Just Stop Oil supporters are now in their third week of marching in central London every day to demand an end to any new fossil fuel projects in the UK. [1]
At 8 am, around 30 Just Stop Oil supporters began marching from Gloucester Gate towards Camden.
Just Stop Oil supporters have been marching in the capital, every day since the 24th of April. Police are currently threatening to impose conditions and it is likely a public order act, section 12, notice will be issued shortly. A further march is expected later this morning.
The marches occur as the Metropolitan Police face a grilling from London Assembly’s Police and Crime Committee, over the wrongful arrest of dozens of peaceful protesters during the Coronation. A total of 64 arrests were made, including 19 Just Stop Oil supporters detained for up to 18 hours for wearing T-shirts and carrying flags. All protest arrests appear to have occurred with zero evidence, with police deploying facial recognition technology to silence legitimate dissent. So far, only four people have been charged, for offences entirely unrelated to peaceful protest. After the threat of legal action, the MET have apologised to Republic, the anti-monarchy group. [2] [3]
One of those taking action today, Mitch Rose, 57, a retired foster carer from Chesterfield, said:
“The thing is, the majority of the British public agree with the demand of Just Stop Oil. They know that the government should stop giving out licences for new oil and gas projects. It’s a complete no-brainer. Of course British people want affordable, clean energy and better insulation for their homes.”
“So now it’s time for all those people who have been sitting on the sidelines (silently agreeing with the demands of Just Stop Oil) to get off the fence and onto the streets. History shows us that peaceful disruption of normality is what works to bring about positive change. We won’t give up. We’ll be here, day after day, week after week, until we win. Sign up at juststopoil.org or join us in Parliament Square from 12pm every Saturday”
Sue Williams, 67 a retired community worker and teacher from Brighton said:
“I am increasingly horrified by the “business as usual” attitude of the Government, fossil fuel companies and their funders as we hurtle towards catastrophic climate breakdown. My heart sinks every time I see Antonio Guterres weeping with frustration at our utter complacency as he reports yet another tragedy somewhere in the world, brought on by the continued vandalism of our climate.”
It was recently reported that the Conservatives received £3.5 million from polluters, fossil fuel interests and climate deniers during 2022. The government continues to pay £236 million pounds a week, of taxpayers money, to oil companies. Last week BP announced first quarter profits of $5 billion in the first three months of the year while it’s competitor Shell has been accused of a “profiteering bonanza” after it made record first-quarter profits of more than $9.6bn. [4][5][6]
Since the Just Stop Oil campaign launched on 14th February 2022, there have been over 2,100 arrests and 138 people have spent time in prison, many without trial. There are currently two Just Stop Oil supporters serving three year prison sentences for resisting new oil, gas and coal.
We stand with these political prisoners, with the 1,800 victims of our broken criminal justice system, imprisoned for over a year without trial, and with the 1,700 murdered across the global south, for protecting all our lives. This is the moment for us to come together and resist the destruction of everything we care about, something that is being imposed on us by a few, who only seek to enrich themselves. [7][8]
In moments of emergency, we must stand up and be brave, we must stand up for good over evil, life over death, right over wrong. Just Stop Oil is calling on everyone to pick a side. We need everyone to get off the sidelines and join in civil resistance against new oil and gas.
The time is now. Join us and slow march while you still can. Our indefinite campaign of civil resistance is underway and will not end until our government ends new oil, gas and coal.
Join Just Stop Oil on a slow march at midday every Saturday, at Parliament Square until we win.
ENDS
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Notes to Editors
[1] Just Stop Oil is a coalition of groups working together to demand that the government immediately halt all future licensing and consents for the exploration, development and production of fossil fuels in the UK. Just Stop Oil is a member of the A22 Network of civil resistance projects. Climate Emergency Fund is Just Stop Oil’s primary funder for recruitment, training, and capacity building.
Just Stop Oil ‘Blue Lights’ policy: our policy is, and has always been, to move out of the way for emergency vehicles with siren sounding and ‘blue lights’ on.
[3] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-65527007
[5]https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/may/04/shell-makes-record-quarterly-profits-of-nearly-10bn
[6] https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/may/02/bp-profits-energy-windfall-tax-oil-gas
[7] Fair Trials reports that the number of people being held in prison without trial in England and Wales is at its highest for over 50 years, with 1,800 people in prison without trial for at least a year. https://www.fairtrials.org/articles/news/highest-number-of-people-on-remand-in-england-and-wales-for-over-50-years/
[8] A recent report from Global Witness says that more than 1,700 people have died while trying to prevent mining, oil drilling or logging on their lands. https://www.globalwitness.org/en/press-releases/deadly-decade-land-and-environmental-activists-killing-every-two-days/
