Extinction Rebellion

SIR – Am I the only reader who found the photograph (report, July 18) of a police officer sitting on a sofa in the road alongside an Extinction Rebellion protester (who is even wearing the policeman’s hat) in the centre of Bristol absolutely abhorrent? Steve Beck

Charing, Kent

SIR – I heard today that a relative had a cancer operation cancelled because of the Extinction Rebellion protests. I defend the right to protest lawfully, but that does not include preventing others going about their business.

The protesters have lost any sympathy I had for their cause and should be met with the full force of the law. They are extremists who have a contempt for the democratic process. Andy Brown

Derby

SIR – Rupert Read, a spokesman for Extinction Rebellion, has tried to justify the statement by a leader of the movement that “people might die” in the process of “bringing down governments” (report, July 17). They probably already have.

When the coach in which I was travelling set off on the first day that Extinction Rebellion brought London traffic to a standstill in April, we could not cross Westminster Bridge. Nor could the two blue-light-flashing ambulances gridlocked on their way to St Thomas’s Hospital. We saw another six ambulances and one fire-engine unable to move through the chaos.

Yes, people will die. GC Watts

Tonbridge, Kent

SIR – I recall my history master’s explanation of the difference between rebellion (equals failure, as with the Jacobites) and revolution (equals success, as with the French).

Is Extinction Rebellion naively pursuing a self-fulfilling prophecy? John A Heywood

London SW7