Extinction Rebellion protesters march through central London to highlight marine pollution

The latest protest comes after demonstrators blocked the delivery of some of the UK’s major newspapers
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Imogen Braddick7 September 2020

Hundreds of Extinction Rebellion protesters led by a man wearing swimming briefs marched through central London to highlight marine pollution.

The Marine Extinction March, which started at Parliament Square, moved past crowds along the Southbank on Sunday.

Campaigners carried dead sea life props, flags and banners, to highlight what XR said was the destruction of the world’s oceans.

The procession was led by a group of dancers wearing blue gowns to represent the sea, and a man dressed only in swimwear, a yellow hat and trainers.

Earlier on Sunday, about 100 protesters met at Gabriel’s Wharf to raise awareness about the impact of climate change and how it could lead to more extreme weather and flooding.

Protesters took part in a march through central London to highlight marine pollution
PA

Jan O’Malley, 74, from Clapham in south-west London, joined the march at Parliament Square.

"I’m taking part because I have grandchildren, and they will soon have their own children, and I’m really worried about the impact on our future generations," she said.

"The Government has declared a climate emergency, but they are not taking enough action fast enough."

The march was part of 10 days of planned demonstrations
PA

The latest protest comes as demonstrators blocked the delivery of some of the UK’s major newspapers earlier in the weekend.

Some newsagents’ shelves were left empty on Saturday after campaigners targeted Newsprinters’ printing works at Broxbourne in Hertfordshire and Knowsley, near Liverpool, overnight.

Merseyside Police said they had since charged 26 people with aggravated trespass following a demonstration at the "News International premises" in Knowsley on Friday night.

Campaigners carried dead sea life props, flags and banners
AFP via Getty Images

They will appear at Liverpool and Knowsley Magistrates’ Court and St Helens Magistrates’ Court on January 8 and 13 next year.

Police said all 26 have been granted bail under the condition they do not enter Merseyside or contact any News International employees.

More than 100 demonstrators used vehicles and bamboo lock-ons to block roads outside the Newsprinters works on Friday, with protests continuing until Saturday.

Protesters cross Westminster Bridge on Sunday
REUTERS

The blockade prevented delivery vans from leaving presses which publish the Rupert Murdoch-owned News Corp titles including The Sun, The Times, The Sun On Sunday and The Sunday Times, as well as The Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph, the Daily Mail and Mail On Sunday.

Hertfordshire Police said they had taken 50 people into custody.

XR apologised to newsagents for the disruption but added it would not apologise to Mr Murdoch, calling on him to "stop suppressing the truth about the climate crisis and profiting from the division your papers create".

Additional reporting by the Press Association