Fury as XR activists plan new wave of disruption
POLICE must take a hard line against Extinction Rebellion if its members attempt to bring London to another standstill, MPS say.
Met Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick and Home Secretary Priti Patel were both urged to crack down on any efforts to create gridlock in the UK capital in the coming weeks, especially with businesses attempting to recover from the pandemic.
Activists plan to take action this month until their demands to “stop all new fossil fuel investment immediately” are met.
Protests starting on August 23 will target the City of London.the group’s website says “disruptive action” and a “digital rebellion” are planned as it targets “the root cause of the crisis, the political economy”.
Souththanet Conservative MP Craig Mackinlay is appalled that daily life could be affected at a time when he hopes the economy will be opening up following the lifting of coronavirus restrictions.
He said: “This time the Home Secretary and the Met Commissioner need to be very hard on them – because the economy is trying to get back on its feet and we don’t need impediments to people going about their normal business.
“I’m very annoyed about Extinction Rebellion because, we all know, you scratch the surface and there’s a socialist organisation screaming to get out.”
Extinction Rebellion held a two-week “uprising” in 2019 in London and other cities, and the police were criticised for taking a “hands-off” approach as demonstrators took over main streets.
However, they overstepped the mark when they attempted to disrupt the rush-hour transport system. Furious commuters dragged protesters from the roof of atube train and attacked them.
The group pledged to “take stock” of the event when planning future protests.