London - Police arrested nearly 300 people as thousands of
Extinction Rebellion climate activists blocked main roads and at
least two bridges in central London on Monday's opening day of global
protests by the group.
The Metropolitan Police reported a total of 280 arrests across London
by late in the evening. Officers had to drag away protesters who were
sat in the middle of a main road into Parliament Square.
Other protesters erected scaffolding, tents, vehicles and makeshift
buildings to block roads, under the close watch of hundreds of
uniformed police.
The police thwarted plans by religious activists to create a "faith
bridge" blockade along Lambeth Bridge, which was sealed off by police
but blocked by protesters at one end.
One elderly protester who travelled from the nearby city of Oxford
said he was escorted off the bridge by dozens of police, adding that
another man was arrested for obstruction.
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/XRebellionUK?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@XRebellionUK pic.twitter.com/UWyJ1Jxx0G
— Extinction Rebellion Peace (@XRPeaceUK)
"They grabbed anything that was put on the bridge, like a giant
statue. We're lucky to be here," said the man, who gave only the
single name Steven
"It's very indicative of the modern world that the secular police
stop 'faiths united'," he told dpa as he guarded flags and religious
images hung on railings as a makeshift shrine.
Environmental protestors gather around the head of a statue confiscated by police on Lambeth Bridge in central London. Picture: Matt Dunham/AP
Environmental activists blocked roads leading to Britain's Parliament in an attempt to disrupt the heart of government. Picture: Matt Dunham/AP
Another middle-aged Christian protester, carrying a large wooden
cross on his shoulder, said he had travelled to Lambeth Bridge from
the edge of London.
Asking to be identified only by his first name, Simon, he said he was
at his first Extinction Rebellion event.
"I've come of my own volition to do my own pilgrimage, but I'm very
sympathetic to why everybody else is here," Simon told dpa.
"I realized today is a significant day, and I have friends in Malawi,
in Sierra Leone, in Haiti - where I've worked - and they can't be
here," he said.
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/ClimateEmergency?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ClimateEmergencyis the biggest issue of our generation
We pray and take action for all those people already affected and all the children who want a safe future pic.twitter.com/b8yu9FBzPC
— Christian Climate Action (@CClimateAction)
"But they were already suffering [in Malawi] 25 years ago when they
couldn't explain why they're getting droughts year after year," Simon
said. "Things haven't improved... And so I'm carrying a cross because
this cross is a symbol of hope."
Caroline Lucas, Britain's sole Green Party member of parliament, said
the protests are "sending a clear message to government to say we
need to tell the truth about the climate emergency."
Climate protestors block Lambeth Bridge leading to Britain's Parliament in central London in an attempt to disrupt the heart of government. Picture: Matt Dunham/AP
"We need radical action now," Lucas said in a video message from one
of the protests.
"There is more political leadership on the streets than I've ever
seen in the House of Commons," she said, referring to parliament's
elected house, where she sits.
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/ExtinctionR?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ExtinctionRon London's streets than I've ever seen in the House of Commons
I wish them well and stand in solidarity with all those taking peaceful action pic.twitter.com/LMfBrUG3X1
— Caroline Lucas (@CarolineLucas)
Extinction Rebellion UK said at least 23 people were arrested as
police tried to remove a model of a Trident nuclear-capable missile
that was erected in a "peace blockade" outside Britain's Defence
Ministry earlier Monday.
The group has promised "the largest regenerative movement of civil
disobedience in history."
Climate protestors block Lambeth bridge, leading to Britain's Parliament in central London. Picture: Matt Dunham/AP
The police said 11 people were arrested over the weekend.
Extinction Rebellion, or XR, said the police also seized six
vehicles, plus tents, toilets and "disabled access equipment" from a
London warehouse.
Climate protestors block Lambeth bridge leading to Britain's Parliament in central London. Picture: Matt Dunham/AP
"They really know how to get to people," Steven said. "They can't
protest with a full bladder. Well done, police!"
Smaller Extinction Rebellion protests were held in cities across the
globe on Monday, including Berlin, Paris, New York and Wellington.