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Extinction Rebellion: Celebrity backers admit 'hypocrisy' Extinction Rebellion: Celebrity backers admit 'hypocrisy'
(about 2 hours later)
Celebrity Extinction Rebellion supporters have admitted in an open letter being "hypocrites" over their high-carbon lifestyles.Celebrity Extinction Rebellion supporters have admitted in an open letter being "hypocrites" over their high-carbon lifestyles.
Stars including Jude Law said their guilt was shared with everyone in "this fossil-fuel economy" and urged people to campaign for "systemic change". But stars including Benedict Cumberbatch, who last week joined London protests, called for "systemic change" to the "fossil-fuel economy".
It comes as Extinction Rebellion launches a legal challenge against a London-wide ban on its protests.It comes as Extinction Rebellion launches a legal challenge against a London-wide ban on its protests.
Some have defied the ban, including a group of mothers and babies. Several demonstrators have been arrested as hundreds defied the ban.
Jude Law and Benedict Cumberbatch are among more than 100 celebrity supporters of Extinction Rebellion who signed an open letter to the media. More than 100 celebrity supporters of Extinction Rebellion signed the letter to the media, which urges the media to focus on "the real story" of the climate and ecological emergency.
Along with Steve Coogan, Bob Geldof, Sir Mark Rylance, and Ray Winstone, they confessed their culpability in the climate crisis. Spice Girl Mel B, comedian Steve Coogan, musician Sir Bob Geldof, actor Sir Mark Rylance, model Lily Cole and Glastonbury's Emily Eavis, among others, all confessed their culpability in the climate crisis.
The letter says: "Dear journalists who have called us hypocrites. You're right.The letter says: "Dear journalists who have called us hypocrites. You're right.
"We live high carbon lives and the industries that we are part of have huge carbon footprints."We live high carbon lives and the industries that we are part of have huge carbon footprints.
"Like you, and everyone else, we are stuck in this fossil-fuel economy and without systemic change, our lifestyles will keep on causing climate and ecological harm.""Like you, and everyone else, we are stuck in this fossil-fuel economy and without systemic change, our lifestyles will keep on causing climate and ecological harm."
But they called on the media to focus on the "more urgent story" of life on earth dying in a sixth mass extinction.But they called on the media to focus on the "more urgent story" of life on earth dying in a sixth mass extinction.
They said they cannot ignore the call of young people such as Greta Thunberg to "fight for their already devastated future", even if it means putting themselves "in your firing line".They said they cannot ignore the call of young people such as Greta Thunberg to "fight for their already devastated future", even if it means putting themselves "in your firing line".
Writers Ian McEwan and Michael Morpurgo also signed the letter.
Protest banProtest ban
Meanwhile, lawyers for Extinction Rebellion activists have launched a High Court action over the police decision to prevent them demonstrating anywhere in London. Meanwhile, police have begun making arrests after Extinction Rebellion activists defied an order banning them from demonstrating anywhere in London.
The claimants include the Green Party's Caroline Lucas and Baroness Jenny Jones, Labour MPs Clive Lewis and David Drew and writer George Monbiot. About 500 protesters gathered in Trafalgar Square, some of whom covered their mouths with black tape to symbolise the silencing of their protest.
The Metropolitan Police said they made more than 1,600 arrests in the ongoing protests, and on Monday they announced new restrictions under Section 14 of the Public Order Act. Within a couple of hours, the protest broke up and large numbers dispersed. Police arrested a small group who were blocking Whitehall, BBC correspondent Andy Moore said.
The order required protesters to disperse by 21:00 BST or risk arrest. Among those arrested were Green Party leader Jonathan Bartley and George Monbiot, the author and Guardian journalist.
Earlier on Wednesday, lawyers for Extinction Rebellion activists launched a High Court action over the police decision to prevent them demonstrating anywhere in London.
The claimants include the Green Party's Caroline Lucas and Baroness Jenny Jones, Labour MPs Clive Lewis and David Drew, and Mr Monbiot.
It follows the Metropolitan Police announcing new restrictions under Section 14 of the Public Order Act, which required protesters to disperse by 21:00 BST or risk arrest.
Any assembly of more than two people linked to the Extinction Rebellion action is now illegal in London.Any assembly of more than two people linked to the Extinction Rebellion action is now illegal in London.
The force said it decided to impose the rules after "continued breaches" of conditions which limited the demonstrations to Trafalgar Square.The force said it decided to impose the rules after "continued breaches" of conditions which limited the demonstrations to Trafalgar Square.
