BLM groups play key role as thousands expected at ‘kill the bill’ protests
May 1, 2021, 10:25 am

BLM groups play key role as thousands expected at ‘kill the bill’ protests

Black Lives Matter supporters at a ‘kill the bill’ protest in London on 17 April.

Black activists say they are alarmed by powers contained in the police, crime, sentencing and courts bill BLM groups

Tens of thousands of people are expected to join more than 40 protests against the police, crime, sentencing and courts bill on Saturday, with black activists playing lead roles in the “kill the bill” coalition.

Protests against the bill, which would grant the police a range of new discretionary powers to shut down protests, are expected in cities from Edinburgh to Exeter on May Day, with the main focus of dissent expected in London.

Organisers hope they will be the biggest demonstration of public opposition to the bill yet. More than 600 civil society and protest groups have called for the government to drop the legislation, and a planned quick passage through parliament has already been delayed.

Among those leading protests have been a number of groups that were instrumental in organising the UK’s Black Lives Matter marches last summer. Recent kill the bill protests in London have been led by BLM banners and have been addressed by a number of speakers aligned to the movement, particularly black women.

Phoen!x Tha Rude Boii, of Black Music Movement, who helped to organise a string of BLM protests last summer, said he felt motivated to begin a conversation among black activists around the crime bill because of persecution he had faced from police due to his activism.

“Instead of changing any laws or doing anything about the issues we raised , they’re just trying to shut down protest,” said Pheon!x, who preferred to use his artist name. He said black activists were particularly alarmed by the discretionary powers the new bill would hand to police.

“It’s just playing into that cycle of racism. It’s so obvious how that’s going to be used because it’s up to the police and home secretary to decide what protests are bothering people or not. Obviously people just walking down the street is bothering to police because they try to stop and search us.”

Marvina Eseoghene Newton at a protest in London on 17 April.

Marvina Eseoghene Newton, the founder of United for Black Lives and co-founder of BLM Leeds, said it was important to highlight that a range of activists and activist groups were involved in the movement against the crime bill. She said the leading role played by black women had given the movement an intersectional character that made it inclusive to all groups.

“We think about inclusion more than anyone else, because we know what intersectionality looks like,” said Newton, who compered two recent rallies in London. “The only way we can all be liberated is if we all liberate each other and be the best allies we can be to each other. So I can see my Roma brother and I can see my Muslim brothers and sisters and I can see my trans community and say: you matter, I see the pain.”

Participating in protests has specific risks for black activists, who have sometimes found themselves singled out by police. After one recent rally in Parliament Square, BLM activists issued a statement accusing police of targeting black protesters in an effort to flush them out – targeting that they said was not experienced by white activists.

“Protesting while black is different, and no one really tells that story,” Newton said. “Our right to protest comes with a lot of fear, a fear of being put on Redwatch , a fear of being put on the EDL pages, or of being targeted on the day of the march.”

Aima, of All Black Lives, who has spoken at several kill the bill protests in London, prefers not to give her surname to journalists after a Daily Mail story that outed her as an organiser of BLM protests led to her receiving torrents of abuse. “Especially in this country, when black people speak out about the racism they have suffered from people, British people start getting defensive,” she said.

In her experience, black people better understood the wide-ranging implications of the bill, Aima said. “My problem is getting the white people to listen,” she said. “Because I’m a creator on TikTok, I speak to a lot of leftist creators around the world, and the black people in America that I know are speaking more about this than white leftists in this country.

“Black people will be fearful to go out and protest when this bill passes, because when it passes our voices will not be heard at all.”

In London, protesters are due to gather in Trafalgar Square from midday, with marches beginning earlier in Brixton and Elephant and Castle in south London aiming to join them. In total, 46 kill the bill protests are expected across the UK. BLM groups

source: Damien Gayle

Levant

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.