Eco zealots’ blueprint for mayhem
Extinction Rebellion will use human roadblocks to clog up capital for a fortnight
PROTEST group Extinction Rebellion is today set to bring two weeks of chaos to London – with human roadblocks, ‘cascading congestion’ and mass demonstrations.
Thousands of activists are ready to face arrest, go to jail and go on hunger strike in an attempt to curb global warming, the eco zealots claimed yesterday.
Secret plans seen by the Daily Mail reveal their tactics to frustrate the police, cause ‘economic disruption’ and ‘take over’ government departments.
Scores of colourfully dressed activists – and their children – yesterday gathered at Marble Arch for an ‘opening ceremony’ to mark the biggest-ever occupation of the streets.
The group warned its peaceful protest blockading Westminster would be five times bigger than those seen earlier this year – and could disrupt the Queen’s Speech.
The protesters will issue an alternative ‘People’s Speech’ – which will be ‘based on the demands of the rebels on the streets’.
In the document titled Full Briefing For Swarming Actions, protesters are told they are ‘the bringers of hope’ and ‘will pry open the darkness to let the light in’ – even though they admit they will infuriate many Britons.
‘We need to be aware that we’ll come under attack,’ it reads. ‘If the system is seriously threatened it will fight back. The people losing profits will hate us. The media will demonise us. The people in the street may resist us.
‘We might be called terrorists. We might cause people to go hungry. Parents will be late picking up their kids. We’ll cause people to struggle to pay rent.
‘We’ll cause people working on wonderful, progressive, healing art projects to have their cause set back and their art seen by no one. At the same time we need to hold the awareness that these things are occurring within an insane and suicidal system.’
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps warned the disruption was ‘unlikely to win over hearts and minds and will do damage to the economy and people’s livelihoods’. He added: ‘I am concerned that it will potentially turn people against an important cause.’
The activists plan to shut down 11 roads around Whitehall. Some of the roadblocks will consist of about 20 cyclists who will hand out cupcakes to placate irate motorists.
The group compares the tactic to Genghis Khan’s ‘Mongolian light cavalry’.
Their document advises calming drivers with remarks such as: ‘You’re really angry, I can see that – and you really want to be on your way, yeah?’
Extinction Rebellion plans to hand out ‘bust cards’ informing protesters of their legal rights. It says that small-scale deployments are harder for police to ‘kettle’ – or contain.
It also advises a tactic of 50 people walking backwards and forwards across a crossing continuously for seven minutes to create ‘cascading congestion’, adding: ‘This is totally legal.’
Protests in April saw about 5,000 activists take part – with actress Emma Thompson making a speech on top of a pink sailing boat at Oxford Circus.
This time Extinction Rebellion says it will muster 20,000
to 30,000 protesters. Activists drove tractors painted pink towards London yesterday. One Twitter user remarked: ‘Is it running on diesel, or a prayer?’
Celebrities also backed the protest. Oscar-winning actress Olivia Colman and TV hosts Stephen Fry and Alan Carr donned the group’s ‘X’ badges at the Royal Albert Hall on Thursday night, joined by comedian Asim Chaudry and US actress Crystal Clarke. Spice Girl Mel B said: ‘I’m giving all my support to these brave activists to make a better world for us all.’ Model Daisy Lowe offered her support, saying: ‘It’s time for change. It’s time for rebellion and I love being able to be part of it.’
Miss Colman and Chaudry have both appeared in British Airways in-flight safety films. London City Airport, from which BA operates, is a target.
Extinction Rebellion spokesman Joel Scott-Halkes said: ‘We’re going to blockade and shut down every single road going into the central area of Westminster around the government.’
On Saturday, Met Police used a battering ram to raid a warehouse in Kennington, South London. Seven women and three men were arrested.
Transport officials warned commuters to the capital to leave plenty of time for travel and check for disruption.