March 29, 2024

Extinction Rebellion protesters get set for ‘ceremony of grief and funeral procession’

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Extinction Rebellion protesters are camping out ahead of fresh action over the weekend with a ‘ceremony of grief’ due to be held today followed by a funeral procession through the streets of London.

The eco-anarchists are due to meet outside the Imperial War Museum in Lambeth, south-east London at around 1.30pm today where they will ‘unite in grief, rage and love for life on Earth’. 

It comes as Paralympic cyclist James Brown was last night charged with causing a public nuisance after climbing on a jet as part of Extinction Rebellion protests. 

Scotland Yard said he had been charged with causing a public nuisance contrary to common law. He will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court today. 

Brown, who is visually impaired, competed for Britain, Ireland and Northern Ireland in a career which saw him participate at five Paralympic Games and earn two gold medals and a bronze. 

Police work to remove Extinction Rebellion environmental activists from wooden road block towers at a protest site they are calling Burning Earth at Trafalgar Square in London

An Extinction Rebellion environmental activists protest is arrested outside the entrance of the 6th Government Oil and Gas Fiscal Summit at the Andaz London Hotel blockading Liverpool Street last night

Extinction Rebellion activist James Brown sits on top of the roof of a British Airways plane at London City Airport on Thursday

Extinction Rebellion environmental activists shelter from torrential rain outside the entrance of The 6th Government Oil and Gas Fiscal Summit at the Andaz London Hotel on Liverpool Street

The eco-anarchists are due to meet outside the Imperial War Museum in Lambeth, south-east London at around 1.30pm today where they will ‘unite in grief, rage and love for life on Earth’. It comes after they last night put up wooden road block towers at a protest site they are calling Burning Earth at Trafalgar Square

Extinction Rebellion environmental activists shelter from torrential rain as they continue their two week occupation of London as part of a worldwide campaign to raise awareness around climate change

Police attempt to remove an Extinction Rebellion protester from a wooden roadblock tower at Trafalgar Square last night 

As the group continues its two weeks of action tomorrow, protesters are invited to express their ‘profound grief for Extinction through a unifying march’ and will join a jazz-funeral band for the procession. Police stand guard in Trafalgar Square last night

Police work to remove Extinction Rebellion environmental activists from wooden road block towers at a protest site they are calling Burning Earth at Trafalgar Square last night

The wooden roadblock came despite police finally managing to clear roads around Trafalgar Square and allow traffic back in for the first time since the Extinction Rebellion demonstrations began

Trafalgar Square is one of 12 situated around key Government locations in central London the group aim to occupy for up to two weeks through non violent protest (pictured, protesters there last night)

The rain didn’t stop Extinction Rebellion protesters from setting up wooden road block towers at a protest site they are calling Burning Earth at Trafalgar Square last night

An Extinction Rebellion environmental activists protest is arrested outside the entrance of The 6th Government Oil and Gas Fiscal Summit at the Andaz London Hotel blockading Liverpool Street last night

As the group continues its two weeks of action tomorrow, protesters are invited to express their ‘profound grief for Extinction through a unifying march’ and will join a jazz-funeral band for the procession. 

Inviting people to join them, a Facebook event for tomorrow’s activities reads: ‘We join together and hit the streets; if you have been watching the rebellion from afar, now is the time to come together and bring your family and your friends to immerse yourselves in our mass participation movement. 

‘In the midst of Rebellion, we will express our profound grief for Extinction through a unifying march.

‘Express yourself in accordance to the mourning rituals of your culture. Start in nature, end in nature. We unite in grief, rage and love for life on Earth.

‘Bring your puppets, flags, banners and any other 3D art objects you have made which represent extinction and wear black, white, and pink.’ 

It comes as police had to last night work to remove environmental activists from wooden road block towers at a protest site they are calling Burning Earth at Trafalgar square.  

The site is one of 12 situated around key Government locations in central London the group aim to occupy for up to two weeks through non violent protest.

It came despite police finally managing to clear roads around Trafalgar Square and allow traffic back in for the first time since the Extinction Rebellion demonstrations began.

An Extinction Rebellion environmental activist appears to drink oil outside the 6th Government Oil and Gas Fiscal Summit at the Andaz London Hotel

Also yesterday, environmental activists appeared to drink oil outside an oil and gas summit at the Andaz London Hotel. A number of protesters could be seen pouring the dark liquid into their mouths and across their bodies

It comes as Metropolitan Police chief Cressida Dick said the force had been ‘stretched’ by XR protests, impeding its ability to respond to other crimes (pictured, activists appear to drink oil outside the 6th Government Oil and Gas Fiscal Summit at the Andaz London Hotel)

Extinction Rebellion environmental activists create a blockade outside the 6th Government Oil and Gas Fiscal Summit at the Andaz London Hotel

An Extinction Rebellion environmental activist is arrested outside the 6th Government Oil and Gas Fiscal Summit at the Andaz London Hotel yesterday

Taxis and cars were allowed along Whitehall and into Trafalgar Square for the first time since the climate activists took hold of the area in Westminster on Monday.

