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'Swarming' sit-down protests disrupt London traffic 'Swarming' sit-down protests disrupt London traffic
(35 minutes later)
Climate activists blocked traffic at four points around London as they escalated their environmental protests by trying to bring parts of the city to a standstill during the morning rush-hour. Climate activists blocked traffic at four sites around London as they escalated their environmental protests by trying to bring parts of the city to a standstill during the morning rush-hour.
One group of protesters from Extinction Rebellion blocked traffic over the Thames at Lambeth and Vauxhall bridges, while other groups took action at Elephant and Castle, Tower Bridge and Earl’s Court. One group of protesters from Extinction Rebellion blocked motorists trying to cross the River Thames at Lambeth and Vauxhall bridges, while other groups took action at Elephant and Castle, Tower Bridge and Earl’s Court.
Some frustrated motorists shouted abuse; others, including many cyclists, backed the demonstrations. Some frustrated motorists shouted abuse; others, including many cyclists, supported the demonstrations.
About 35 protesters arrived at Lambeth Bridge just before 8am, chanting and waving banners and placards. Leaflets were handed to motorists in the queue of traffic.About 35 protesters arrived at Lambeth Bridge just before 8am, chanting and waving banners and placards. Leaflets were handed to motorists in the queue of traffic.
The protests are part of a campaign of mass civil disobedience organised by Extinction Rebellion, which wants to force governments to treat the threats of climate breakdown and extinction as a crisis. The protests are part of a campaign of mass civil disobedience organised by Extinction Rebellion, which wants to force governments to treat the threats of climate change and species extinction as a crisis.
Cars sounded their horns and one driver got out to remonstrate with police accompanying protesters. Officers told him to be patient. Cars sounded their horns and one driver got out to remonstrate with police monitoring the protesters. Officers told him to be patient.
One angry passerby who asked police why they could not clear the roadblock was told that the activists had a right to protest. “You’re part of the problem and all,” he shouted back at them. One passerby, who asked police why they could not clear the roadblock, was told that the activists had a right to protest. “You’re part of the problem and all,” he shouted back at them.
The lane blocked by the activists was the northbound exit to the roundabout just outside Lambeth Palace. Traffic was soon backed up far down the Albert Embankment and other tributary roads. The Lambeth Bridge blockades caused traffic to back up along the Albert Embankment and other tributary roads, before the demonstrators moved on to Vauxhall Bridge to continue their protests.
After several blockades of Lambeth Bridge, demonstrators moved on to Vauxhall Bridge to continue their protests. At Elephant and Castle, the swarming protest blocking the busy junction was bolstered after lunch by the arrival of several dozen students from the nearby London College of Communication.
At Elephant and Castle, the swarming protest blocking the busy junction was bolstered after lunch by the arrival of several dozen students from the nearby London College of Communication, after activists invited them to join in. One student, Renee, 18, who declined to give her surname, said the protest was “incredibly impactful”.
One student, Renee, 18, who declined to give her surname, said of the protest: “I think it’s incredibly impactful. It’s supporting issues that are very prevalent nowadays that people should know about. I don’t know if it’s the right way to do protest, but at the end of the day it has an effect.” “It’s supporting issues that are very prevalent nowadays that people should know about. I don’t know if it’s the right way to do protest, but at the end of the day it has an effect.”
Her friend Ekene, also 18, worried that the methods might alienate people, “so then obviously when they see the cause they are going to associate it with anger. So I’m not sure if it’s the best way.” Nonetheless, both said they would join the next big Extinction Rebellion protest, planned for Saturday. Her friend, Ekene, 18, worried that the methods might alienate people, “so then obviously when they see the cause, they are going to associate it with anger. So I’m not sure if it’s the best way.” Nonetheless, both said they would join the next Extinction Rebellion protest, planned for Saturday.
The activists had met at the statue of Nelson Mandela on the South Bank at 7am, where they were told the location of the protests. Ronan McNern, one of the protest organisers, said the plan was to cause major disruption with a number of teams of 20 or so activists moving around London.
Ronan McNern, one of the protest’s organisers, said the plan was to cause major disruption with a number of teams of 20 or so activists moving around London. “It is going to be very different to Saturday. We don’t know what the reaction is going to be,” he said. “The lights go red, they go into and sit down in the road, wait seven minutes,” he said. “If anybody needs to get past, we’ll let them through. Come off after seven minutes, take a break, let the angry drivers at the front go, then the light goes red and you go on again.
“The lights go red. They go into and sit down in the road, wait seven minutes. If anybody needs to get past, we’ll let them through. Come off after seven minutes, take a break, let the angry drivers at the front go, then the light goes red and you go on again.
“This is about causing economic disruption by slowing things down, bringing things to a gridlock. This is an experiment, really. I think that’s the most important word.”“This is about causing economic disruption by slowing things down, bringing things to a gridlock. This is an experiment, really. I think that’s the most important word.”
He added: “So many amazing things have happened. Three weeks ago no one knew the name Extinction Rebellion, then there was the declaration [of rebellion], there was the week of action, there was 6,000 people [on the bridges through central London]. He added: “Three weeks ago no one knew the name Extinction Rebellion, then there was the declaration [of rebellion], there was the week of action, there was 6,000 people [on the bridges through central London on Saturday].
“This is a much more serious tactic – this is an experiment. The only way to affect the government is to hit things economically.” “This is a much more serious tactic … The only way to affect the government is to hit things economically.”
On Saturday, 82 protesters were arrested after occupying Southwark, Blackfriars, Waterloo, Westminster and Lambeth Bridges, in one of the biggest acts of peaceful civil disobedience seen in the UK in decades. On Saturday, 82 protesters were arrested after occupying Southwark, Blackfriars, Waterloo, Westminster and Lambeth bridges, in one of the biggest acts of peaceful civil disobedience seen in the UK in decades.
In the previous two weeks, police made more than 60 arrests of activists for taking part in acts of civil disobedience, ranging from gluing themselves to government buildings to blocking roads. Many activists were arrested more than once. In the previous two weeks, police arrested more than 60 activists for taking part in acts of civil disobedience, ranging from gluing themselves to government buildings to blocking roads. Many activists were arrested more than once.
“The other important thing is to remember that these are all people that are willing to be arrested,” McNern said. “So it’s very different from when you are dealing with people who are scared of being arrested.” McNern said all the activists were willing to be arrested. “So it’s very different from when you are dealing with people who are scared of being arrested.”
He said the group had been in touch with the police to inform them of their plans and they were willing to abandon any blockade that hampered the movement of emergency vehicles. He said the group had told the police of their plans and they were willing to abandon any blockade that hampered the movement of emergency vehicles.
On top of their specific demands, organisers say they hope the campaign of “respectful disruption” will change the debate around climate breakdown and signal to those in power that the present course of action will lead to disaster. Organisers say they hope the campaign of “respectful disruption” will change the debate around climate change and signal to those in power that the present course of action will lead to disaster.
Environmental activismEnvironmental activism
ActivismActivism
LondonLondon
ProtestProtest
Climate change
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