Extinction Rebellion has kicked off its “summer uprising” with protests in London and four other UK cities.
Monday’s activism – which targeted the capital, Leeds, Cardiff, Glasgow and Bristol – caused disruption to traffic in parts of the cities. Each of the location’s protests are themed on a different issue: rising sea levels, floods, wildfires, crop failures and extreme weather.
The environmental group is demanding that the UK government prevents further losses to biodiversity and commits to producing net zero greenhouse gases by 2025.
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It says more than 3,000 activists have signed up to participate in acts of civil disobedience this week.
In London, protesters blocked the Strand outside the Royal Courts of Justice, pulling a boat emblazoned with the slogan “Act Now”.
The group chose the location after it was announced last week that more than 1,000 activists who participated in April’s demonstrations were facing prosecution following the biggest act of civil disobedience in recent British history.
“We’re here in solidarity with them and climate activists all over the world who are putting their lives on the line for climate justice,” a spokesperson said.
Activists are also using boats to stop traffic in Cardiff, Glasgow, Bristol and Leeds. Extinction Rebellion said the demonstrators were acting “to demand the legal system take responsibility in this crisis, and ensure the safety of future generations by making ecocide law”.
“We also stand in solidarity with climate activists around the world who are sacrificing their freedom to fight for climate justice,” it added.
Commenting on the London protests, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Police spokesman said the force “absolutely recognises the right for people to protest, but it ought to be recognised that we must balance this with the rights of others to go about their daily lives”.
He added: “We have been engaged with the organisers to understand their plans but we cannot tolerate behaviour that crosses a criminal threshold, or causes significant disruption to communities across the capital.”
Founded in October 2018 by Roger Hallam, Gail Bradbrook, Simon Bramwell and other veteran environmental activists, Extinction Rebellion holds that disruptive but non-violent civil disobedience is the only way to “force the government to take action on the escalating climate crisis”, according to The Guardian.
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