The breakthrough secures a minor victory for overstretched Scotland Yard officers who still have to clear hundreds of demonstrators from the east side of the square.  

The activists remained seated in the road, meaning only half of Trafalgar Square is open to traffic. They have said they want to be arrested and will not move willingly.

It comes as Metropolitan Police chief Cressida Dick said the force had been ‘stretched’ by XR protests, impeding its ability to respond to other crimes.

At the end of a week of demonstrations that has seen more than 1,100 arrests, the force was also dealing with the fatal stabbings of two teenagers within four hours.

Dame Cressida said she hoped the activists would choose to either ‘protest lawfully’ or ‘go home’ after their ‘failure to take and occupy the streets that they wanted to’.

She said: ‘If they do that then of course I can deploy many of my officers back to the streets, back to the neighbourhoods, back to the schools, back to the wards of the people of London. 

‘We are responding to all serious matters and urgent matters of course, carrying on with our crime investigations in homicide or armed robbery… but we’re having to move work from one unit to another and the less urgent, less critical, less important work of course gets delayed.’

Protesters climbed onto the canopy of the BBC’S New Broadcasting House during their protest in London this morning

Extinction Rebellion protesters try to superglue themselves to the front doors of the BBC headquarters this morning

Police carry away a climate activist at a protest action at the BBC offices during the fifth day of demonstrations this morning

A flag placed on the statue of George Orwell outside the BBC New Broadcasting House in London this morning

Police officers arrest a protester during the Extinction Rebellion demonstration outside the BBC offices in London yesterday

A protester holds a banner saying ‘tell the truth’ next to the BBC logo at the corporation’s offices in London yesterday 

Climate change protesters stand on top of the canopy at the entrance to the BBC New Broadcasting House in London yesterday

Extinction Rebellion protesters found a new target this morning when they picketed the BBC’s New Broadcasting House HQ

Protesters blocking the entrance to the BBC New Broadcasting House in London during the XR protest this morning

Activists blocked the entrance to the BBC’s central London headquarters on Friday, with some scaling the front of the building.

BBC staff members reported being unable to get in to New Broadcasting House this morning as dozens of protesters camped outside the main entrance with banners urging the corporation to end its ‘silence’ on climate change.

Also yesterday, environmental activists appeared to drink oil outside an oil and gas summit at the Andaz London Hotel. A number of protesters could be seen pouring the dark liquid into their mouths and across their bodies. 

The day before, demonstrations focused on London City Airport, where protesters attempted a ‘Hong Kong-style occupation’ of the terminal building, with hundreds blocking the main entrance.  

James Brown, a partially-sighted Irish cyclist who was banned from athletics in 2016 for a doping violation, was able to circumvent security at London City Airport by buying a boarding pass.

This allowed him to get through the relevant security checks that are prevalent at any UK airport and board a flight he had no intention of taking.

Brown, was then being helped onto the plane by staff, before breaking free and apparently managing to shin up the side of the fuselage and onto the roof.

He admitted he was ‘s***ing myself’ while filming a video in the wind from on top of the Embraer 190 plane bound for Amsterdam as the activists began three days of action at London City Airport. 

The Paralympian took part in the stunt on Thursday, one month after being arrested for allegedly flying a drone over Heathrow

Inspector Brian Smith of Brixton police station poses with a selection of vegan and vegetarian portions for detainees inside the station’s cells

It was also revealed yesterday that Scotland Yard has had pallets of meat-free dishes and dairy-free drinks delivered to its police stations amid an influx of detainees following eco-protests across London. 

Vegan activists that are currently being detained in police cells throughout London will be given the option of a vegetarian chilli for their evening meal tonight.

Inspector Brian Smith of Brixton station revealed the force had ordered in extra vegan portions after activists moaned about a lack of meat-free options in April.

During the similarly-widespread protests, detainees also complained about a shortage of alternatives to cow’s milk, such as soya and almond milk.

In a video posted to social media, Inspector Smith said: ‘Well everyone knows we ran a bit low last time so this time we’ve got plenty.

‘In fact yesterday a pallet load of vegan food was delivered so we’ve got plenty for everyone.’ 

A Metropolitan Police source told the MailOnline: ‘Record numbers of vegan meals are being used in our cells’.

Options for non vegan or vegetarian prisoners currently include chicken tikka, chicken korma and spicy chicken with rice.

It comes after staff at Brixton police station were sent a thank you note and flowers by one Extinction Rebellion detainee following their release.

The note read: ‘To all the kind souls at Brixton police station, for all you have done with decency and professionalism.’

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