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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
National
Jacob Jarvis

Extinction Rebellion to gather in Trafalgar Square amid backlash over Met Police protest 'ban'

Extinction Rebellion activists plan to gather in Trafalgar Square to oppose a Met Police "ban" on their "autumn uprising" protests in London.

The group has been demonstrating across the capital since last Monday, in a bid to push the Government into taking more action on climate change.

Protesters have blocked roads and glued themselves to buildings in high profile spots across the city to further their demands.

This led to the Met Police imposing conditions telling those involved in the "autumn uprising" they face arrest should they continue.

Members of the group who had gathered in Trafalgar Square, originally where they were told they must protest, were turfed out by officers.

Following this, members intend to gather in the space at 1.30pm today.

A statement from Extinction Rebellion, also known as XR, read: "Following the decision to ban peaceful protest in London, we are calling on everyone to assemble in Trafalgar Square to defend our civil liberties."

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This explained there would be an "emergency people's assembly" to discuss the next steps for the group.

In this, attendees will debate “how do we respond to the silence of the Government on Climate & Ecological Emergency, in the face of the attempt by the Metropolitan Police to silence people, with a London wide ban on our peaceful assembly?"

Amid backlash at the new conditions, the Met said it has not banned the demonstrations and said the measures are "proportionate and reasonable".

Cleared: Police removed protesters from Trafalgar Square (PA)

Meanwhile, activists are launching legal action against police over the conditions.

On Tuesday evening, Mayor Sadiq Khan, who oversees the Metropolitan Police, said he had asked officers to find a way for those who wanted to protest to be able to do so legally and peacefully.

Despite the police order, activists continued protests in the capital.

Officers clear out Trafalgar Square and threaten to arrest Extinction Rebellion protesters who refuse to leave (Nigel Howard)

Yesterday they targeted the Department for Transport and locked themselves to a caravan on Millbank prompting more arrests.

The group is planning to cause travel chaos this week by moving protests to target the London Underground.

Activists said they will expand its two-week long protest to the Tube service, where it will carry out "non-violent" demonstrations in a bid to "stop the Tube".

Protesters said the action, due to take place on Thursday, is to "alert the public to crisis by disrupting their daily lives."

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