Westminster, London – Just Stop Oil supporters have blocked Park Lane and sprayed paint over a car showroom to demand that the government halts all new oil and gas licences and consents. [1]
At just after 11am, 14 supporters of Just Stop Oil walked onto Park Lane, a four lane road running beside Hyde Park in London, and sat down in the road with banners. A number glued themselves to the tarmac while others locked themselves together. Shortly afterwards, one supporter sprayed orange paint over a nearby Aston Martin car showroom on Park Lane.
Lauren from Newcastle said:
“We will not be intimidated by changes to the law, we will not be stopped by injunctions sought to silence non violent people. These are irrelevant when set against mass starvation, slaughter, the loss of our rights, freedoms and communities. Just Stop Oil!”
Chloe Thomas, 19, a mother and freelancer from Cannock said:
“I’m 15 weeks pregnant this week. Today, we’re out here on the road together, demanding no new oil. How do I explain to my daughter in the years to come where the animals went, where the culture went, where the beauty went, why there are no bees and why I can’t put food in her tummy? You know it’s bad, don’t you? As citizens, as humans, as parents and children we have a responsibility and a right under British law to protect ourselves and those we love. “
Patrick Michael John McCarthy, 67, a carer from Telford said:
“Please understand these actions are not easy for any of us. It is uncomfortable, sometimes frightening and financially draining, so why do it?. Because we have seen the devastating truth about the existential threats we face and cannot ‘unsee’ that. The real question is why millions aren’t in civil resistance rather than why I am.”
David Kearns, 45, a musician from Birmingham said:
“I can not stand by and allow this government to continue destroying everything we love for the sake of nothing but profit. The climate crisis is a product of greed, just as the cost of living crisis is a product of greed and I will not comply with a system that puts profits before the people and the planet. “
Everyday outside Downing St at 11am, Just Stop Oil has been welcoming new supporters and communicating the demand to Stop New Oil and Gas
Today’s actions follow over two weeks of continuous disruption by supporters of Just Stop Oil in which they have experienced over 440 arrests. On Saturday, there were 27 arrests of Just Stop Oil supporters, who blocked roads at Shoreditch High Street. Since the campaign began on April 1st, Just Stop Oil supporters have been arrested over 1,700 times, with 5 currently in prison. [2]
This is not a one day event, expect us every day and anywhere. This is an act of resistance against a criminal government and their genocidal death project. Our supporters will be returning – today, tomorrow and the next day – and the next day after that – and every day until our demand is met: no new oil and gas in the UK.
We will not be intimidated by changes to the law, we will not be stopped by private injunctions sought to silence peaceful people. Our supporters understand that these are irrelevant when set against mass starvation, slaughter, the loss of our rights, freedoms and communities. [3]
Stand with our supporters in prison, with the 1,700 murdered across the global south, for protecting our futures. We will not die silently, it will be ordinary people, like you, your friends, colleagues and neighbours who do what our government cannot. It will take all of us. [4]
Notes:
[1] Just Stop Oil is a coalition of groups working together to demand that the government immediately halt all future licensing and consents for the exploration, development and production of fossil fuels in the UK. Just Stop Oil is a member of the A22 Network of civil resistance projects. Climate Emergency Fund is Just Stop Oil’s primary funder for recruitment, training, and capacity building.
[2] There are now 5 Just Stop Oil supporters in prison on remand or serving sentences for taking action to demand that the government halts new oil and gas licences. They are Simon Milner-Edwards, Margaret Reid, Michelle Charlesworth, Joshua Smith and Louis McKechnie. Also in prison are Madelaine Budd for the ‘Captain Tom’ action, Scott Breen for taking action against the Southampton to Heathrow pipeline and Elliott Cuciurean for taking action against HS2.
[3] [3] Just Stop Oil made this statement in response to Home Secretary, Suella Braverman: https://juststopoil.org/2022/10/16/a-response-to-home-secretary-suella-braverman/
[4] A recent report from Global Witness says that more than 1,700 people have died while trying to prevent mining, oil drilling or logging on their lands.