Some of you guys in the UK would have heard about this. I used to live in Bristol so thought I should post about it.
Basically, Tesco (UK version of Walmart pretty much) opened a new convenience store in Stokes Croft, Bristol. Stokes Croft and the Cheltenham Road area is known for independently run stores, delis etc where there is a real community spirit.
Locals told the Local council that they did not want a Tesco as it would ruin the community. Council didn't listen despite years of petitions, surveys (97% of the community said they didn't want the store) protests, squatting etc and decided to give Tesco the go ahead.
Police supposedly received a tip-off that the store was going to be petrol bombed and arrested the suspects immediately. However, word soon spread to the other locals and they vented their anger on the store.
This quickly escalated into a riot with 400 locals vs 160 riot police. The store was trashed, police cars smashed up and 8 police officers injured (broken teeth from fights with the protesters).
Bristol County Council are now trying to clear up the aftermath, including lots of graffiti reading "We say no Tesco, why didn't you listen?'
Heres some clips:
Police officer getting taken out with a bottle/brick?
Main bits of the Riot
Tesco being hit:
Capitalizt
The police should firebomb those dumbasses.
Domesticated
Awesome. As much as I hate left-wingers and their vigilante , this is totally justified, though wrong.
I love Tesco and their delicious products, but man are they an evil corporation. Up there with America's worst, for sure. Except for United Fruit Company.
EddieZilker
quote:
Originally posted by Domesticated
Awesome. As much as I hate left-wingers and their vigilante , this is totally justified, though wrong.
I love Tesco and their delicious products, but man are they an evil corporation. Up there with America's worst, for sure. Except for United Fruit Company.
i.e. Monsanto, ADM, Wall Street?
Zyklon_Jay
in cases like these the company always wins.
big box chains are a cancer, but at the end of the day the low prices always win over the personal touch.
the same idiots rioting will probably be shopping there within a year.
Jackson
quote:
Originally posted by Zyklon_Jay
the same idiots rioting will probably be shopping there within a year.
Yeah, I mean the community could just choose not to shop there.
Although, it is still pretty F'ed up that the council decided to go ahead even though 97% of the population was fully against it.
Just chatting to a mate of mine who lives on the street, stood on his door step to see what was going on (behind the police line) and got hit by a bottle. He said most of the people there were just people spectating.
Zyklon_Jay
i'm betting that the person who owns the land is either well connected or a councilor himself.
profit is nicer than positive public opinion.
Domesticated
quote:
Originally posted by Zyklon_Jay
in cases like these the company always wins.
big box chains are a cancer, but at the end of the day the low prices always win over the personal touch.
the same idiots rioting will probably be shopping there within a year.
For sure. I love New York with a passion and realise it does have a lot of independent stores, but the monotony of the chains is sickening. It's like every block has the same 10 stores, so not only are the stores themselves homogenised, the whole ing city is.
Oh, and speaking of arsehole companies: Ryanair. Their wikipedia page is comical for the sheer amount of negativity. They're just kind of dicks though, as opposed to being evil.
Domesticated
quote:
Originally posted by Domesticated
For sure. I love New York with a passion and realise it does have a lot of independent stores, but the monotony of the chains is sickening. It's like every block has the same 10 stores, so not only are the stores themselves homogenised, the whole ing city is.
This coming from a guy who only owns about four pieces of clothing purchased outside of H&M. Yeah, I like my clothes nice and bland.
Sandsider
The guy with the sax was begging to be clubbed, I fookin' hate jazz.
Acton
I read about this but never saw any footage, I didn't realise it was that bad!
Also, this...
quote:
Originally posted by Zyklon_Jay
the same idiots rioting will probably be shopping there within a year.
So true :stongue:
Jackson
Watching the vid of the officer getting hit. Trying to work it out. Not sure if he:
A) Actually got a direct hit.
B) Took a deflection from the copper to his right (looks like it could have bounced of the shield).
C) Twisted his ankle or something on the debris that was near his feet.
