Extinction Rebellion protests block traffic in five UK cities

 Image: Julia Hawkins

The environmental activist group is calling for greater government action against the climate emergency. Monday’s demonstrations – targeting London, Cardiff, Leeds, Bristol and Glasgow – caused disruption to traffic in parts of the cities.

Protests in each city are focusing on a different ecological threat: rising sea levels, floods, wildfires, crop failures and extreme weather. According to Extinction Rebellion, more than 3,000 activists across the country have signed up to participate in acts of civil disobedience this week, a third of those in London.

The group has installed large coloured boats in each location, branded with the message “Act Now”.

Extinction Rebellion is demanding that the UK government prevents further losses to biodiversity and commits to producing net zero greenhouse gases by 2025.

The group said it would carry out “creative acts of civil disobedience” including blocking roads and bridges, as well as holding educational workshops. Activists in London have promised to continue the action for a week.

More than 15 police vans accompanied the crowd outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, where about 250 protestors blocked the Strand. The group included children as young as three months old.

A spokesperson for Extinction Rebellion said: “After [our campaign in] April, parliament declared an environmental emergency, but no action has been taken on this, so we’re here to remind them that actions speak louder than words.”

The group said it chose the Royal Courts of Justice after it was announced last week that more than 1,000 activists who participated in April’s demonstrations were facing prosecution. Extinction Rebellion disrupted London and other cities with 11 days of protests that it cast as the biggest act of civil disobedience in recent British history.

“We’re here in solidarity with them and climate activists all over the world who are putting their lives on the line for climate justice,” the spokesperson said.

The group said it planned to occupy the Strand for the duration of the day, with activists sitting on the ground and singing together to stop traffic.

“I’m involved because I have children and I want them not to starve and die in social collapse. If you look at what scientists are saying, that’s what’s coming,” said Roc Sandford, 61.

Wilf, a 50-year-old teacher who did not give his surname, said: “We’ve all read the science, we know the story, the whole phase of denial is over, and if it takes civil disobedience to make a difference, then so be it.”

A Met police spokesman said the force “absolutely recognise the right for people to protest, but it ought to be recognised that we must balance this with the rights of others to go about their daily lives. We also have to consider policing across London, which significant protest requiring the deployment of large numbers of officers could impact.

“We have been engaged with the organisers to understand their plans but we cannot tolerate behaviour that crosses a criminal threshold, or causes significant disruption to communities across the capital.”

Bristol Bridge was closed because of the protests, with activists planning to occupy it for four days. South Wales police said roads in Cardiff city centre were also blocked, where activists are conducting a people’s assembly to discuss the climate emergency.

In Leeds, protesters set up tents on Victoria Bridge, one of the main transport networks over the River Aire.

Alex Evans, 43, said: “My eldest child is nine years old and for each of those nine years I’ve watched her future get steadily worse while everyone waits for everyone else to do something on climate change. Now we’re out of time and we can see climate breakdown all around us. Enough’s enough: it’s time to act now.”

Molly Blackall 

This article first appeared on the Guardian