Extinction Rebellion protests – live: Activists glue themselves to top banks in ‘shut down’ of London’s financial district
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Your support makes all the difference.Extinction Rebellion is targeting London’s financial hub, with hundreds of activists blocking streets around the City of London in an effort to cause “maximum disruption” as the climate change protests moved into their second week.
Flouting police instructions to stay within Trafalgar Square, demonstrators glued themselves to the Walkie Talkie building, Barclays Bank, BlackRock and BAE systems while highlighting the impact that the sector’s investment in fossil fuels, intensive farming and logging is having upon the environment and the Global South.
Ahead of the Queen’s speech, the protest group projected Greta Thunberg’s incendiary UN speech on to the Houses of Parliament on Sunday night.
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The "Red Brigade" has joined protesters in Bank.
The concept was created by Invisible Circus, a Bristol-based street performance group, who say the brigade "symbolises the common blood we share with all species, that unifies us and makes us one".
Here are photos from Emma Snaith of the group outside the Royal Exchange.
Credit: Emma Snaith
Credit: Emma Snaith
Journalist George Monbiot, a prominent figure in the global climate movement, has stated his intention to get himself arrested on Wednesday.
"As a white, middle class man with an established career, I am less vulnerable than the great majority of other people," he has written. "I feel I have a moral duty to use this privilege for the sake of those without such liberty and without my voice.
"After very nearly being killed several times while working as an investigative journalist in West Papua, Brazil and East Africa, sometimes on almost suicidal missions, almost the only thing that still holds fear for me is our inaction in the face of environmental crisis."
In case you missed it yesterday...
Here's a man dressed as broccoli being led away by police.
The man, who wore green face paint, a suit and a floret-style hat, had previously been seen holding a sign reading: "I'm locally sourced and environmentally friendly".
Arrests have taken place at Barclays Bank, where protesters appear to have been glued to the entrances for some hours.
In the past three years, the company has invested $85bn in oil, coal and gas projects, according to People and Planet.
While the Met confirmed there was no notable disruption to the Queen's eco-friendly journey to parliament today, some have suggested Her Majesty's chosen method of transport could be a nod to the cause.
Yiu Mok/PA Wire
Hundreds of people gathered outside the Bank of England with protesters blocking entrance from five roads, Emma Snaith reports from Bank.
People sat in circles on the floor with a group of XR Buddhists taking some time for a spot of meditation.
Credit: Emma Snaith
Protesters cleared the roads at least three times to let ambulances through amid loud cheers.
Credit: Emma Snaith
The red rebel brigade, dressed in red to symbolise "the blood of our species" marched through the streets to assemble at the steps of the Bank of England.
One woman performed a comedy skit at the Duke of Wellington statue about “carbon addiction" and the need to set up support groups to tackle it.
Others held signs reading "we have jobs" and "invest green".
Hundreds of protesters are now reportedly en route to London Bridge.
The crowd are drumming, whistling and dancing as they march down Cannon Street, headed by scientists dressed in lab coats.
They have blocked the crossroads outside Monument station, sitting in the road and bringing traffic to a halt on London Bridge and several surrounding streets.
For those in the City wondering about their commute, Transport for London have issued an update.
Roads around Bank are still blocked, while traffic on London Bridge is reportedly moving again.
A homeless man who reportedly sleeps out at Victoria coach station says he has joined XR as a steward.
Some of the nearly 400 scientists who yesterday published an open letter in support of civil disobedience in the face of climate breakdown are among those blockading the entrance to BlackRock.
Dr Emily Gossman told those gathered: “I have been researching biodiversity loss for the last six months, and I haven’t had a good night’s sleep since.”
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