Just Stop Oil continued its campaign of slow marches across London today as eco-zealots held up traffic during a march on Remembrance Sunday.
Activists were today seen marching on Holloway Road in north London earlier this afternoon as thousands of people have gathered in the capital to pay tribute to the nation’s fallen soldiers.
The group said 40 of its members, who were wearing red and white remembrance poppies, took part in today’s march as they blocked traffic on the busy dual carriageway near Finsbury Park.
Police officers arrived at the scene shortly after the march started at 4pm and began shoving activists out of the road, according to the group. The Metropolitan Police said that 25 arrests have so far been made for disruption to the main carriageway.
Footage from the scene shows one frustrated commuter on an electric scooter ploughing into one of the signs being carried by the group before furiously discarding it to the side of the road and driving off.
Another video shows a furious van driver attempt to get past the eco-zealots as they stood in the middle of the road at a set of traffic lights, while other enraged motorists honked their horns in frustration.
A Just Stop Oil activist is arrested as the group continued its campaign of slow marches across London today
Activists were today seen marching on Holloway Road in north London earlier this afternoon where a number of them were arrested
The Metropolitan Police said that 25 arrests have so far been made for disruption to the main carriageway
The Metropolitan Police said on X: ‘Officers quickly on scene in response to JSO activists in Holloway Road.
’25 arrests have been made at this time for disruption to the main carriageway.’
Meanwhile, Just Stop Oil said in a statement following today’s events: ‘At 4pm this afternoon, 40 supporters of Just Stop Oil began marching south on Holloway Road, by Manor Gardens Street.
‘Police arrived almost immediately and began shoving people out of the road. All were arrested by 4:40pm.’
Just Stop Oil added in a post on X: ‘Police at Holloway Road are a bit tetchy after a long weekend trying to cope with Suella Braverman’s latest incitement to violence.
‘Officers picked on students first. They’re continuing to hold the road. Why don’t police investigate the criminals running this country?’
The group added that one of those marching was Florrie, 22, who is a recent graduate from Birmingham.
She said: ‘My great-grandad fought in India during WW2, he was awarded the star of Burma medal and got shrapnel in his neck. My great-great grandad fought in WW1 and was killed in the Somme. His name currently lies in Edinburgh castle.’
‘I can only imagine what they would say about this government as they betray the people of this country and the whole world, by prioritising their own wealth and power over the wellbeing of all of us. New oil and gas will destroy what my relatives suffered and died to protect. That is why I am marching today.’
The group said 40 of its members, who were wearing red and white remembrance poppies, took part in today’s march
They blocked traffic on the busy dual carriageway near Finsbury Park as
Police officers arrived at the scene shortly after the march started at 4pm and began shoving activists out of the road, according to the group
Another actvist involved in today’s march was 20-year-old Geroge Sampson, a mechanical engineering student from London.
He said: ‘In an emergency we take action to protect the most vulnerable. That is what my relatives put their lives on the line for during WW2. If we aren’t taking action now, then we’re letting our government put millions of the most vulnerable people on earth to death. That’s what new oil and gas means.’
‘What the government is doing is a death sentence for my generation and I’m willing to be arrested and go to prison if there’s even a small chance of stopping it. I urge everyone to consider their position. Are we going to continue sitting on the sidelines? Or are we going to stand up like previous generations did when it was necessary to protect what we value most?’
We are not prepared to watch while the government plans for millions to die and destroys everything we love. It’s up to all of us now to come together and resist.
‘We cannot let them divide us. Together we can be the real opposition this country needs and we will win. We will stop new oil and gas.’
Today’s slow march comes just days after 22 Just Stop Oil activists marched through east Londonon Friday.
The Met arrested 21 eco-zealots of them for breaching Section 7 of the Public Order Act, which gives officers the power to arrest any demonstrator who ‘intentionally or recklessly’ interferes with the operation of national infrastructure – including ‘road transport infrastructure’.
Just Stop Oil has been carrying out slow marches through the streets of London for months now. Since October 30 alone, the Met Police have made 274 arrests during the group’s protests and issued 132 charges.
‘It has been another busy week for officers policing Just Stop Oil activists,’ the force tweeted today.
‘We are removing officers from local communities to police these protests. That is money and officers which could be better utilised within our 32 London boroughs.’