Extinction Rebellion protests: Roads closed after climate activist scales Parliament’s walls, as group threatens to target Tube network
More than 1,400 arrested over nine days of protests
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Your support makes all the difference.Extinction Rebellion insists its “international rebellion will continue” and plans to target the London Underground after activists were ordered to stop their protest in London immediately or face arrest.
It comes after hundreds of activists blocked streets around the City of London in an effort to cause “maximum disruption” and demand urgent action on the climate crisis.
Flouting police instructions, this morning the group’s co-founder Gail Bradbrook climbed the entrance to the Department for Transport in Westminster while other activists glued themselves to the building.
Protesters have also been arrested after blocking the road outside the headquarters of MI5.
One demonstrator briefly scaled a fence by the Houses of Parliament, only to be removed shortly afterwards.
Parliament Square was closed while the operation took place.
Meanwhile, the group is planning to take the police to court after it banned Extinction Rebellion protests from London in a move human rights groups have condemned as “chilling and unlawful”.
Anti-Brexit barrister Jo Maugham QC claimed the move was a “huge overreach” of police powers, human rights lawyer Adam Wagner called it “draconian and extremely heavy-handed”, and Allan Hogarth from Amnesty International said it was “unacceptable”.
”This ban is completely contrary to Britain’s long-held traditions of policing by consent, freedom of speech, and the right to protest,” said Diane Abbott, the shadow home secretary.
The climate protests are set to continue for several more days.
Extinction Rebellion said demonstrators “apologise to all those who may be affected by [Thursday’s tube protests] but this is an emergency”.
If you would like to see how Tuesday’s protests unfolded, please see what was our live coverage below:
Margaret Atwood wears Extinction Rebellion badge while accepting Booker prize
Last night, Margaret Atwood was spotted wearing an Extinction Rebellion badge as she announced the joint winner of the Booker Prize.
EPA
Extinction Rebellion says police are banning protests because of 'resource issues'
Extinction Rebellion police liaison Paul Stephens said police had chosen to restrict protest action because of the "resources issue".
The former Met police officer, who left the force in 2018 after 34 years of service, said: "Right from the outset we were told our demonstration was unacceptable and the police would use every piece of legislation to prevent it.
"There has been very little communication of any meaning since that point."
He added: "We're just going to continue. We are always creative, we are always peaceful, we've always been prepared to risk arrest."
Extinction Rebellion activists protest outside the MI5 building (AFP)
Green MEP arrested in trafalgar Square says protest ban is 'completely unjustified'
A Green MEP was arrested last night in Trafalgar Square while taking part in the Extinction Rebellion protests.
Writing on Twitter after her arrest, she said the London-wide ban on the protests imposed by the Metropolitan polic was a “completely unjustified and disproportionate measure”.
Amnesty International condemn police ban
Amnesty International has condemned the Met Police's ban on Extinction Rebellion protesting in London as "chilling an unlawful".
Allan Hogarth, head of advocacy and programmes at the human rights group's UK arm said the section 14 order was "an unlawful restriction on the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly".
He added: "Under UK and international human rights law, the Government has an obligation to facilitate the exercise of these rights.
“The majority of those protesting have been doing so peacefully, removing and prosecuting activists for engaging in non-violent direct action to raise their voice is deeply worrying. Overly harsh and disproportionate charges will have a chilling effect on rights.
“This is a heavy-handed and unacceptable move by the Metropolitan Police. Certain disruption to ordinary life for protesting is natural, and it needs to be tolerated. The police must respect the rights of those peacefully protesting and ensure that the voices of those demanding action on tackling the climate crisis are allowed to be heard.”
Banning Extinction Rebellion is 'huge overreach of police powers', barrister says
Barrister Jo Maugham QC has claimed the Metropolitan Police's decision to ban Extinction Rebellion protests was "a huge overreach" of police powers.
Mr Maugham said on Twitter: "We believe the section 14 Order is invalid - that it amounts to a huge overreach of the statutory power - and likely reflects the enormous political pressure the Met is under.
"It exposes the Met to all sorts of risks - of legal challenges to validity, of civil claims for wrongful arrest with aggravated damages and so on - merely because this Government cannot tolerate peaceful protest."
Extinction Rebellion to take police to court
Extinction Rebellion are to take police to court over the protest ban, according to the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme:
'The police have limited protestors' right to freedom of expression'
Human rights group Article 19, which defends the freedom of expression, is the latest organisation to condemn police over the section 14 order.
Executive director Thomas Hughes said: "Section 14 of the Public Order Act should not be used to close down protests completely. By forcing people from designated areas in Trafalgar Square, the police have limited protestors' right to freedom of expression.
"The police might restrict freedom of expression in some circumstances but the protection of internationally guaranteed human rights must be applied as a rule during all protests.”
Protesters lock on to caravan outside MI5
Extinction Rebellion protesters have locked themselves to a caravan outside the MI5 building.
Co-leader of Green Party joins 'impromptu rally' in Trafalgar Square
The co-leader of the Green Party, Sian Berry, has joined an impromptu rally at Trafalgar Square, Extinction Rebellion said.
It comes after police cleared the site of protesters last night following a London-wide ban issued on the protests.
A number of politicians and celebrities are expected to join a larger rally tomorrow
Extinction Rebellion
Extinction Rebellion presses ahead with plans to take police to court
Extinction Rebellion has said it has taken the first steps towards a judicial review of the Metropolitan Police's attempts to restrict protest action.
In a statement it said: "In response to the Metropolitan Police's disproportionate and unprecedented attempt to curtail peaceful protest last night, Extinction Rebellion has taken the first steps towards a judicial review.
"Our lawyers have delivered a 'Letter before Action' to the Met and asked for an immediate response."
Tobias Garnett, a human rights lawyer working for Extinction Rebellion, said the group's "letter before action" warned police to withdraw their order, adding that if they don't "we are going to bring an action in the high court to compel them to do so and that's a judicial review".
He added: "If we don't hear from them this afternoon then we intend to file a claim in the next few hours. We will be looking for an expedited hearing either today or tomorrow morning
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