ASH BLIGH- WALL

DJ BUNGZO IN THE FEMALE AND NON- BINARY DJ CREW, BOOTY BASS, ASH WORKS FOR CITY TO SEA, A NON- PROFIT ORGANISATION THAT BATTLES PLASTIC POLLUTION

"IT WAS IMPORTANT TO HAVE A SAFE SPACE TO EXPRESS MY PASSION FOR ACTIVISM"

When I was younger, I searched for purpose and meaning in life and landed on environmental activism as the most urgent and important cause I could dedicate my time to, which led me to veganism, because animal agriculture is the leading cause of climate change.

The more I learned about the enormity of the cruelty and suffering that billions of animals face every day, the more galvanised I became to take action, and so I began working for the animal rights campaigning organisation, Viva! [ Europe’s largest vegan charity]. It was during this time that XR came to exist, and it felt only natural that I take part.

I first participated in a march and a die- in just before Christmas 2018 in Cabot Circus in Bristol and felt certain this was a movement I wanted to be a part of. James and I met in March and attended No Violence Direct Action training together a week before the April Rebellion. I came away feeling inspired and impressed with the way the training was carried out. I went on to attend meetings, be a part of further actions and receive training in wellbeing, arrestee support and coordination.

As my partner, James is the co- founder of the Rainbow Rebellion. He’s a passionate and radical queer who is driven and dedicated to the cause. As a person that identifies as non- binary, it was important for me to know that there was a safe space to express my queerness and passion for activism with like- minded queer rebels. Our sense of unity fuels us and the sense of unity overall in XR. It’s important to recognise that marginalised communities will be the ones hit hardest and affected the worst by climate change.

I was not surprised when I found out James [ Williams] was arrested – in fact, I was expecting it. I feel proud of James and support him in the ways he chooses to rebel against the current system. It’s great that he has chosen to use his privilege in making a sacrifice that others cannot afford to make.

It’s necessary and important that people are allowed to protest. The actions taken by the Met, especially in regards to disabled rebels, has been literally out of order and needs to be addressed. The High Court ruling went some way in doing this.