Extinction Rebellion protests – live: Activists strip naked outside Barclays after police remove people glued to plants
Latest developments as they happen
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Activists at the Extinction Rebellion protest have now been freed from the plant pots, onto which they had glued themselves, only to be been placed immediately into handcuffs and taken to a police van.
Others stripped naked infront of a branch of Barclays bank in protest, behind a banner which read: “We are all vulnerable, stop funding fossil fuels”.
Meanwhile, dozens of medical staff, including doctors, surgeons and anesthetists, gathered outside JP Morgan’s headquarters in London calling on the investment bank to divest from fossil fuels on Friday, with a warning that failing to act now would make the planet “uninhabitable”.
Some protesters lay on the floor while others stood behind a giant banner reading “stop funding fossil fuels”.
Dr David McKelvey, a GP for 36 years, said: “We call on them to face up to the reality of catastrophe they are fuelling. Stop all new fossil fuel investments now.”
Police gathered at the Canary Wharf site and one nurse could be heard telling security “you’re hurting me, you’re really hurting me”.
JP Morgan declined to comment on the protest.
The action is the tenth day of the ongoing Impossible Rebellion, a series of protests by Extinction Rebellion and related groups on environmental issues.
On Thursday, activists from HS2 Rebellion, an offshoot of Extinction Rebellion, scaled the seven-storey Tower Place West building in the City of London which houses the offices of insurance company Marsh – linked to the HS2 rail project.
Dozens of medical staff gather outside J P Morgan in Canary Wharf
Good morning from the 10th day of Extinction Rebellion’s takeover of London.
This morning, dozens of medical staff - including doctors, surgeons and anesthetists - have gathered outside J P Morgan in Canary Wharf, demanding that the financial services giant stops funding fossil fuels.
Some lay on the floor and others stood behind a giant banner reading “stop funding fossil fuels”.
Currently only a very small police presence is here, alongside some of Canary Wharf’s own security team.
We’ll keep you updated as things develop.
Medics stage protests in their scrubs - pictures
‘We have a duty to act,’ says XR activist
An XR member has plugged in a microphone and begun explaining to passers—by, and J P Morgan employees, why the group is here today.
“As healthcare professionals, we have a duty to act,” she told the crowd of people gathering around.
“The fact is we know that the root cause of the majority of harm affecting children is fossil fuel burning, so we are asking J P Morgan today to stop investing in them.”
As she finished, a second police van arrived and more officers could be seen circling the demonstration.
It’s still fairly quiet, but an XR spokesperson has told The Independent that protestors will be here “until we all get arrested”.
Security staff warn XR members they will be removed from area
Here’s more from Independent reporter Sam Hancock:
Men calling themselves the head of security at J P Morgan’s Canary Wharf building have begun telling XR members that they must leave immediately.
“Do you understand what I’m saying?” The Independent heard one of the men tell protestors.
“This is private property and if you don’t leave of your own free will, my staff will remove you or the police will. Do you understand?”
The majority of medical stuff said they would not leave and are now being removed by force.
‘You’re really hurting me’
This nurse could be heard telling security “you’re hurting me, you’re really hurting me”.
Three police vans arrive as protesters glue hands to floor
As police and private security begin picking doctors and nurses off the floor, three more police vans have arrived outside J P Morgan.
Two protestors have now super glued their hands to the floor, while two others have glued themselves to flower boxes outside the building.
Cleanup operation already underway
A cleanup operation is already underway by J P Morgan as cleaners began frantically clearing red spray paint which read “code red”.
Police have now formed a human barrier on one side of the demonstration to obstruct protestors from coming back.
XR protestors move demo to DLR station
After an intense removal by police and Canary Wharf security, XR protestors are now sat in a group outside the DLR station.
One woman, who is crying, has said the police were violent enough when they moved her that it hurt her arthritis.
Another, Adele Stanton, an occupational therapist, told The Independent that she worked mostly with wheelchair users.
“I work hard, I’ve taken the day off work today to be here because I believe it’s that important.
“The simple fact is that as climate change worsens and things like floods and fires become more frequent, it’ll be the wheelchair users I work with - or people like them - who die first.”
Ms Stanton, 57, added: “I have a duty of care to them.”
Video shows protesters being removed
Protesters ‘unable to deliver letter to JP Morgan'
An XR member has been told he cannot deliver the letter the group has written to J P Morgan in person.
A canary wharf security guard walked into the building to aak but was told the company will not accept anything they are given, he claimed.
Police have now formed a fairly tight barrier around protestors, who remain outside the DLR, and are telling us we may not be able to return if we leave.
Passers-by are also being instructed to walk around the circle of security - not through the gaps.
One XR member told The Independent five medical staff are still glued to the path in front of J P Morgan’s building.
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