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| Extinction Rebellion: PM labels protesters 'uncooperative crusties' | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Extinction Rebellion protesters on the streets of London have been labelled "uncooperative crusties" by Prime Minister Boris Johnson. | Extinction Rebellion protesters on the streets of London have been labelled "uncooperative crusties" by Prime Minister Boris Johnson. |
| The demonstrators - who are demanding action on climate change - should abandon their "hemp-smelling bivouacs" and stop blocking roads, the PM added. | The demonstrators - who are demanding action on climate change - should abandon their "hemp-smelling bivouacs" and stop blocking roads, the PM added. |
| Police have already arrested more than 300 people at the start of two weeks of protests by environmental campaigners. | Police have already arrested more than 300 people at the start of two weeks of protests by environmental campaigners. |
| Some activists glued themselves to government buildings early on Tuesday. | Some activists glued themselves to government buildings early on Tuesday. |
| Speaking at a book launch, Mr Johnson said: "I am afraid that the security people didn't want me to come along tonight because they said the road was full of uncooperative crusties and protesters of all kinds littering the road. | Speaking at a book launch, Mr Johnson said: "I am afraid that the security people didn't want me to come along tonight because they said the road was full of uncooperative crusties and protesters of all kinds littering the road. |
| "They said there was some risk that I would be egged." | "They said there was some risk that I would be egged." |
| Mr Johnson added protesters could learn from former PM Margaret Thatcher, who he said had taken the issue of greenhouse gases seriously long before activists such as Greta Thunberg were born. | Mr Johnson added protesters could learn from former PM Margaret Thatcher, who he said had taken the issue of greenhouse gases seriously long before activists such as Greta Thunberg were born. |
| "I hope that when we go out from this place tonight and we are waylaid by importunate nose-ringed climate change protesters, we remind them that she was also right about greenhouse gases." | "I hope that when we go out from this place tonight and we are waylaid by importunate nose-ringed climate change protesters, we remind them that she was also right about greenhouse gases." |
| Extinction Rebellion activists are protesting in cities around the world, including Berlin, Amsterdam and Sydney. | Extinction Rebellion activists are protesting in cities around the world, including Berlin, Amsterdam and Sydney. |
| The Metropolitan Police said there have been 319 arrests in relation to the demonstrations since 00:01 BST on Tuesday. | The Metropolitan Police said there have been 319 arrests in relation to the demonstrations since 00:01 BST on Tuesday. |
| Some 200 campaigners who camped overnight on streets in central London also faced arrest on Tuesday morning after being issued with warnings by police. | Some 200 campaigners who camped overnight on streets in central London also faced arrest on Tuesday morning after being issued with warnings by police. |
| Activists who blocked Horseferry Road, in Westminster, throughout the night were warned that they will be arrested unless they move to nearby Trafalgar Square. | Activists who blocked Horseferry Road, in Westminster, throughout the night were warned that they will be arrested unless they move to nearby Trafalgar Square. |
| But many said they were prepared to stay in the camp. Mike Gumn, 33, from Bristol, told the PA news agency: "We will decide as a group when we are going to move and we are not going to let police tell us when." | But many said they were prepared to stay in the camp. Mike Gumn, 33, from Bristol, told the PA news agency: "We will decide as a group when we are going to move and we are not going to let police tell us when." |
| 'A last resort' | 'A last resort' |
| By Becky Morton, BBC News | By Becky Morton, BBC News |
| Behind Parliament Square there are dozens of tents where protesters from Scotland, Cumbria and north-east England have camped overnight. | Behind Parliament Square there are dozens of tents where protesters from Scotland, Cumbria and north-east England have camped overnight. |
| Mikaela Loach, 21, travelled from Edinburgh on Monday with a friend on a bus organised for protesters. | Mikaela Loach, 21, travelled from Edinburgh on Monday with a friend on a bus organised for protesters. |
| She says she has attended protests before but this is her first time camping out overnight. | She says she has attended protests before but this is her first time camping out overnight. |
| "I was a bit worried about police coming in the middle of the night, but it was a nice atmosphere having people around you that are here for the same cause," she said. | "I was a bit worried about police coming in the middle of the night, but it was a nice atmosphere having people around you that are here for the same cause," she said. |
| "I've spoken to my local MP, I've taken part in protests, I just feel like I haven't been listened to. This is a last resort," she said. | "I've spoken to my local MP, I've taken part in protests, I just feel like I haven't been listened to. This is a last resort," she said. |
| "I have been changing things in my lifestyle for a long time to try and be more eco-friendly, but I had a realisation that it doesn't matter if I go vegan or zero waste if the government doesn't do anything. | "I have been changing things in my lifestyle for a long time to try and be more eco-friendly, but I had a realisation that it doesn't matter if I go vegan or zero waste if the government doesn't do anything. |
| "There need to be big structural changes." | "There need to be big structural changes." |
| Some activists glued themselves to the Department for Transport building early on Tuesday, a tactic used in demonstrations earlier this year. | Some activists glued themselves to the Department for Transport building early on Tuesday, a tactic used in demonstrations earlier this year. |
| A lorry was also parked on Marsham Street, outside the entrance to the Home Office, with protesters attaching themselves to the vehicle. | A lorry was also parked on Marsham Street, outside the entrance to the Home Office, with protesters attaching themselves to the vehicle. |
| On Monday, organisers blockaded key sites in central London, in addition to demonstrating outside government departments. | On Monday, organisers blockaded key sites in central London, in addition to demonstrating outside government departments. |
| Some glued and chained themselves to roads and vehicles - those who did so outside Westminster Abbey were later removed by police. | Some glued and chained themselves to roads and vehicles - those who did so outside Westminster Abbey were later removed by police. |
| The roads behind Downing Street were blocked throughout the day by protesters, some of whom had erected tents in the street and were sitting down and singing songs together. | The roads behind Downing Street were blocked throughout the day by protesters, some of whom had erected tents in the street and were sitting down and singing songs together. |
| The protests are calling for urgent action on global climate and wildlife emergencies. | The protests are calling for urgent action on global climate and wildlife emergencies. |
| Further road closures are expected on Tuesday, with Parliament Street, Great Smith Street and Westminster and Lambeth bridges predicted to be heavily affected. | Further road closures are expected on Tuesday, with Parliament Street, Great Smith Street and Westminster and Lambeth bridges predicted to be heavily affected. |
| Extinction Rebellion claims protests in the capital will be five times bigger than similar events in April, which saw more than 1,100 people were arrested. | Extinction Rebellion claims protests in the capital will be five times bigger than similar events in April, which saw more than 1,100 people were arrested. |
| What is Extinction Rebellion? | What is Extinction Rebellion? |
| Extinction Rebellion (XR for short) wants governments to declare a "climate and ecological emergency" and take immediate action to address climate change. | Extinction Rebellion (XR for short) wants governments to declare a "climate and ecological emergency" and take immediate action to address climate change. |
| It describes itself as an international "non-violent civil disobedience activist movement". | It describes itself as an international "non-violent civil disobedience activist movement". |
| Extinction Rebellion was launched in 2018 and organisers say it now has groups willing to take action in dozens of countries. | Extinction Rebellion was launched in 2018 and organisers say it now has groups willing to take action in dozens of countries. |
| In April, the group held a large demonstration in London that brought major routes in the city to a standstill. | In April, the group held a large demonstration in London that brought major routes in the city to a standstill. |
| Read more here. | Read more here. |