Whereas most of final yr’s protests came about on-line due to the pandemic, in the summertime of 2020, folks took to the streets to protest in opposition to police brutality and systemic racism. Following in these footsteps, 2021 has seen many highly effective protests within the capital, with 1000’s marching and utilizing their voices to face up for his or her rights, elevating consciousness over rising social and environmental crimes and injustices, and protesting in opposition to all types of discrimination.
Protest is a human proper, a proper to meeting and freedom of expression. And this yr we marched to guard this proper after it grew to become beneath risk with the brand new Police Courts Sentencing and Crime Invoice.
Many of the rights and freedoms we get pleasure from at this time wouldn’t be doable with out previous protests and demonstrations
(Angela Christofilou)
The invoice has progressed to the Home of Lords, the place it’s at the moment being debated. Among the many checklist of latest amendments are proposals to broaden cease and search police powers for protests, banning protests which might be deemed “too noisy” and banning protesters from attaching themselves to an object or to land; these discovered responsible withstand 51 weeks imprisonment.
Protest in London in Could in opposition to the Police Crime Sentencing and Courts Invoice
(Angela Christofilou)
The invoice first got here to wider consideration after the heavy-handed policing of a peaceable vigil in reminiscence of Sarah Everard, who was kidnapped and murdered in Clapham by a police officer. Months after her homicide, one other girl, Sabina Nessa, was killed as she walked to a bar close to her flat in Kidbrooke, southeast London.
Protests and marches came about all around the UK, together with ones organised by feminist teams akin to Sisters Uncut, The 97 March, Reclaim the Evening, amongst others, which campaigned all year long in opposition to gender-based violence and police brutality.
Protests had been sparked throughout the UK in opposition to gender-based violence after the homicide of Sarah Everard
(Angela Christofilou)
The 97 March protesters collect in London to protest in opposition to misogyny, male violence and road harassment
(Angela Christofilou)
1000’s be a part of the ‘Reclaim the Evening’ in London to mark the Worldwide Day for the Elimination of Violence Towards Ladies on 25 November
(Angela Christofilou)
Ladies mobilised throughout the nation to protest after the homicide of Sarah Everard
(Angela Christofilou)
Local weather change protests additionally returned to the streets this yr, main as much as the most important protest through the Cop26 local weather convention in Glasgow, which known as on governments to take rapid motion on the local weather disaster. NHS workers and nurses additionally demonstrated for extra motion, holding placards akin to “Local weather disaster can be a Well being disaster” along with protesting for pay justice and affected person security.
1000’s gathered in London, in addition to Glasgow, to demand pressing local weather motion throughout Cop26
(Angela Christofilou)
Protesters in Trafalgar Sq. on 6 November to demand motion from world leaders to fight the local weather disaster
(Angela Christofilou)
Nurses march to Downing Road in protest at an ‘underwhelming’ pay deal on the 73rd anniversary of the founding of the NHS
(Angela Christofilou)
Motion came about throughout the UK to demand affected person security and an finish to the privatisation of the NHS
(Angela Christofilou)
In June, London welcomed again Trans Satisfaction, a day to have fun the trans neighborhood, to spotlight injustices and discrimination in opposition to trans folks and to recollect these misplaced as a consequence of transphobia. In East London, the second Queer Evening Satisfaction additionally came about in the summertime, in response to hate crimes in opposition to the queer neighborhood.
A protester holds a placard at London Trans Satisfaction in June
(Angela Christofilou)
Trans Satisfaction in London is a day to have fun trans lives and protest in opposition to transphobia, discrimination and hate crimes in opposition to the trans neighborhood
(Angela Christofilou)
The second Queer Evening Satisfaction came about in East London on 29 August. Protesters marched up Kingsland Highway in response to hate crimes in opposition to the queer neighborhood
(Angela Christofilou)
Protesters on the second Queer Evening Satisfaction marching to Gillett Sq. in East London
(Angela Christofilou)
Many highly effective protests had been organised to face in solidarity with the folks of different nations together with Palestine, the place folks had been calling for an pressing decision to the violence in Gaza. On 28 August, folks took to the streets of London, standing for peace and human rights in Afghanistan, and in solidarity in opposition to the Taliban takeover.
1000’s got here collectively in London, becoming a member of worldwide protests in opposition to the Taliban takeover
(Angela Christofilou)
Folks present solidarity with Afghan folks dwelling beneath Taliban rule
(Angela Christofilou)
We’ve achieved a lot with protest as a society; a few of the freedoms we get pleasure from at this time are a results of years of resistance and direct motion. The pictures featured listed here are a choice of images of a few of the highly effective moments of those actions that I used to be in a position to seize this yr within the capital.
The local weather disaster is not only in regards to the atmosphere: it’s a well being and humanitarian disaster
(Angela Christofilou)
March in opposition to police brutality, the brand new PCSC invoice, and male violence in opposition to ladies, London 2021
(Angela Christofilou)
A protester holds a placard on the ‘Reclaim the Evening’ march in London this yr demanding an finish to male violence
(Angela Christofilou)
I’ve been documenting protests in London for six years and constructing an archive of images, which is being held on the Bishopsgate Institute, with the hope that this physique of labor might inform and encourage future generations to combat for constructive change. I’ve been interested by how the brand new police and crime invoice may additionally have an effect on images and our skill to doc historical past on the streets because it occurs, freely. Will we have the ability to seize, doc and share highly effective pictures akin to these, that elevate consciousness of injustices, the identical means we’ve completed till now and if that’s the case, at what value?
Images can inform and encourage future generations to combat for constructive change
(Angela Christofilou)
For extra of Angela Christofilou’s work you possibly can go to her web site right here
Kaynak: briturkish.com
