Extinction Rebellion plans 10 days of climate protests in London
Activists vow to sit in street outside Houses of Parliament
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Your support makes all the difference.Extinction Rebellion are set to march on the Houses of Parliament as they begin ten days of climate protests across central London.
The group is going ahead with a series of events from 1 to 10 September despite being warned by police they face arrest if they breach strict conditions placed on the demonstrations.
Planned stunts include a ”carnival of corruption” outside the Treasury, a “walk of shame” near the Bank of England and a silent protest outside Buckingham Palace.
On Tuesday morning demonstrators will converge on Parliament Square from four separate locations to demand MPs support a new Climate and Ecological Emergency (CEE) Bill.
“Rebels will choose to sit in the streets – overnight if necessary – to maintain a constant presence and pressure until our voices are truly heard,” the group vowed on Facebook. “We will sit outside until they act to back the bill”.
However, the Metropolitan Police said that gatherings can only take place off the main roads at Parliament Square Gardens between 8am and 7pm.
They have also told Extinction Rebellion not to use boats, vehicles, trailers or other structures as part of their procession.
Met Commander Jane Connors warned that anyone taking part who knowingly fails to comply with the conditions “may be liable to arrest”.
She said: “Ahead of a number of planned environmental protests due to take place in central London tomorrow, we have decided to impose conditions under Section 12 and Section 14 of the Public Order Act (1986) on protesters looking to assemble, and those looking to go on a procession.
“The reason we have implemented these conditions is that we know these protests may result in serious disruption to local businesses, commuters and our communities and residents, which I will not tolerate.”
Police have attempted to crack down on protests and illegal raves over the Bank Holiday weekend by issuing a series of £10,000 fines.
Piers Corbyn, the brother of ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, received one of the fixed penalty notices after holding an anti-lockdown demonstration in Trafalgar Square on Saturday but said he would refuse to pay.
Extinction Rebellion protesters have already staged several demonstrations across England over the weekend, including at a number of airports against proposed expansion plans. On Monday a group of wailing “banshees” performed a protest in Woolwich against the new Silvertown road tunnel under the Thames.
Three women were also arrested following a protest in Brighton on Saturday, with specialist officers called to escort down demonstrators who had scaled the West Beach cafe on the seafront.
Police made more than 1,700 arrests during last year’s Extinction Rebellion protests after activists managed to blockade bridges and major roads in central London over several days.
Additional reporting by Press Association
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