Historic photos of women's protests acts as a campaign against the policing bill
The East London exhibition displays photographed images from women’s protests throughout history
A photography exhibition launches in East London today, campaigning against the policing bill and celebrating Women's History Month.
The exhibition shares photographs from women’s movements over the years, showcasing various protests and activism throughout history.
It aims to shine a light on the impact protests can have and their importance for positive change.
The exhibition
The Four Corners exhibition opening today is titled 'Photographing Protest: Resistance Through a Feminist Lens’.
The film and photography centre showcases images from Britain’s political struggles and times of social change, looking at representation of resistance and how images resonate across generations.
It brings together the work of women, nonbinary, and feminist activist photographers from 1968 to present day.
Carla Mitchell, Four Corners Artistic Development Director tells us, “It looks at protests, movements and campaigns through images taken across that time.
“From early 70’s equal pay and nursery provision to Thatcher in the 80’s, campaigns like lesbian and gay rights, Greenham common women’s peace camp, miner’s wife’s during the strike, and anti-racist campaigns.
“There’s been an explosion of protests photographers have documented in recent years, black lives matter, extinction protests, and the Sarah Everard campaign.”
Photography protest
Alongside celebrating Women’s History Month, the exhibition aims to share the power of protests, opposing the policing bill.
Carla tells us, “The bill that’s going through parliament is looking to criminalise the ability to exercise our democratic right to protest.
“Our exhibition displays the need for that freedom, the validity of protests and the importance of representing the people who participate.”
Photographer Angela Christofilou’s work is part of the exhibition.
Angela has covered marches for women’s and LGBTQ+ rights, Brexit and Trump protests, as well as demonstrations by Black Lives Matter and Extinction Rebellion.
She tells us, “Photos are important in raising awareness and starting conversations and change, social media is huge now and the first thing we see is an image."
She adds, “Representation is important. We need female’s documenting what they have a lived experience of, what they can respect and understand."
Women’s History Month takes place a year since Sarah Everard was killed and six months since the murder of Sabina Nessa.
Angela says, “It’s so important women’s voices are heard, and continue to be louder and stronger.
“This exhibition not only aims to serve inspire people of today to stand up for what they believe in, but future generations and communities to.
“It displays the new and the old, and we’ve got issues that aren’t changing.”
Police, crime, sentencing and courts bill
The police, crime, sentencing, and courts bill is a bill covering aspects across the criminal justice system, including the right to protest.
It proposes that being too noisy or causing too much “annoyance” would be grounds to shut protests down, alongside restrictions on protests outside parliament.
Home Secretary Priti Patel announced the bill after police called to be able to act on peaceful protests, after the extinction protest saw activists in Parliament Square glued to trains and the ground.
In January proposals were voted down in the House of Lords, including the noise complaint proposition giving police the power to shut down any protest that’s considered too loud.
Opposition peers also voted for misogyny to be a hate crime in England and Wales, Labour MP Richard Burgon said it "attacks the right to peaceful protest".
Demonstrations emerged across the country as those opposing join the 'Kill the bill' movement, charities including ActionAid are also campaigning against the bill.
Priti Patel has said, “This bill is vitally important as we overhaul the criminal justice system and make our streets safer.
“It must be passed soon so that we can continue to cut crime, reduce violence and protect women and girls.”
She’s also written to MP’s to back anti-protests, opposition are standing up against her ideals.
After passing its third reading in Parliament, it was returned for consideration of Lords amendments on the 28th February.
It’s now going back and forth between the Commons and Lords houses for amendments until an agreement is reached on proposals.
If and once a final version is agreed, the bill will receive Royal Assent and become law (an Act of Parliament).