Day the commuters fought back
Green zealots block Tube – then they’re dragged off and beaten
FRUSTRATION at the Extinction Rebellion protests that have crippled London erupted into violence yesterday when commuters assaulted an activist who had blocked a train.
Ugly scenes unfolded after activists targeted Tube stations in an attempt to cause mayhem during the morning rush hour.
But the controversial strategy – which police had warned was ‘unacceptable’ – backfired and led to a chorus of disapproval from the group’s own supporters. Extinction Rebellion was forced to apologise for deploying the controversial tactic on the 11th day of protests.
A spokesman for Extinction Rebellion, Fergal McEntee, told LBC radio it had been ‘a huge own goal’. And the group’s leaders have called off a protest at Gatwick airport today ‘in light of’ the response to the Tube disruption.
Protesters targeted three stations on the Docklands Light Railway and Jubilee Line in an attempt to anger commuters travelling to Canary Wharf and the City of London, the capital’s financial hubs. Footage showed two protesters – including a Buddhist - teacher who was convicted for protesting only days earlier – using a ladder to clamber aboard a train at Canning Town n in East London at 7am.
Within seconds, enraged commuters mbe left the packed Tube train and began berating the he pair, who displayed a banner reading ‘ Business as usual er= = death’. Passengers ignored d announcements to leave the station ahe and instead shouted at the protesters to get down, with one ne saying: ‘I need to get to work, ,I I need to feed my kids.’
Several commuters initially lly turned on two cameramen standing ndng on the platform, including filmmaker Elliot Laughlin, who ho has worked with the eco group up since last year.
Mr Laughlin, who was filming g in an independent capacity, said he was kicked over 20 times, including ing in the face, by a ‘mob’ after being ing pulled from a chair on which he was standing. The 50- second assault ault came to an end only when three hree commuters intervened. He said: d ‘I didn’t fully agree with the action but I support the right to peaceful protest. I did not expect ordinary Londoners to be beating me on the platform. It was quite an ordeal.’
Commuters turned their attention to one of the protesters on the train, James Mee, 35, who was pelted with objects and had a cup of coffee thrown on him.
A passenger was eventually hoisted on to the train and grabbed Mr Mee, who tried to kick the commuter in what Extinction Rebellion said was ‘self-defence in a moment of panic’. Footage then showed the activist being pulled to the ground and kicked by up to a dozen onlookers as he lay in a foetal position before a Transport for London worker intervened. Fellow protester Mark Ovland, 36, was also dragged off the train. Both activists were later arrested.
It came only days after Mr Mee, from Bristol, was arrested for public nuisance after protesting outside the Home Office.
Mr Ovland, from Somerset, is one of Extinction Rebellion’s most dedicated activists. The Buddhist teacher was convicted of trespass on Monday for gluing himself to a West End hotel, but was released with a conditional discharge and fined £300. He was also among a group who sprayed fake blood at the Treasury earlier this month, and was part of a naked protest at the House of Commons earlier this year.
British Transport Police said it was investigating the commuters who attacked the protesters.
The force said eight activists were arrested at three stations, including Reverend Sue Parfitt, 77, and Father Martin Newell, 52, at Shadwell.
Retired probation officer Phil Kingston, 83, was arrested for the 13th time this year for gluing himself to the train.
Extinction Rebellion had justified the protest by stating it ‘will have a substantial impact upon business within the capital’. Spokesman Robin Boardman said the group was prepared for frustration but not ‘the level of aggression shown’.
Labour MP Jim Fitzpatrick said: ‘So what point is Extinction Rebellion making shutting down east London’s public transport system, preventing ordinary people from getting to work, school, hospital?’
The Aslef train drivers’ union tweeted: ‘Dear Extinction Rebellion, the Tube and all modes of public transport are part of the solution to climate change, not the problem.’