The Metropolitan Police have had quite enough of these unhinged people creating problems in the streets
British police issue a city-wide ban on climate change protests in London
British police have ordered Extinction Rebellion activists to stop their demonstrations immediately or face arrest, issuing a London-wide ban on the group’s climate change protests.
In a statement issued on Monday evening, the Metropolitan Police said that anyone who ignores the ban would be detained and face prosecution.
“Any assembly linked to the Extinction Rebellion ‘Autumn Uprising’… must now cease their protest(s) within London,†the police said, marking 21:00 London time on Monday evening as the cut-off for protesters to stop what it called “ongoing serious disruption to the community.â€
Activists based in Trafalgar Square, which until Monday had been specified by the Metropolitan Police as the only legitimate protest site in the city, were ordered to remove their tents and clear the area almost without warning.
Extinction Rebellion’s London branch described the move as an “outrage,†before calling on the police to “respect the law.â€
The decision comes after more than a week of civil disobedience in London, with activists targeting government buildings and major financial institutions.
The protests, which began last Monday and were due to last two weeks, have resulted in more than 1,400 arrests.
Now, Britain is not the United States. They do not have the same 1st Amendment that we do. But, remember, our 1st guarantees the Right to protest peaceably (along with petitioning for redress of grievance and Free Speech), which we should all support. With 1,400 arrests, with the blocking of streets, with causing problems for so many other Brits just trying to go about their daily lives, gluing themselves to doors and trains and streets and planes, etc and so on, this is not peaceable.
I will say that I feel that the Met Police are being a little heavy handed here. They could have set the terms of protest, saying to stay out of the streets and do not do things that interfere with the Rights of other Londoners and visitors. Instead, they just said “go home. Now.”
“After nine days of disruption we felt it is entirely proportionate and reasonable to impose this condition because of the cumulative impact of these protests,†Laurence Taylor, deputy assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, said in a statement on Tuesday.
“A significant policing operation continues and we will take robust action against anyone engaged in unlawful protests at locations targeted by Extinction Rebellion. However, I want to be absolutely clear. This does not mean people are banned from protesting in London. The condition applies specifically to the Extinction Rebellion ‘Autumn Uprising.’â€
“If Extinction Rebellion, or any other group, come to us with a proposal for lawful protests then of course we will discuss that with them,†Taylor said.
It’s still a bit heavy handed, but, then, the Met Police are surely tired of these unhinged climate cultists, who waste their time when they could be dealing with real crime.
*Photo from this James Delingpole article. The Met Police just have this look like “good grief, the smell!”
