Over the past week, attempts at completely peaceful protest (some would say to the extent of being ineffective), have been met by repression by both the police and Tesco security.
Over the past week, attempts at completely peaceful protest (some would say to the extent of being ineffective), have been met by repression by both the police and Tesco security. Last week, two women sat outside with a small banner and knitting. Within minutes, an unmarked police car (and later a riot van) turned up, took their details (for 'obstructing the highway'), and moved them on. On Saturday, three students handing out flyers were met with about three cars-full of police (one each, I guess?). On Sunday two people, with a cardboard sign and flyers, had been outside for no more than a quarter of an hour before security came out, and tore up the sign (claiming it was 'on their property'?!?). Police took a while to get there this time, but when they arrived, rather than taking seriously any complaint about the behaviour of the staff (no surprises there!), arrested one of the activists for 'common assault' (as yet no charge, but not allowed near the store for now) Full Story

Every little helps...despite the massive imbalance in resources it is amazing that Tescos are still being forced to fight for what is to them a fairly small and insignificant store. Despite the police's highly organised and expensive media and personnel-heavy response to the Stokes Croft incidents, it is significant that a large percentage of people agree that the police not only cocked up with their operations on Stokes Croft, but ultimately hold them responsible for the resistance that ensued when they flooded the area with riot cops (many from outside the area). Despite the subsequent media hysteria, and condemnation from all political parties, it is significant that a large number of people consider the protests in April an appropriate response to the police invasion, and that the police acted in support of Tescos attempts to dominate the 'market' against the wishes of a sizeable proportion of the local population. Full Story

Tesco Reopens, Time For PRSC to Earn Their Money | Anti Tesco Flyer | Stokes Croft: The Art of Protest (Guardian)