Extinction rebellion

Why are ER demonstrators being arrested for assembling and demonstrating peacefully, and without disruption to others, in Trafalgar Square?

And what's with the Met Police ban on ER demonstrating anywhere in London?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-50051279
Because the Police believe they are acting contrary to the Public Order Act.

14 Imposing conditions on public assemblies.
(1)If the senior police officer, having regard to the time or place at which and the circumstances in which any public assembly is being held or is intended to be held, reasonably believes that—
(a)it may result in serious public disorder, serious damage to property or serious disruption to the life of the community, or
(b)the purpose of the persons organising it is the intimidation of others with a view to compelling them not to do an act they have a right to do, or to do an act they have a right not to do,
he may give directions imposing on the persons organising or taking part in the assembly such conditions as to the place at which the assembly may be (or continue to be) held, its maximum duration, or the maximum number of persons who may constitute it, as appear to him necessary to prevent such disorder, damage, disruption or intimidation.
 
Demonstrating is part of our rights as a free country. However with that comes responsibility and if people are constantly bringing a city to a halt or are intimidating people going about their everyday life then the police have to step in. From what I have seen and heard the police have given ER a pretty decent run at this, tried to work with them etc but there has to be a line drawn at some point.
 
Why are ER demonstrators being arrested for assembling and demonstrating peacefully, and without disruption to others, in Trafalgar Square?

And what's with the Met Police ban on ER demonstrating anywhere in London?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-50051279
It wasn’t that long ago we were the subject of terrorist attacks, and as far as I am aware there has been no change to the threat level.
Perhaps instead of castigating the police, you should perhaps consider that they have intelligence they don’t want to make obviously known that there might be a terrorist cell planning something against what would be an easy target with the likelihood of many casualties.
Just think of the complaints made after that if it actually happened.
 
Why are ER demonstrators being arrested for assembling and demonstrating peacefully, and without disruption to others, in Trafalgar Square?

And what's with the Met Police ban on ER demonstrating anywhere in London?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-50051279

might have something to do with gluing and chaining themselves to things.
Personally I'd leave them where they were. a few days of being left in their own Mess would make some of them smell better
 
Demonstrating is part of our rights as a free country. However with that comes responsibility and if people are constantly bringing a city to a halt or are intimidating people going about their everyday life then the police have to step in. From what I have seen and heard the police have given ER a pretty decent run at this, tried to work with them etc but there has to be a line drawn at some point.

Absolutely - but the Met Police told ER protesters to go to Trafalgar Square or be arrested. This they did. What is it about a peaceful demonstration in Trafalgar Square that brings London to a halt or results in people being intimidated (unless they choose to walk amongst demonstrators and goad them).

And what is this about a blanket ban on ER demonstrations anywhere in London? Is Extinction Rebellion now a proscribed and banned organisation?
 
might have something to do with gluing and chaining themselves to things.
Personally I'd leave them where they were. a few days of being left in their own Mess would make some of them smell better

Nice - do you know any of the demonstrators that makes you know that they smell?
 
Absolutely - but the Met Police told ER protesters to go to Trafalgar Square or be arrested. This they did. What is it about a peaceful demonstration in Trafalgar Square that brings London to a halt or results in people being intimidated (unless they choose to walk amongst demonstrators and goad them).

And what is this about a blanket ban on ER demonstrations anywhere in London? Is Extinction Rebellion now a proscribed and banned organisation?

You might want to check your facts as didn’t go to Trafalgar Square - they popped up in the city causing issues, gluing themselves to things and the idiot founder tried to smash office windows- so much for your peaceful demonstrations
 
Absolutely - but the Met Police told ER protesters to go to Trafalgar Square or be arrested. This they did. What is it about a peaceful demonstration in Trafalgar Square that brings London to a halt or results in people being intimidated (unless they choose to walk amongst demonstrators and goad them).

And what is this about a blanket ban on ER demonstrations anywhere in London? Is Extinction Rebellion now a proscribed and banned organisation?
Did they go where they were asked? I believe not.

How many protesters have been arrested over the last week? They are taking up huge amounts of resources, police manpower, court time etc. It is a massive waste of police time and it can't be justified for this amount of time. They had to start restricting their protest areas and if they failed to follow that then the consequences are they are not allowed to protest.

As I said earlier, with the ability to protest comes responsibility and they have not shown this.
 
Absolutely - but the Met Police told ER protesters to go to Trafalgar Square or be arrested. This they did. What is it about a peaceful demonstration in Trafalgar Square that brings London to a halt or results in people being intimidated (unless they choose to walk amongst demonstrators and goad them).

And what is this about a blanket ban on ER demonstrations anywhere in London? Is Extinction Rebellion now a proscribed and banned organisation?

They are told where to go for the good of everybody. One of their efforts blocked Westminster & Lambeth Bridges, thus taking out access to the A & E hospital just south of the river from central London. I don't care how valid your cause may be, to do that is both irresponsible and reprehensible.

But you carry on defending their right to protest as they wish, bugger anybody else's entitlement to emergency medical care. :rolleyes:
 
This is what always seems to happen.
A small group want to bring the attention of the powers that be to their cause.
Full time protesters get involved and chaos is the result.
The whole point is lost and the debate which should be about the health and future of the planet turns into how smelly the protesters are.
:mad:
 
I have a mixed view on how obstructive a protest should be. Lets be honest, if the protest group occupy the corner of a far flung field, whispering gently they will be ignored and nothing will change. Equally, should they block a route to a hospital? I'm sure we can all suggest emotive reasons why the protest should be contained, just as we could suggest how much it needs to impact on society to 'force' through change.

If they block a road, fine. If they block a route to a hospital, no.
 
Peaceful Protest is whats acceptable in law and to most reasonable minded people. Its fine for them to be seen so their protest is acknowledged, disrupting society and its services is going too far.
 
It seems that my previous post was taken as being pro-ER demo tactics and anti-MetPolice clamp-down. In fact I simply asked a couple of questions...

As it happens, whilst I am supportive of the ER cause and supportive of those who might be willing to be arrested for their cause - I am not at all convinced that the length being gone to is acceptable - or indeed beneficial to their cause. That said - the brief protest is quickly forgotten.
 
It seems that my previous post was taken as being pro-ER demo tactics and anti-MetPolice clamp-down. In fact I simply asked a couple of questions...

As it happens, whilst I am supportive of the ER cause and supportive of those who might be willing to be arrested for their cause - I am not at all convinced that the length being gone to is acceptable - or indeed beneficial to their cause. That said - the brief protest is quickly forgotten.
But the damage done to buildings, statues and memorials isn’t....
 
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I see Diane Abacus has decided to write (probably in crayon) to the Home Secretary about the great unwashed being banned from their "peaceful" protests.

apparently there is now a court case against the Met Police over the ban
 
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