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Extinction Rebellion: Westminster targeted by protesters despite ban | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Extinction Rebellion protesters have descended on Westminster just hours after blocking Oxford Circus with a wooden pyramid structure. | |
Activists sang and held up their hands, which many had painted red to symbolise blood, outside the gates of Downing Street. | |
One protester, who appeared to be dressed as Boris Johnson, climbed the scaffolding surrounding Big Ben. | |
The climate change group are defying a London-wide ban on their protests. | |
The activist who carried out a "free solo" climb of the scaffolding around the Elizabeth Tower unfurled an Extinction Rebellion banner to "highlight Government inaction on the climate and ecological emergency". | |
He was named by the group as tree surgeon Ben Atkinson, 43. | |
Earlier police used a cherry picker to clear protesters perched on a wooden structure in Oxford Circus. | |
The gathering at Downing Street is part of a broader demonstration outside government departments in Whitehall. | |
"We will raise our red hands, taking responsibility for our actions - we all have blood on our hands," a post on Extinction Rebellion's website reads. | |
Alan Partridge actor Steve Coogan joined the procession, which is due to end with a speech in Parliament Square. | |
It comes despite a ban on two or more people linked to Extinction Rebellion assembling in London, announced by police on Monday. | |
More than 1,760 arrests have been made in connection with the protests across the capital, according to the Met Police. | |
The Whitehall procession followed a demonstration at a major junction in Oxford Circus, which police cleared at about 12:00 BST. | |
Specialist teams brought in a JCB to dismantle the structure that protesters had built in the road. | |
The Extinction Rebellion London Twitter account said the junction, which was also occupied by the group for several days in April, was targeted because Oxford Street is a centre of fast fashion and is heavily polluted. | The Extinction Rebellion London Twitter account said the junction, which was also occupied by the group for several days in April, was targeted because Oxford Street is a centre of fast fashion and is heavily polluted. |
It also said the central London street was a "hub of luxury goods for the wealthiest", citing an Oxfam report from 2015 that claimed the richest 10% of people are responsible for half of all carbon emissions. | It also said the central London street was a "hub of luxury goods for the wealthiest", citing an Oxfam report from 2015 that claimed the richest 10% of people are responsible for half of all carbon emissions. |
The blockade was part of a two-week series of protests, dubbed the Autumn Uprising, which are due to end on Saturday. | The blockade was part of a two-week series of protests, dubbed the Autumn Uprising, which are due to end on Saturday. |
Five protesters were charged after rush hour protests at three Tube stations on Thursday. | |
A spokesman for Extinction Rebellion said: "It's not about causing meaningless disruption. We have a vital message to bring - the consequences of the climate and ecological crisis are horrific." | A spokesman for Extinction Rebellion said: "It's not about causing meaningless disruption. We have a vital message to bring - the consequences of the climate and ecological crisis are horrific." |
A public order ban has been put in place on Extinction Rebellion activities in London since Monday. | A public order ban has been put in place on Extinction Rebellion activities in London since Monday. |
Extinction Rebellion challenged the ban but a High Court judge ruled that a judicial review into the police's move could not be heard until next week. | Extinction Rebellion challenged the ban but a High Court judge ruled that a judicial review into the police's move could not be heard until next week. |
The group wanted a hearing before the scheduled end of the protests on 19 October. | The group wanted a hearing before the scheduled end of the protests on 19 October. |