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As it happenedended
3 years ago

Extinction Rebellion protest: Activists bring parts of London to standstill and daub bank with paint

Campaigners target London’s financial institutions over fossil fuel investments

Jane Dalton
Friday 27 August 2021 15:54 EDT
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UK: Extinction Rebellion Protesters March Through London For 4th Straight Day

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Hundreds of Extinction Rebellion activists have blocked roads in parts of London, as they gathered to demand action on the climate crisis.

The campaigners, staging a fifth day of protests that are due to last another week, target London’s financial institutions, starting with a ‘blood money’ march.

The “Impossible Rebellion” organisers called for a halt to all investment in fossil fuels, which emit damaging greenhouse gases when burnt.

Protesters in city suits daubed the famous Guildhall in the City of London in red paint, and splashed it on buildings including Standard Chartered bank and outside the London Stock Exchange.

Tonight, the group blocked Queen Victoria Street close to Bank Station with bamboo structures.

3 years ago

Smoke and banners over ‘blood money'

Protesters let off orange smoke outside St Paul’s Cathedral near the City of London and erected banners claiming institutions were built with “blood money”.

City investments outstrip UK CO2 emissions by 80 per cent, they said.

Jane Dalton27 August 2021 16:45
3 years ago

Bankers ‘drawing short-term profit from long-term destruction'

Writers Rebellion, a group of writers supporting Extinction Rebellion, accused bankers of “drawing short-term profit from long-term destruction”, saying the City was the “ultimate symbol of our exploitative extractive economy”.

Meanwhile, large numbers of supporters danced to music in the City.

Jane Dalton27 August 2021 17:33
3 years ago

‘Blood’ poured on stock exchange

Fake blood was poured outside the London Stock Exchange, and activists danced peacefully in the red liquid.

(Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Jane Dalton27 August 2021 17:55
3 years ago

Traffic blocked as activists climb up large structure

Protesters have blocked Canon Street outside Mansion House station, leaving traffic unable to cross the road junction.

Hundreds of people, some beating drums, others in fancy costume or waving flags, made their way there, monitored by large numbers of police officers.

They erected and climbed up a large bamboo structure.

Jane Dalton27 August 2021 18:18
3 years ago

Give the Queen a break and meet our demands, XR tells Cop26 head

The Queen will attend the Cop26 climate talks in November, president of the talks Alok Sharma announced.

But in a sarcastic response, Extinction Rebellion asked Mr Sharma to “give her majesty a break”.

“Great idea!” they wrote. “We know unless you ban all new fossil fuel investments now #COP26 will be a right royal f***-up, so you may as well make it official. Or meet our demands now, and give her majesty a break.”

Jane Dalton27 August 2021 18:45
3 years ago

There was some pushing and shoving between police and demonstrators, who staged a sit-in at Mansion House junction.

(Celine Wadhera)
Jane Dalton27 August 2021 18:58
3 years ago

Police warn protesters of arrests

Police have started going through the crowd issuing warnings.

They are telling protesters they may start issuing a section 14 order - allowing officers to impose conditions if they think there will be serious public disorder or serious damage to property or activities.

People will be arrested once the order is given, police say.

Jane Dalton27 August 2021 19:14
3 years ago

More than 300 people arrested this week

Police have arrested 305 Extinction Rebellion protesters this week, officers said.

XR said: “When the government calls an end to new fossil fuel investment, we’ll stop shutting down the capital.”

And the protesters say the system built on fossil fuels is killing the planet.

(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
Jane Dalton27 August 2021 19:30
3 years ago

Tackle inequalities, says Black Lives campaigner

Marvina Newton, founder of United for Black Lives, who led the speeches and the march, told The Independent: “We’re saying that we need to decolonise the economy.

“And the only way we can do that is by us telling the truth, and powerful organisations of how colonisation and capitalisation has affected marginalised and disadvantaged communities, mostly those from the global south.

“By working with our allies, we are united for black lives, and working with BLM green, we can come together to tackle these inequalities.”

Jane Dalton27 August 2021 19:45
3 years ago

‘Unacceptable’ to use paint on landmarks, says Met

Police said they consider it “totally unacceptable” to use paint to deface London landmarks.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said: “Like everyone else, Extinction Rebellion have the right to assemble and protest, however this is a qualified right, and they do not have the right to cause serious and unreasonable disruption to others.

“The unreasonable disruption caused by Extinction Rebellion, particularly as London continues to recover from the pandemic, is deeply frustrating, especially for communities who will see local officers pulled into central London in response.”

Jane Dalton27 August 2021 19:55

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