Extinction Rebellion protests: Group apologises over Tube disruption after furious mob of commuters clash with activists
Eight arrested as climate activists continue to defy London-wide ban on protests
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Your support makes all the difference.Extinction Rebellion has apologised after protesters tried to stop trains on London’s tube network, only to be fiercely attacked by a mob.
Protesters were dragged from the top of trains and attacked by angry commuters as they halted a train at Canning Town station this morning.
Dozens of commuters were seen pulling at two campaigners who climbed to the top of a tube train with a ladder before they unfurled a banner reading “Business as usual = death”.
Bystanders then began to kick one of the activists they managed to drag to the floor.
Meanwhile, another group of activists glued themselves to a DLR train at Shadwell while commuters shouted “We’re on an electric train”.
“We would...like to apologise to all those whose lives we disrupted this morning. We have spent a lot of time thinking about how best to respond,” am XR spokesperson said on Thursday afternoon.
“Extinction Rebellion remains fully committed to nonviolence. The climate and ecological emergency is the biggest threat facing us all today, and it is unfortunate that something like this has to happen for this to become ‘newsworthy’.
“That said, we are all incredibly sad at how events unfolded this morning, and are using this as an opportunity to learn and reflect as an organisation.
“Although we are pushing for disruption and civil disobedience, we are still learning how to do this in a way that does not result in violence, and that does not discriminate against hard-working individuals, especially those in communities who stand to be most affected by the climate and ecological crisis and are most vulnerable to systems of power.”
The group plans to continue its protests in central London, which have seen more than 1,600 people arrested.
If you would like to see how the protests unfolded, please see what was our live coverage below:
Protesters target Gatwick airport
A small group of Extinction Rebellion protesters are now protesting at Gatwick airport. The group told The Independent earlier that this action would not be disruptive.
One activist wearing a Trump mask has been filmed handing out leaflets as an Extinction Rebellion choir sings.
Extinction Rebellion to 'take stock' over Tube protests
Extinction Rebellion organisers say the group will “take stock” over whether to continue with future disruption to the London Tube network.
Activist Howard Rees, 39, told PA: “Was it the right thing to do? I am not sure.
“I think we will have to have a period of reflection. It is too early to say. I think we need to take stock of it.”
He added that the intention was not to “inconvenience hard-working people”, and said he did not think the apparently unsympathetic mood on the platform was indicative of a decrease in public support despite many posts on the XR London Facebook page expressing concerns that the stunt was counterproductive and should not have gone ahead.
Eight activists glued together outside Supreme Court
Eight protesters are currently glued to each other outside the Supreme Court to protest against Trident and demand that ecocide is made law.
(Extinction Rebellion)
Animal Rebellion activists arrested outside Red Tractor HQ
Animal Rebellion, an offshoot of Extinction Rebellion, said arrests are underway following its protests outside the Red Tractor HQ in London. The organisation approves farm standards.
Protesters rally outside Bangladesh embassy
Extinction Rebellion activists are also targeting the Bangladesh High Commission today to demand a halt to new coal power plants they say threaten world’s single largest mangrove forests.
Kofi Mawuli Klu, one of the organisers of the Extinction Rebellion International Solidarity Network, said: “Sundarbans are the world’s largest mangrove forests. We all have responsibilities to save them.
"For the Internationalist Solidarity imperatives of our Climate and Ecological Emergency International Rebellion demand, we boldly take sides with grassroots Communities of Resistance at the Global South front ranks of defending World Heritage sites like the Sundarbans"
(Extinction Rebellion)
Who are Extinction Rebellion?
As Extinction Rebellion protests continue into a second week, it's fair to say that the groups disruptive tactics have split public opinion.
So who are Extinction Rebellion's supporters and what are they hoping to acheive
Read more here:
Activists target mining giant
Extinction Rebellion has expressed "solidarity" with anti-poverty campaigners who are staging protests at the annual general meeting of BHP, formerly BHP Billiton, a multinational mining, metals and petroleum giant.
They claim the fallout from its activities has fuelled the climate emergency.
Tube fiasco 'horrifying', says group
A spokesman for Extinction Rebellion has said footage of a protester being dragged off the top of a Tube train by angry commuters was "horrifying" and did not reflect the public mood.
Howard Rees said: "It (the footage) was really horrifying, I'm deeply distressed by it.
"I'm concerned for everybody who was caught up in it.
"I really hope he (the protester) is all right. My understanding is he is in custody.
"I don't think it (the footage) is reflective (of the public support).
"What we need is active support, people who are willing to get arrested, and that doesn't have to come from a majority."
Downing Street says tube stunt has 'nothing to do with peaceful protest'
Downing Street heavily criticised Extinction Rebellion protesters for causing “unnecessary disruption” to London’s public transport services.
“What we saw this morning didn’t have anything to do with peaceful protest,” said the prime minister’s spokesperson.
“Those actions this morning caused unnecessary disruption to people trying to go about their business using public transport.
“It was rightly met with a swift and robust response from police and I think it is worth pointing out that those involved have also been criticised by their own supporters.”
Celebrity Extinction Rebellion supporters call themselves 'hypocrites'
Celebrity supporters of Extinction Rebellion (XR) have called themselves “hypocrites” for supporting environmental protests while living “high carbon lives”, Sarah Young reports.
More than 100 famous figures, including actor Benedict Cumberbatch, Sir Bob Geldof and actor Sienna Miller, have signed an open letter acknowledging that their lifestyles and professions contribute to the “climate emergency” XR is campaigning to end.
Read more here:
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