Extinction Rebellion sticks coins outside London Stock Exchange in 'bank tour' of capital

27 August 2021, 14:46 | Updated: 7 February 2022, 11:11

Extinction Rebellion activists have targeted various financial institutions in the City of London in their latest action.

Extinction Rebellion protestors have stuck two pence coins to the floor outside the London Stock Exchange with chewing gum.

As part of a march through London's financial centre, the group targeted various institutions that they claim facilitate climate change.

Activists first gathered at the Bank of England before embarking on a march through Central London.

They sprayed the Standard Chartered building, in the City of London, with red paint and climbed on top of the building's entrances.

The march then moved on to the Guildhall and law firm Debevoise & Plimpton, both of which were also sprayed with red paint.

There appear to be hundreds of activists in attendance.

The group are calling the day's march a "bank tour" of London.

Police are in attendance, and have formed a line between the marchers and the targeted buildings.

Over 100 people have so far been arrested in the group's protests, with 52 on the first day and 40 on the second.

Later in the protest the marchers reached the London Museum and the AFP London towers.

The marchers then proceeded to the London Stock Exchange where they heard a series of speeches.

The action is part of the group's 'Blood Money March' targeting London's financial hub. Protestors were repeatedly heard calling "blood money".

The event's Facebook page states: "Blood Money is a march through the City of London intended to highlight the institutions complicit in environmental racism and exploitation.

Read more: Buckingham Palace memorial vandalised amid London protests

"Along the route we will hear about the bloodsoaked profiteering of our economic system: the banks that fund fossil fuel projects, especially in the Global South; the law firms that represent them; and the institutions that enable them to operate with impunity."

The group also demanded an immediate end to new investments in fossil fuels.

It's website states: "The city of London was built on blood money."

It calls for protestors to "demand change to the oppressive colonial system that drives the crises of climate and racism."

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police are preparing to deploy thousands of officers in London over the bank holiday weekend ahead of further climate protests and other planned events.

The Met has requested "a small number" of extra police officers from neighbouring forces for support.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said: "As we head into the weekend, we are ready to respond to a number of different demonstrations by protest groups, including Extinction Rebellion.

"This past week, officers have worked hard to balance the rights of the protesters with those of the community, however on many occasions demonstrators' actions became unreasonable and they caused or tried to cause serious disruption to the public and businesses.

"Activists have frustrated the policing response by using complex lock-on devices which take time for officers to safely remove.

"They have also used paint to deface London landmarks - action which we consider is totally unacceptable.

"Like everyone else, Extinction Rebellion have the right to assemble and protest, however this is a qualified right, and they do not have the right to cause serious and unreasonable disruption to others.

"The unreasonable disruption caused by Extinction Rebellion, particularly as London continues to recover from the pandemic, is deeply frustrating, especially for communities who will see local officers pulled into central London in response."

Daniel Willis, campaigns and policy manager at Global Justice Now, told LBC: "It is heartening to see Extinction Rebellion highlight the role of the City of London in bankrolling climate chaos. Direct action is a legitimate nonviolent political tactic - and a modest response to the death and destruction fuelled by the City.

"Whether it's financing fossil fuels, using trade rules to remove environmental protections, or demanding debt repayments that prevent the global south from investing in climate adaptation, these corporations and financial institutions are deeply embedded in the root cause of the climate crisis - our global economic system."

This is the fifth day of Extinction Rebellion actions in London. There are protests planned for two weeks, including over the bank holiday weekend.

So far, protestors have blocked roads and Oxford Circus, set up giant pink tables and vandalised the Victoria Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace.

City of London Police told LBC: "The City of London Police is working closely with the Metropolitan Police Service and British Transport Police to appropriately and proportionately respond to protest activity in the City of London.

"Officers are currently in attendance at a number of locations in the City to ensure balance between the right to protest and the rights of Londoners to go about their daily lives."