…By Judah Olanisebee for TDPel Media.
Just Stop Oil Activists’ Slow March in Camden: Protest Against Government’s Licensing of New Oil and Gas
A group of 30 environmental activists from Just Stop Oil held a slow march in Camden to demand that the government abandon its plans to license new oil and gas.
The group was met with mixed reactions as commuters trapped behind them expressed their anger, whilst some members of the public showed support by clapping and cheering.
The slow march resulted in traffic congestion that affected school runs, causing frustration for some parents.
The activists also launched a “come and arrest us” challenge to the Metropolitan Police during the protest.
Police observed the protesters as they walked from Delancey Street to Chalk Farm via Camden Town but did not intervene or make any arrests.
Just Stop Oil activist Sophie, 30, spoke about her concerns for the future, stating that she marched because she wants to have children but how can she bring them into the world when the government is not safeguarding their future.
The Metropolitan Police has faced criticism for its handling of protests, including the recent Coronation protests, during which 64 people were arrested, with only four charges brought so far.
Among those arrested were members of Just Stop Oil and Labour for a Republic.
The police have been accused of detaining protesters unlawfully, likening the arrests to those made in Moscow, rather than London.
However, the police confirmed that they received information that protesters were “determined to disrupt” the Coronation event by defacing public monuments with paint, breaching barriers, and disrupting official movements.
They added that some of the cases are complex and require more time to progress.
Despite the negative reactions and criticism, the Just Stop Oil activists’ slow march in Camden draws attention to the ongoing debate regarding the government’s plans to license new oil and gas.
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