Protesters were ‘selfish, self-indulgent and self-centred’ says Marvin Rees

Bristol’s mayor Marvin Rees has called protesters “selfish, self-indulgent and self-centred” on the BBC’s Today Programme after Kill the Bill protesters set a police van on fire last night.

In the interview Rees said: “I am from communities disproportionately likely to be on the receiving end of the criminal justice treatment or receive unfair treatment”, however he made clear that last night’s protesters “have done nothing to make me or people like me feel safer.”

Rees has expressed personal concern for the the Police Crime and Sentencing Courts Bill, which plans to give police more powers to deal with non-violent protests.

However, he fears that this incident will be used by those who wish to promote the bill.

At last night’s Kill the Bill protest, a police van was set on fire, fireworks were thrown into the crowd, and windows smashed during the clashes outside the Bridewell Police Station.

Photo: Billy Husband

Police deployed mounted officers and dog units, as seven people were arrested and twenty police officers injured.

Photo: Billy Husband

In a statement released today Rees has made clear that the protests are “unacceptable and have nothing to do with the real work we are doing to tackle politics, economic and social inequality”.

He added that this “is a shameful day” for the city. What “they [protesters] have done has more to do with self gratification than it has to do with the protection and advancement of those of us from communities most likely to be marginalised.”

According to Rees, police plan to publish images of those responsible for the violence and track down and arrest suspects.