More than 1600 people have been arrested since the protests, dubbed the Autumn Uprising, began on October 7.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, who is leading the policing of the demonstrations, said he was confident the Met's decision was "entirely lawful" and "entirely proportionate".Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, who is leading the policing of the demonstrations, said he was confident the Met's decision was "entirely lawful" and "entirely proportionate".
Extinction Rebellion argue the ban is disproportionate and an unprecedented curtailment of the right to free speech and free assembly.Extinction Rebellion argue the ban is disproportionate and an unprecedented curtailment of the right to free speech and free assembly.
The group hopes the High Court will quash the decision to implement the blanket ban.The group hopes the High Court will quash the decision to implement the blanket ban.
Meanwhile, about 500 protesters gathered in Trafalgar Square, some of whom covered their mouths with black tape to symbolise the silencing of their protest.
Within a couple of hours, the protest broke up and large numbers dispersed. Police arrested a small group who were blocking Whitehall, BBC correspondent Andy Moore said.
Also on Wednesday, a group of mothers and babies defied the restriction, staging a "feed-in" outside Google's offices in London's King's Cross, while other activists targeted the nearby offices of YouTube - a Google subsidiary.Also on Wednesday, a group of mothers and babies defied the restriction, staging a "feed-in" outside Google's offices in London's King's Cross, while other activists targeted the nearby offices of YouTube - a Google subsidiary.
They said they wanted to highlight the company's political donations to organisations that have campaigned against action on climate change.They said they wanted to highlight the company's political donations to organisations that have campaigned against action on climate change.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said concerns had been raised about the police's decision to ban the protests, adding that shadow home secretary Diane Abbott was discussing it with the police.Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said concerns had been raised about the police's decision to ban the protests, adding that shadow home secretary Diane Abbott was discussing it with the police.
"I think it's important to protect the right of free speech, and the right to demonstrate in our society - obviously in a non-violent way," he said."I think it's important to protect the right of free speech, and the right to demonstrate in our society - obviously in a non-violent way," he said.
He added that Labour's London Mayor Sadiq Khan had no involvement in the "operational decision" by police to remove the protesters.He added that Labour's London Mayor Sadiq Khan had no involvement in the "operational decision" by police to remove the protesters.
On Tuesday, Mr Khan said he was "seeking further information" about why the ban was necessary, saying he believed "the right to peaceful and lawful protest must always be upheld".On Tuesday, Mr Khan said he was "seeking further information" about why the ban was necessary, saying he believed "the right to peaceful and lawful protest must always be upheld".
A government spokesman said the UK was already taking "world-leading action to combat climate change as the first major economy to legislate to end our contribution to global warming entirely by 2050".A government spokesman said the UK was already taking "world-leading action to combat climate change as the first major economy to legislate to end our contribution to global warming entirely by 2050".
"While we share people's concerns about global warming, and respect the right to peaceful protest, it should not disrupt people's day-to-day lives," he added."While we share people's concerns about global warming, and respect the right to peaceful protest, it should not disrupt people's day-to-day lives," he added.
What are the rules around protests?What are the rules around protests?
Police have the powers to ban a protest under the Public Order Act 1986, if a senior officer has reasonable belief that it may cause "serious disruption to the life of the community".Police have the powers to ban a protest under the Public Order Act 1986, if a senior officer has reasonable belief that it may cause "serious disruption to the life of the community".
Police are also under a duty to balance the task of keeping the streets open with the right freedom of assembly under Article 11 of the Human Rights Act 1998 and freedom of expression, under Article 10. These rights are not absolute - the state can curtail them.Police are also under a duty to balance the task of keeping the streets open with the right freedom of assembly under Article 11 of the Human Rights Act 1998 and freedom of expression, under Article 10. These rights are not absolute - the state can curtail them.
However, the BBC's home affairs correspondent Dominic Casciani said: "The test, if and when it gets to a human rights court battle, is whether police action was proportionate to the threat and only what was strictly necessary."However, the BBC's home affairs correspondent Dominic Casciani said: "The test, if and when it gets to a human rights court battle, is whether police action was proportionate to the threat and only what was strictly necessary."
By law, the organiser of a public march must tell the police certain information in writing six days in advance.By law, the organiser of a public march must tell the police certain information in writing six days in advance.
Police have the power to limit or change the route of the march or set other conditions.Police have the power to limit or change the route of the march or set other conditions.
A Section 14 notice issued under the Public Order Act allows police to impose conditions on a static protest and individuals who fail to comply with these can be arrested.A Section 14 notice issued under the Public Order Act allows police to impose conditions on a static protest and individuals who fail to comply with these can be arrested.