LONDON – Thousands of environmental activists have occupied five bridges inLondon to protest the British government’s “inaction” on climate change andpollution.
More than 6,000 people started protesting at around 10 am, blocking thecrossings at Blackfriars, Lambeth, Southwark, Waterloo and Westminster, thecampaign group Extinction Rebellion link said.
After all bridges were reopened, the demonstrators marched to a rally inParliament Square, where officers cordoned off the statue of WinstonChurchill after a green flag was attached to his walking stick.
At least 82 activists were arrested during the protests for offenses suchas obstruction of the highway. They were later released underinvestigation, the Metropolitan Police saidlink.
Scotland Yard said on Sunday that protesters were predominantly detainedfor breaches of the Highways Act, following staged sit-ins on five bridgescrossing the Thames. Other arrests were made for offences under the BailAct.
The protesters, who compared themselves to US civil rights campaigners,maintained that radical action was essential to “raise the alarm” about thethreatening climate crisis.