This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-66074939

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
London Pride: Seven arrests as Just Stop Oil protest temporarily halts parade London Pride: Seven arrests as Just Stop Oil protest delays parade
(about 1 hour later)
Police moved to arrest a group of protesters in Piccadilly as the annual Pride parade got underway Watch: Police remove Just Stop Oil protesters from Pride parade
Watch: Police remove Just Stop Oil protesters from Pride parade
Seven Just Stop Oil protesters have been arrested while trying to halt the annual Pride parade in central London.Seven Just Stop Oil protesters have been arrested while trying to halt the annual Pride parade in central London.
Images on social media showed police removing demonstrators who managed to briefly stop the march.Images on social media showed police removing demonstrators who managed to briefly stop the march.
The Metropolitan Police said seven people were arrested for public nuisance offences.The Metropolitan Police said seven people were arrested for public nuisance offences.
Before the parade started, LGBTQ+ Just Stop Oil members called on Pride to stop accepting sponsorship money from "high-polluting industries".Before the parade started, LGBTQ+ Just Stop Oil members called on Pride to stop accepting sponsorship money from "high-polluting industries".
Police said the parade was delayed for around 17 minutes while officers dealt with the protesters at Piccadilly's junction with Down Street. Organisers estimate more than 30,000 participants from across 600 organisations took part in the parade.
Speaking after the arrests, Will De'Athe-Morris, from Pride in London said he did not want the protest to overshadow the parade's core message.
"Pride is a protest and pride is a celebration," he told the BBC. "We are protesting for LGBTQ+ rights and for our trans siblings in a separate march alone.
"So for us anyone who tries to disrupt that protest and parade is really letting down those people who use this space once a year to come together to celebrate and protest for those rights."
Protesters stopped in front of a Coca-Cola float in Piccadilly
Police said the parade was briefly delayed for around 17 minutes while officers dealt with the protesters at Piccadilly's junction with Down Street.
BBC Radio London's Rob Oxley said the protesters "sat down in front of the Coke float for around 20 minutes".BBC Radio London's Rob Oxley said the protesters "sat down in front of the Coke float for around 20 minutes".
"The DJ on the float continued to play music and the crowd cheered as they were removed.""The DJ on the float continued to play music and the crowd cheered as they were removed."
Organisers anticipate tens of thousands of people will come to watch the parade in central London Organisers estimated around 30,000 participants from across 600 organisations took part in the parade
It comes after Just Stop Oil earlier threatened to disrupt the march if the parade did not stop accepting sponsorship money from "high-polluting industries".
Before the parade started, LGBTQ+ members of Just Stop Oil called on organisers to condemn new oil, gas and coal licences.Before the parade started, LGBTQ+ members of Just Stop Oil called on organisers to condemn new oil, gas and coal licences.
"These partnerships embarrass the LGBTQ+ community at a time when much of the cultural world is rejecting ties to these toxic industries," they said in a statement."These partnerships embarrass the LGBTQ+ community at a time when much of the cultural world is rejecting ties to these toxic industries," they said in a statement.
LGBTQ+ people are "suffering first" in the "accelerating social breakdown" caused by climate change, they added.LGBTQ+ people are "suffering first" in the "accelerating social breakdown" caused by climate change, they added.
Speaking after the arrests, Will De'Athe-Morris, from Pride in London said he did not want the protest to overshadow the parade's core message. Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, says many people involved in the parade are passionate about tackling climate change, but disruption isn't the right approach
"Pride is a protest and pride is a celebration," he told the BBC. The procession started at midday at Hyde Park Corner and people peacefully made their way through Westminster's streets - it will finish at Whitehall Place.
"We are protesting for LGBTQ+ rights and for our trans siblings in a separate march alone. A number of stages are expected to host performances from LGBTQ+ acts as part of the celebrations.
"So for us anyone who tries to disrupt that protest and parade is really letting down those people who use this space once a year to come together to celebrate and protest for those rights. The parade began at Hyde Park Corner and weaved its way through central London - it is due to end at Whitehall Place
"There are so many more opportunities during the year to share your messages, please don't try and rain on this parade. Mr De'Athe-Morris urged protesters not to "rain on this parade".
"There are so many more opportunities during the year to share your messages, please don't try and rain on this parade," he said.
"We don't want to see a day marred in any way by people trying to disrupt it.""We don't want to see a day marred in any way by people trying to disrupt it."
Earlier, Sadiq Khan described Just Stop Oil as a "really important pressure group" despite the disruption threats.Earlier, Sadiq Khan described Just Stop Oil as a "really important pressure group" despite the disruption threats.