Extinction Rebellion (XR) has continued demonstrations in London on Tuesday, Oct. 15 as they called on the United Kingdom's government to explain its plan to meet a net-zero emissions target within the government's carbon budget.
Gail Bradbrook, one of the founders of the group, escalated to the top of the U.K.'s transport ministry entrance and placed a sign which read "HS2 is our climate emergency" above the revolving doors, according to a Reuters report.
Standing on top of the entrance of the building before she was arrested, Bradbrook called on ministers to explain how their continued expansion of roads and airports fitted with a net-zero emissions target.
"I do this for the beautiful pear tree at Cubbington Woods, 250 years old - they have no rights. I do this in fierce love of the 108 ancient woodlands threatened by HS2, this climate crime of a project," she said.
The group led the widespread disruption to Central London over the past week to underscore the growing climate and ecological crisis. It has drawn support from grandparents, scientists, doctors, and religious leaders. More than 1,400 people have been arrested so far.
The group has three demands: One is for the U.K. government to tell the truth about the climate and ecological emergency; Two is for the government to adopt a target of zero carbon by 2025; and three is for the government to set up a citizens' assembly to decide future policy on the environment.
The London Metropolitan Police deputy assistant commissioner Laurence Taylor, according to a report by The Guardian, said they had issued an order saying that any assembly linked to Extinction Rebellion must end their protests in London.
Taylor added the police operation continues and will continue to act against anyone involved in unlawful protests in the locations targeted by the climate activists.
However, the activists had no intention of ending the protests. They underscored that the authorities must not ignore the climate crisis.
Ronan McNern, a member from Extinction Rebellion, told The Guardian that the lawmakers need to understand that climate and ecological crisis is present. He added it should not be addressed by imposing tougher policies to solve the problem.
On the other hand, Pam Williams, one of the climate activists, glued herself to the scene where her tent was as police arrived to confiscate it. She told BBC News that the police approached the people the protesters have upset about today.
Co-founder of the Extinction Rebellion group, Gail Bradbrook, speaks as she kneels atop the doorway into the Department of Transport, during an Extinction Rebellion protest in London, Britain, October 15, 2019.
Green Party MEP Ellie Chowns likewise told BBC News today she was detained after "standing in solidarity" with protesters. She said in her official Twitter account that it is "unjustifiable" to ban the protests in the capital city.
She found it "intolerable" that they were given "just a short time ago" that any place in London is no longer allowable for peaceful, democratic protests.
Extinction Rebellion, which uses civil disobedience to underscore the risks made by climate change and the increasing extinction of plant and animal species, is midway through the new two-week wave of actions in cities worldwide.
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