The early morning commute in London was interrupted when protesters who were associated with Extinction Rebellion climbed on top of trains waving signs demanding action on climate legislation.
Trains ground to a halt in several high-traffic locations as protesters hoisted signs from the top of the trains that said “Business As Usual = Death!” while being filmed by several cameramen. Protesters were met with furious commuters whose travel to work was stymied by the protesters’ actions. Several commuters snapped pictures and took video of the protesters as they were dragged off the trains and beaten and kicked on the ground by Londoners with no patience for a disruption to their commute over climate change.
British Transport Police confirmed that they had arrested four people involved in the morning incidents and were still working to remove other individuals at the Shadwell Station where protesters had reportedly glued themselves to the trains.
Angry commuters condemned the actions of Extinction Rebellion for disrupting public transportation on an electric train which was referred to as a “hypocritical” act of protest by many.
“Think Extinction Rebellion may find out that people will not tolerate the disruption of the tubes,” one Twitter user wrote. “Canning Town this morning not many tolerating them there. The hypocritical middle class meeting the workers.”
Think Extinction Rebellion may find out that people will not tolerate the disruption of the tubes. Canning Town this morning not many tolerating them there. The hypocritical middle class meeting the workers ? pic.twitter.com/Xxbw4WUVvX
— James Deegan MC (@jamesdeeganMC) October 17, 2019
A representative for Extinction Rebellion said the type of protest seen early this morning was necessary to enact change. “The question people need to be asking themselves is, ‘why does anyone, regardless of their class, regardless of their race, feel willing to put themselves in a situation as dangerous as the one we saw this morning?’ Protesters have shown an incredible act of sacrifice to fight for the lives of thousands of people around the world, who are already dying because of this ecological crisis.” The group claimed their choice to disable the central London commute was an effort to “have a severe impact upon business within the capital.”
London Mayor Sadiq Khan condemned the protests, however. Kahn asserted that the demonstrations that crippled the morning commute of many working-class Londoners were an “unacceptable disruption to Londoners who use public transport to get to work” and that it was “counterproductive” and “dangerous.”
Extinction Rebellion, which launched one year ago, was officially banned last week from protesting in London after police forcibly removed the camps they had set up in Trafalgar Square. Police claimed the protesters had continually been disruptive and the ban was an effort to avoid “ongoing serious disruption to the community
Bit of fun at Canning Town this morning pic.twitter.com/N15hykImlF
— Charlie (@CharWilkoo) October 17, 2019
Extinction Rebellion cameramen who were part of the protest exhibition were exposed by the crowd of angry commuters whose trips to work were delayed due to protesters jumping on top of the train. pic.twitter.com/e5JccMaP0N
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) October 17, 2019
