“It is important that trade union members show their solidarity because the Government, if allowed to get away with this, may target our rights next.” Photo credit: Shutterstock
The next #KillTheBill national day of action is on Saturday 29 May 2021. This next wave of protests will be Led by Kill the Bill Official – a female-led coalition of activist groups created and spearheaded by United for Black Lives.
The MU has previously expressed concerns that the Government’s new Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill risks criminalising the right to peaceful protest, and will increase discrimination and undermine democracy. And as part of the TUC, we signed an open letter calling for the bill to be reconsidered.
Protests which have been organised for Saturday 29 May include an action in Birmingham, which begins at 2:00 pm in Victoria Square (further details can be found on their Facebook event), and an action in London beginning at 12:00 pm in Russell Square (see Instagram for further details).
Interested members can find details for further protests across the country as they are published, on Kill The Bill Official’s Instagram account.
Supporting Birmingham Trades Union Council
MU Midlands Regional Organiser Stephen Brown explained the motivation behind the Birmingham protest:
“We have seen huge protests in this country in the last year over Black Lives Matter, Sarah Everard, Extinction Rebellion, Palestine and more.
“This protest takes place just over a year since the murder of George Floyd re-ignited the Black Lives Matter movement. As you know, the Bill (Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill 2021) is an attempt to criminalise the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community, targets Black Lives Matter and Extinction Rebellion activity in its motivation and is an attempt to remove democratic rights won over centuries.
“It is important that trade union members show their solidarity because the Government, if allowed to get away with this, may target our rights next.
“We are supporting Birmingham Trades Union Council in this, who are trying to mobilise the largest group possible to oppose the Bill.”
Find out more about the movement to #KillTheBill as well as future planned protests, through Kill The Bill Official’s Instagram account.