Extinction Rebellion ignore police ban to return to Trafalgar Square
Extinction Rebellion has returned to Trafalgar Square just days after being evicted by police.
The group is holding a people’s assembly at the square this afternoon, many with black tape across their mouths.
Read more: Extinction Rebellion protesters block rounds around Bank station
A spokesperson for the group said it was to signify a “police attempt to silence the group’s protests”.
The Metropolitan Police cleared away Extinction Rebellion’s campsite in Trafalgar Square on Monday night.
The Met banned the climate activists from taking part in the “autumn uprising” in an attempt to clamp down on protests.
Extinction Rebellion’s return to the site coincides with a protest outside Youtube’s London headquarters today.
The tech giant was targeted for allegedly promoting videos that deny the existence of man-made climate change, according to an open letter from the group.
“The disproportionate representation of the denialist perspective can be traced back to systematic disinformation campaigns conducted by fossil fuel interests and their political allies,” it read.
“Allowing this propaganda to be spread across such a far-reaching social media platform is not only misleading to the public, it is inherently dangerous.
“We demand you make this platform one that tells the truth.”
The group has been protesting across London since the beginning of last week.
Protests have included members gluing themselves to various companies and government departments, an attempt to shut down London City Airport and blockades through the city’s financial district.
Read more: Extinction Rebellion defy police ban on London protests
More than 1,600 people have been arrested as a part of the group’s activities.
Extinction Rebellion is demanding the government declares a “climate emergency”, pledges to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions by 2025 and creates citizens assemblies to work on climate change solutions.