{"id":495643,"date":"2022-02-02T17:16:19","date_gmt":"2022-02-02T17:16:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thecanary.co\/?p=1549733"},"modified":"2022-02-02T17:16:19","modified_gmt":"2022-02-02T17:16:19","slug":"jury-watches-shocking-footage-of-police-officers-hitting-and-kicking-bristol-protesters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2022\/02\/02\/jury-watches-shocking-footage-of-police-officers-hitting-and-kicking-bristol-protesters\/","title":{"rendered":"Jury watches shocking footage of police officers hitting and kicking Bristol protesters"},"content":{"rendered":"
A jury at Bristol Crown court was shown footage of police officers hitting protesters outside Bristol’s Bridewell police station last year. The protesters included the defendant in the case – Jasmine York – who was hit repeatedly with a baton.<\/p>\n
Jasmine is currently on trial at Bristol Crown Court charged with riot and arson; she denies both charges. If convicted, she could face years in prison. Jasmine is just one of 85 people<\/a> who have been arrested for the events of 21 March. The prosecution began its case against Jasmine on 31 January.<\/p>\n Footage shown to the court showed police officers striking out numerous times at several protesters. One demonstrator is seen to be violently hit over the head with a rectangular police riot shield. This is despite the fact that one of the police witnesses confirmed that police guidance says that blows not should be directed toward the head or neck.<\/p>\n The case relates to the massive Kill the Bill demonstration on 21 March 2021. Thousands took to the streets to protest the government’s proposed Police, Crime Sentencing and Courts (PCSC) Bill. Clashes between the police and protesters at the demonstration ended with Bridewell police station’s windows being smashed, and three police vehicles being set alight.<\/p>\n The court heard how the police were taken by surprise by the size of the protest. PC Sean Oliver – giving evidence for the prosecution – said that as protesters were leaving College Green he “couldn’t see the tarmac” on the road because of the large numbers of people<\/p>\n A statement – written in support of Jasmine – by Bristol Anti-Repression Campaign, explains<\/a> the context of the protest:<\/p>\n The Bill seeks to give more power to the state, police and prison system at a time when the police are only being further exposed for their institutional racism, misogyny and brutality.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n The statement goes on:<\/p>\n On 21 March, demonstrators like Jasmine faced repeated and excessive violence from police officers. Indeed, the horrific injuries received by Jasmine at the hands of police have been widely disseminated in the media.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n“We couldn’t see the tarmac for protesters”<\/h5>\n
The bill will “give more power to the state”<\/h5>\n
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