Extinction Rebellion has launched a coordinated wave of protests across five UK cities, marking the start of what it calls a 'summer uprising'. The environmental activist group is demanding greater government action on the climate emergency, with demonstrations in London, Cardiff, Leeds, Bristol and Glasgow causing significant traffic disruption on Monday.
Each protest focused on a different ecological threat, including rising sea levels, floods, wildfires, crop failures and extreme weather. More than 3,000 activists have signed up for acts of civil disobedience this week, with a third in London. The group installed large coloured boats branded with the slogan 'Act Now' at each location.
In London, about 250 protesters blocked the Strand outside the Royal Courts of Justice from 9am to 5pm, accompanied by more than 15 police vans. The group included children as young as three months old. No arrests were made. The activists then moved to a camp near Waterloo for the night. Extinction Rebellion said the location was chosen after it was announced that more than 1,000 activists from April's protests faced prosecution.
In Bristol, activists closed Bristol Bridge and planned to occupy it for four days. In Cardiff, roads were blocked and a people's assembly was held. In Glasgow, about 250 activists installed a boat on Trongate, while in Leeds, protesters targeted the financial district over fossil fuel investments.
A spokesperson for Extinction Rebellion said: 'After April, parliament declared an environmental emergency, but no action has been taken, so we're here to remind them that actions speak louder than words.' Shadow environment secretary Sue Hayman addressed the London crowd, praising the pressure on the government. The Met Police acknowledged the right to protest but warned against behaviour causing significant disruption or crossing a criminal threshold.
