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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

Thousands of extra officers will police weekend action

Police say they are preparing to deploy thousands of extra officers in the capital over the bank holiday weekend to oversee further climate protests as well as other planned events.

The Met said they had been forced to request “a small number” of extra officers from neighbouring forces for support.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said: “As we head into the weekend, we are ready to respond to a number of different demonstrations by protest groups, including Extinction Rebellion.

“This past week, officers have worked hard to balance the rights of the protesters with those of the community. However, on many occasions demonstrators’ actions became unreasonable and they caused or tried to cause serious disruption to the public and businesses.

“Activists have frustrated the policing response by using complex lock-on devices which take time for officers to safely remove.”

Jane Dalton27 August 2021 20:05
3 years ago

London mayor slates ‘disruptive and unlawful’ protests

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has warned the protests are diverting police resources from other parts of the city.

He said in a statement: “I share the passion of those who have taken to the streets to highlight the urgent need to tackle the climate crisis.

“Preventing and reducing violent crime should be the priority of the police. That is why we want to keep the police presence at any protests in central London to a minimum so that our frontline officers can focus on suppressing violence, tackling crime and keeping Londoners safe.”

He continued: “As well as the potential to divert police resources at a vital time, I’m concerned that ongoing disruptive and unlawful protests could hamper our city’s green recovery and, ultimately, risk turning public opinion against a vitally important campaign.

“I have always supported the democratic right to protest, and I urge anyone planning to protest this bank holiday weekend to co-operate fully with the police and to act peacefully, safely and lawfully at all times.”

Jane Dalton27 August 2021 20:15

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