Home UK Climate change protesters to ‘pause’ after 963 arrests

Climate change protesters to ‘pause’ after 963 arrests

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Climate change protesters who have spent the last week bringing parts of central London to a standstill have said they are going to "pause" their rebellion and concentrate on political objectives instead.

Extinction Rebellion (XR) campaigners say they want to show they are "disciplined and cannot only start disruptive actions but also end these when needed".

They are "not a rabble, (but) rebels with a cause", and their second week will be "focused on negotiations", they said.

Addressing the crowd at Waterloo Bridge, TV presenter and supporter Chris Packham said that "because of our force, we will be asking for negotiation to meet our objectives".

He added that before ministers begin dealing with Brexit again, "we must ask them to think about something altogether more pressing: saving our planet".

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Image: The protesters blocked areas of London for seven days

As of 7pm on Sunday, 963 people had been arrested in connection with the demonstrations, and 40 had been charged, the Metropolitan Police said.

XR's political circle co-ordinator, Farhana Yamin, said they now want to show they are "not some flash in the pan".

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They also want to "make headway on our three demands": that the government must "tell the truth by declaring a climate and ecological emergency"; that ministers must act straight away; and that key decisions should be taken by a citizens' assembly.

The protesters, who have been camped at locations across London, will not disappear from the streets altogether. Ms Yamin says they want to remain at Old Palace Yard in Westminster, and said they would discuss those plans with Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and the Met Police.

Extinction Rebellion protesters have been packing up at Waterloo Bridge
Image: Extinction Rebellion protesters have been packing up at Waterloo Bridge
Extinction Rebellion protesters have been packing up at Waterloo Bridge
Image: Waterloo Bridge had been blocked for days by protesters

Commissioner Cressida Dick has condemned the "miserable disruption" inflicted on Londoners, urging the activists to protest lawfully or go home.

Mr Khan said on Sunday that the protest was "taking a real toll on our city".

'We're not a threat – we just want to be listened to'

Ms Yamin, said: "Today (Sunday) marks a transition from week one, which focused on actions that were vision-holding but also caused mass disruption across many dimensions (economic, cultural, emotional, social).

"Week two marks a new phase of rebellion focused on negotiations where the focus will shift to our actual political demands."

Police and a climate activist on Waterloo Bridge in central London
Image: Police have made hundreds of arrests

She added: "We want to show that XR is a cohesive long-term, global force, not some flash in the pan.

"We can do that by showing we are disciplined and cannot only start disruptive actions but also end these when needed. We are not a rabble, we are rebels with a cause!

"Being able to 'pause' a rebellion shows that we are organised and a long-term political force to be reckoned with.

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