Police clash with Extinction Rebellion protesters at Lord Mayor’s Show

Seventeen people were arrested
Tammy Hughes13 November 2021

Seventeen people were arrested after police were forced to drag climate change protesters out of the road during the Lord Mayor’s Show on Saturday.

Thousands of spectators gathered to watch the three mile long procession of 125 floats through the City of London.

But police were forced hold back Extinction Rebellion protesters who tried to walk in front of the parade.

BRITAIN-CULTURE-CLIMATE
AFP via Getty Images
BRITAIN-CULTURE-CLIMATE
AFP via Getty Images

At one point, a woman with brown hair walked into the road and confronted participants in front of shocked onlookers.

Officers were also photographed dragging many activists out of the way after they lay down and refused to move.

Extinction Rebellion said it was trying to deliver “the Children’s Charter” to the Lord Mayor, which read: “We stand here the day after Cop26, which has failed to bring about the action necessary to tackle the climate and ecological emergency, to call on you to prioritise the next seven generations above the short-term greed that focuses on wealth accumulation right here in the City of London.”

The organisation said the action was in response to the “failure” of Cop26, and protesters dressed up wearing giant heads depicting Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak while others locked themselves together in the roads.

Miranda Duncombe, a mother and member of the XR Families group, said: “Cop has failed to deliver the transformative changes needed to keep us at 1.5C of warming, a complete betrayal of our children.

“If the City of London was a country, it would be the ninth largest emitter in the world. The City’s banks and asset managers provide loans and investments for the projects and companies that are killing us.

“I am here for my children’s future. Our Government has failed to act to protect them. I’m calling for the City of London to divest from fossil fuels immediately for the children everywhere who are dying due to the climate crisis and those who will die in the future.”

A spokesperson from the City of London Police said: “We are aware of a group of protestors in the City today.

The annual Lord Mayor's show takes place in London
The new Lord Mayor of London, Vincent Keaveny, waves from his carriage during the Lord Mayor's Show
REUTERS

“City of London Police officers are engaging with the group to minimise disruption. A number of arrests have been made.”

Climate change protests have taken place around the UK almost every day during the two-week Cop26 summit in Glasgow.

On Friday, hundreds of activists from around the world marched through the Cop26 venue in Glasgow, leaving a gathering in one of the main halls to join a demonstration outside.

Later, Extinction Rebellion protesters doused themselves with fake blood at the gates of the Cop26 site, carrying placards with slogans including “We are on the edge of the abyss”.

The Lord Mayor’s Show, which dates back to the 13th Century, was cancelled last year for the first time since 1852 due to Covid-19.

The procession marks the first public engagement for the new Lord Mayor of the City of London, Vincent Keaveny.

Mr Keaveny joined the procession in a gold stage coach.

The annual Lord Mayor's show takes place in London
REUTERS
The annual Lord Mayor's show takes place in London
REUTERS

The Lord Mayor’s Show began in 1215 as a river pageant on the Thames.

King John created a Royal Charter that year which allowed the city to choose its own mayor every year, instead of having a sheriff appointed by the king.

Today, the Lord Mayor is the head of the City of London Corporation, the governing body of the Square Mile.

The role is separate from the mayor of London, who sits as head of the Greater London Authority.

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