police presence are two liaison officers and there are no police vehicles in sight.
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