The media, the schools, the judges, the cops, politicians, surveillance, technology, work. All have their role to play in repression. 

Repression is nothing but the interwoven attempts of all authorities to stupify thought, silence ideas, to freeze action, to weaken courage and to justify obedience. These efforts are always necessary to hold together the ranks.

When repression strikes in any form, as well as aiming at rebellion, or just exclusion from the world desired by power, it can also have the tragic effect of domesticating others who feel affinity with the acts, people or ideas put under the searchlights of the state.  The drumbeat of court dates, investigations, punishments- risks turning a possibly expansive struggle, outside and against all power, into a protest against only a specific form of repression, or even worse, a bargaining of innocence. This is a real betrayal of subversive charge which is the only thing the state ever really wants to repress anyway.

A comrade from the context of struggle in and around Bristol over the last twelve years will give a presentation outlining their perspective on the moments of joy and freedom in the fight against capital and the state, but also describe moments of capitulation and retreat and what may have led to this. Particular attention will be paid to the Kill the Bill riot of 2021 for which there was a big solidarity movement- many people have been sent to prison.

We want to discuss what solidarity means to us without preconceptions,starting from the questions which have emerged from Bristol over this period. We want to share ideas and in doing so, to sharpen them.