Devendra Kumar
Just Stop Oil supporters continued their ongoing protest action by marching through the luxury department store Harrods, as well as various other locations, including Victoria, Westminster, Kensington, and Tower Bridge. The activists, who were holding placards, made their way slowly through the streets, bringing their message to the British public. The protests were held in six groups, with a total of 34 supporters taking part, followed by a further four protesters who marched in Parliament Square.
As the protests continued, four people were arrested, including Reverend Bill White, who has been arrested three times this week while participating in slow marches. The Metropolitan Police have been tasked with policing the demonstrations, with the cost exceeding £5.5 million so far. This adds to the £7.5 million spent on policing JSO protests between October and December last year.
In an effort to prevent the disruption of high-profile events, security has been tightened at Wimbledon, where the group’s trademark orange powder paint was used to cause disruption at past events. England cricketers have also had to deal with the group’s antics, including the incident where Johnny Bairstow carried a demonstrator off the pitch during a test match.
The protests, which have been ongoing since April 24, aim to bring attention to the group’s demand for the government to end new fossil fuel licenses. JSO has also targeted other high-profile events, including the Chelsea Flower Show, the London Pride march, and the Gallagher Premiership rugby final at Twickenham, as well as the World Snooker Championship. The group’s actions have forced the cancellation of several events and have caused disruption to the daily lives of many Londoners.
Despite the challenges and costs associated with policing the protests, JSO shows no signs of slowing down, with the group continuing to make its voice heard on the streets of London.