Monitoring the state and learning from history: policing and racism in the Statewatch Library & Archive
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24 November 2021
We invite you to join us in exploring the connections, similarities and differences between past and present events and struggles through an examination of materials from the Statewatch Library & Archive, a collection of over 800 books, 2,500 items of ‘grey literature’ and a host of other documents and ephemera concerning civil liberties and the state.
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The connections between policing and racism have been in the headlines frequently since the murder of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis, USA, last year. Protesters have called for an end to many long-standing police practices and, with the call to defund the police, for an end to the traditional model of policing altogether.
Many of the protesters’ demands are not new. In the UK, there is a long history of community and political activism on the issues of policing and racism. We invite you to join us in exploring the connections, similarities and differences between past and present events and struggles through an examination of materials from the Statewatch Library & Archive, a collection of over 800 books, 2,500 items of ‘grey literature’ and a host of other documents and ephemera concerning civil liberties and the state.
This event is held with the School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol and is supported by the Economic and Social Research Council as part of the Festival of Social Science.
Agenda
Introduction by Ann Singleton, Reader in Migration Policy at the School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol
A series of short presentations by:
Tony Bunyan, Director Emeritus and founder of Statewatch, on learning from history and police monitoring
Nadine Finch, former human rights lawyer, on surevillance and policing of the Irish community in Britain
John Pegram, Bristol Copwatch, on the roots of community resistance through monitoring and Copwatch around the UK
Hannah Vickers, the Bristol Cable, on the policing of Bristol protests and the importance of community media
An hour to explore archive materials from the Statewatch Library, working with documents and sharing reflections.
An opportunity to discuss the work of each speaker and the archive materials, in a discussion session facilitated by the Statewatch team.
Join us in Bristol at the Barton Hill Settlement on Wednesday 24 November, 5:30-7:30 pm.
For those who cannot attend in person, online attendance is also possible. Archive materials will be digitalised in order for you to participate in the workshop on documents,
though this element of the evening may involve less interactive discussion for online participants.
Our work is only possible with your support.
Become a Friend of Statewatch from as little as £1/€1 per month.
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