Tag Archives: Melvin Square

TOP TEN BRISTOL RIOTS: THE OFFICIAL LIST

THE LIST THEY DON’T WANT YOU TO READ!!!

To celebrate last night’s small riot, here’s one list the local media will not print. Lovingly compiled by our Violent Disorder Correspondent, we give you Bristol’s Top Ten Riots

Riot - skater

Now, next time you hear some poncey local liberal politician pronouncing on a local riot and claiming that “This isn’t Bristol” or “We don’t don’t do this” you can tell ’em, “Oh yes this is us. This is exactly what we do. The problem is that you are not us”.

10. 1090 Slave Riots

First reported rising of the ‘Bristol mob’ led by anti-slavery ‘outside agitator’ Saint Wulfstan. Inspired by Wulfstan’s opposition to trading in slaves with the Vikings in Dublin, the mob put out the eyes of a slave-trading merchant and cast him out of the city.

9: 2011 Stokes Croft Riot

In one of the dumbest police operations in living memory, on a warm evening before the first Easter bank holiday police shut down the Gloucester Road and raided a squat near the new Tescos. With young women leading the way, hundreds of people out drinking on the Croft attack police lines eventually driving them out of the area in the early hours of the morning.

8: 1986 St Pauls II

Police launch Operation Delivery with 600 officers swamping St Pauls after a series of pointless raids. Seen by many as attempted payback for the Police defeat in 1980, residents respond with their fists, bricks and petrol bombs for several nights.

7: 1936 Melvin Square Riot

Mosley’s fascist blackshirts attempt to hold a meeting in Melvin Square, Knowle West with an armoured van protected by police. Five thousand residents turn out to heckle them and pelt them with stones and turf. After a Blackshirt struck a resident the fascists and the police are violently driven out of the area.

6: The 1700s – one long riot

The riotous century. With the vast majority of the population having no political representation, riots were common. In Bristol there were uprisings over turnpikes, food prices, wages and enclosures. Top of the riotous league were the KIngswood Colliers, the weavers and Bristolian women who often led food riots.

5: 1992 Hartcliffe Riot

Police kill two Hartcliffe residents who were joy riding on a police motorbike. Hundreds of people attack police for several nights, with south Bristol estates uniting to teach them a lesson.

4: 1932 Old Market Riots

At the height of the Great Depression police launch an ambush to batter and arrest the leaders of a march of the unemployed in Old Market. Baton charges of the crowd of thousands are met by determined resistance with protestors ransacking market stalls and a coal lorry for weapons and missiles to chuck at police.

3: 1980 St Pauls Riot

Police carry out one racist raid too many when they have a go at the popular Black and White cafe in St Pauls. Large crowds of black and white residents attack the police, drive them out of the area and then have a street party. Anti-police disturbances follow in Southmead and Knowle West.

2: 1793 Bristol Bridge Riots

The widespread corruption of the Bristol Corporation comes home to roost when hundreds of Bristolians repeatedly protest about the continuing tolls on Bristol Bridge. After Bristolians repeatedly destroy the toll gates the leaders of the Corporation send in the Hereford Militia who open fire indiscriminately on the protesting crowds, killing 14 and wounding more than 40.

1: 1831 Queen Square Riot

The ‘mother of all riots’ is kicked off by Tories and Bishops who oppose expansion of the democratic franchise. Crowds of Bristolians attack four prisons, the Bishops Palace, Mansion House, Custom House, Toll Houses and burn down half of Queen Square, the lair of the hated merchants who ran the corrupt Corporation.