On Monday Extinction Rebellion activists brought Westminster to a stand still as they are demanding the government commits to reducing carbon emission to net zero by 2025.
Some 319 people were arrested on Monday during their first day of protests which will continue for two weeks.
The prime minister poured scorn on the activists, The Daily Telegraph reported that Boris Johnson told people at a book launch, “I am afraid that the security people didn’t want me to come along tonight because they said the road was full of uncooperative crusties and protesters littering the road.”
Johnson added that the protesters lived in “hemp-smelling bivouacs.”
Extinction Rebellion spokeswoman Zoe Jones said on Monday, “We’re here to pressure the government into action because we can’t wait any longer.
“The next two weeks will involve marches and family-friendly events, there’ll be some spicier actions as well and some will be arrestable.”
She added, “The public perception of XR is that we’re disrupting ordinary people’s lives by blocking roads and that’s why this time we’re taking our protests to the seat of power and taking it to Westminster.
“We are on the public’s side and we are ordinary people who are extremely concerned.”
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