Pro-Palestine protesters disrupt Barclays AGM in Glasgow

PROTESTERS gathered in Glasgow where the Barclays AGM was held yesterday.

Dozens took to the SEC Armadillo in the morning in an attempt to influence the shareholders meeting inside the building.

Activists claimed the bank now holds more than £2 billion in shares of companies whose weapons, components and military technology are used by Israel in Gaza.

Participants also criticised the company for being “the number one European bank financing fossil fuels since the Paris Agreement, investing more than $190 billion”.

Flags, signs and banners were displayed at the demonstration as speakers addressed the group.

Members of the Gaza Genocide Emergency Committee, Extinction Rebellion (XR), Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign and more attended.

Ben Jamal, Palestine Solidarity Campaign director, said: “The only way to get Barclays to do the right thing is by drawing public attention to their role in facilitating Israel’s genocide and hitting their profits.

“Just as South African anti-apartheid campaigners did, we too will force Barclays to withdraw in shame from Israel’s arms supply chain.”

Jen Newall, climate scientist and eco-strategist from XR Scotland, said: “I’m speaking at this demonstration today to remind people of their power and their agency – encourage anyone who banks with or has shares with Barclays to look deep within and consider if they can accept contributing to these issues.”

The Barclays website said in relation to such protest claims: “We trade in shares of listed companies in response to client instruction or demand and that may result in us holding shares.

“We are not making investments for Barclays and Barclays is not a ‘shareholder’ or ‘investor’ in that sense in relation to these companies.

“We may hold shares in relation to client-driven transactions, which is why we appear on the share register, but we are not investors.”