Scotland Yard have said 963 Extinction Rebellion (XR) protesters have arrested as of 7pm on Sunday, although XR claim the figure is more than 1,000.
Scotland Yard said, “Charges have been made for various offences including breach of Section 14 Notice of the Public Order Act 1986, obstructing a highway and obstructing police.”
Police arrested Olympic gold medallist Etienne Scott who was one of the activists on Waterloo Bridge, as police finally cleared the Bridge on Sunday evening.
Being carried by four officers around 8:30pm, the 2012 canoe slalom champion shouted about the “ecological crisis.”
We are awaiting the realease of British Olympic Gold Medalist @EtienneStott who was arrested tonight amid the @ExtinctionR #InternationalRebellion protests in #London We thank him and everyone else for their efforts in highlighting the existential threat or #ClimateBreakdown
— Extinction Rebellion Nottingham 🏹🌳🌍 (@XRNottm) April 21, 2019
XR members have suggested they are going to temporarily end disruptive tactics and focus on political negotiations.
As the climate change protest starts its eighth day a spokesman said, there will be no escalation on Bank Holiday Monday. The planned picnic to block the Westway has been cancelled.
However, the spokesman warned, if politicians are not open to their negotiation requests the disruption will get “much worse.”
Campaigners said we are “disciplined and cannot only start disruptive actions but also end these when needed.”
They added that they are “not rabble” but “rebels with a cause” and said the second week is to be “focused on negotiations.”
TV presenter and XR supporter Chris Packham said, “because of our force, we will be asking for negotiation to meet our objectives.”
And added before politicians deal with Brexit, “we must ask them to think about something altogether more pressing: saving our planet.”
XR’s political circle co-ordinator, Farhana Yamin said on Sunday, “Today marks a transition from week one, which focused on actions that were vision-holding but also caused mass disruption across many dimensions economic, cultural, emotional and social.
“Week two marks a new phase of rebellion focused on negotiations where the focus will shift to our actual political demands.”
Adding, “We want to show that XR is a cohesive long-term, global force, not some flash in the pan.
“We can do that by showing we are disciplined and cannot only start disruptive actions but also end these when needed. We are not a rabble; we are rebels with a cause.
“Being able to ‘pause’ a rebellion shows that we are organised and a long-term political force to be reckoned with.
“This will give XR leverage as we enter into negotiations with those in power to make headway on our three demands.”
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