#ExtinctionRebellion shuts down London’s busiest streets with climate change protest (VIDEOS)
Environmental protesters have mobilized to take over five of London’s most iconic locations, bringing streets to a standstill, with the aim of forcing the UK government to take serious action on the “global climate emergency.”
Extinction Rebellion (XR), an environmentalist group responsible for causing scenes in the House of Commons earlier this month when semi-naked activists stripped off in Parliament as MPs tried to debate Brexit, claim they intend to occupy the roads for at least 72 hours.
PRESS RELEASE: Today, 11am, London: International Rebellion begins https://t.co/uy81QjACJ1#extinctionrebellion#marblearch#oxfordcircus#waterloobridge#parliamentsquare#hydeparkcorner#piccadillycircus#rebelforlifepic.twitter.com/MLRen8w1YN
— Extinction Rebellion 🐝⌛️🦋 (@ExtinctionR) April 15, 2019
Social media was awash with pictures and videos of activists blocking the streets of Oxford Circus, Waterloo Bridge, Marble Arch, and Parliament Square with banners and sculptures, including a massive pink boat sporting the words: “Tell the Truth.”
Oxford Circus
VID: Climate change protesters glued to a pink yacht which has been planted in the middle of Oxford Circus, London. #extinctionrebellion@ExtinctionR@LdnRebellion@Newsflare@CClimateActionpic.twitter.com/u5MzvUYWyX
— Urban Pictures (@Urban_Pictures) April 15, 2019
Protestors from @ExtinctionR have put a boat that says ‘Tell The Truth’ on the side in the middle of Oxford Circus in London. Today is the group’s #InternationalRebellion where they plan to bring parts of the capital to a standstill. pic.twitter.com/AuqMeTmUYE
— Catrin Nye (@CatrinNye) April 15, 2019
Waterloo Bridge
Climate Change Protesters from @ExtinctionR have just blocked Waterloo Bridge. Their plans are to bring London to a standstill with similar round-the-clock blockades in Parliament, Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus and Marble Arch @LBCpic.twitter.com/v6G3YjR7FV
— Rachael Venables (@rachaelvenables) April 15, 2019
Waterloo bridge blocked with a giant heart #ExtinctionRebellion#XR#london#waterloopic.twitter.com/NNSoUfF9bK
— Noel Douglas (@signsofrevolt) April 15, 2019
Marble Arch
They’ve picked a nice day to bring Marble Arch to a standstill. Just seen a middle-aged woman holding a placard with a wonderfully English apology for their rebellion: “Sorry for the inconvenience but I really don’t know what else to do.” pic.twitter.com/Z54dUYRlmN
— Patrick Kidd (@patrick_kidd) April 15, 2019
At the Extinction Rebellion protest at Marble Arch where someone calling himself Sustaina Claus and clutching a toy panda has led a call to save the planet. They’re now going to block Hyde Park Corner with performance art. pic.twitter.com/PkgW7JNxIe
— Patrick Kidd (@patrick_kidd) April 15, 2019
Piccadilly Circus
@XRCardiff welcoming a roaming band of protesters to the what can only be described as a party in #piccadillycircuspic.twitter.com/7VvU0S5Sq6
— josh lowe (@josh_lowe) April 15, 2019
#ExtinctionRebellion#ER on Piccadilly Circus pic.twitter.com/lq2e9WWSp2
— Mx Jason Peper 🛡 (@jason_peper) April 15, 2019
Parliament Square
Elsie, a schoolchild, addresses the crowd: “a few weeks ago, there was a debate on climate change in parliament and barely any politicians turned up. This is not okay. They know this is an emergency. They are just hiding from the truth.”#BeyondPolitics#InternationalRebellionpic.twitter.com/6K0wzab8fC
— Extinction Rebellion 🐝⌛️🦋 (@ExtinctionR) April 15, 2019
The crowds are arriving in Parliament Square. Look at these beautiful flags. Look at this beautiful movement. Come down now. Join us. #InternationalRebellion#BeyondPoliticspic.twitter.com/uo0MR9Pcpt
— Extinction Rebellion 🐝⌛️🦋 (@ExtinctionR) April 15, 2019
XR claim more than 2,000 volunteers have signed up to the UK part of what organizers hope will be an international week of protest. Monday will see protesters in around 80 cities in more than 33 countries hold similar demonstrations on the same environmental issues, campaigners say.
“This will be a full-scale festival of creative resistance, with people’s assemblies, art actions, stage performances, talks, workshops, food and family spaces,” the group says on its website.
The demonstration, which XR describes as non-violent civil disobedience, comes on the back of similar action in November that saw thousands of protesters occupy five bridges in central London. Police arrested 85 activists that day and organizers say they expect further arrests on Monday.
Also on rt.com Semi-naked activists strip off in UK parliament as MPs try to debate Brexit (PHOTOS, VIDEO)Think your friends would be interested? Share this story!
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