Activists from Extinction Rebellion and dozens of other environmental groups have vowed to “intensify campaigns in novel and creative ways” if the government does not negotiate two new demands.
Extinction Rebellion, Global Justice Now, Don’t Pay UK, and PCS Union issued two “ultimatums” at a press conference today.
In addition, they demanded the formation of new “emergency citizens assemblies” to give the public a voice in addressing the climate crisis.
Over 200 organizations, including Greenpeace and additional community groups, will reportedly convene this weekend in London for a massive rally, according to the campaigners.
“We must unite to survive,” said Extinction Rebellion’s Marijin van der Geer in advance of the event, dubbed The Big One.
They stated that the four days of protest, from Friday to Monday, “are not intended to cause public disruption.”
However, as 28,000 people had already registered online, they acknowledged that travel disruptions were possible and that Sunday would be a busy day in the capital due to the London Marathon.
If the government does not consent to begin negotiations on their two demands by 5 p.m. on Monday, April 24th, they will have “no choice” but to call for intensified weekend protests.
They stated that the intensified demonstrations would take three forms, including joining picket lines “in solidarity” with strikers and local organizing.
They also threatened to “disobey” while concealing the specifics of how they would do so. Ms. van der Geer stated that they had “more important things to do” than to focus on the forthcoming coronation of the King.
However, when asked by journalists what their “new and inventive” methods of campaigning would entail, they remained ambiguous and stated that it would depend on the individual.
“It could imply direct action or civil disobedience, but it won’t mean the same thing to everyone… According to Nick Dearden of Global Justice Now, there is a multitude of tactics. Another strategy could involve mobilizing supporters against the government, he said.
Luke Tryl, director of the UK-based research firm More in Common, stated that previous radical tactics employed by groups such as Extinction Rebellion had turned off some individuals to the climate movement.
In actuality, only 22% of the general public believes that Extinction Rebellion has been a positive force, and there is a real risk that a new round of disruptive protests will ultimately do more damage than good for the cause of encouraging climate action.
It follows a series of notable event disruptions by environmental activists.
The Grand National was disrupted by Animal Rising activists protesting the “gamble” with horses’ lives, and a Just Stop Oil activist stained a snooker table at the world championships with orange dye.
Extinction Rebellion declared at the beginning of the year that they would change their tactics to “prioritize attendance over arrest and relationships over roadblocks,” abandoning disruptive tactics such as gluing themselves to trains.
They denied that they had changed their views, stating that they had shifted the focus of their protests from ordinary people to “pillars of power” such as the courts and government in response to criticism that their tactics were turning people away.
However, they stated that other organizations within the network may choose to continue disruptive protests.
