REBELLION DAY
NOVEMBER 17TH
JOIN US FROM 10AM ON A BRIDGE IN CENTRAL LONDON
We are bold. We will not hide. We are in open rebellion. We have informed the police and emergency services that these 5 bridges will be road-blocked: Blackfriars, Waterloo,Southwark, Westminster and Lambeth.
NOTE: Do NOT meet in Parliament Square. Head straight to a bridge for 10am.
Here’s what to do:
- Choose a bridge and head there for 10am (people in Affinity Groups and coaches will receive instructions about which bridge to go to). Dress smart – here’s a suggestion, and questions to ask yourself.
- Wander innocently up and down the bridge on the pedestrian walkways. Take selfies, admire the view. Don’t congregate in large groups. Wait for the signal…
- Stewards in sashes will signal when to move out and take the road. Listen for instructions to sit down. Participate in whatever unfolds…
Simple.
You will need to decide which bridge you want to join. The bridge line-ups (performers, musicians, speakers & artists) will be released on Friday. If you represent a community affected, a movement that holds this close to their heart, you perform or you just want to share in any way that moves you, please get in touch (with links to your art/organisation/offering: earthlifeevents1@gmail.com ).
Remember, if moved, you are always welcome to talk on the day. This crisis affects us all, we all have a voice in this.
Please bring: a packed lunch/food to share; enough water; warm/wind-proof clothes; a homemade sign; an umbrella (decorated with the Extinction symbol!); something to sit on; your smile and passion!
People arriving in coaches will be directed to specific pre-selected bridges, in order to ensure a necessary minimum number of people will be on each bridge.
See the facebook event and share with all your friends! Details on coach travel from around the UK are below.
FAMILIES, SAFETY, POLICE AND NON-VIOLENCE
If you choose to speak to the police we recommend you don’t tell them your name or any details. Please do not tell them or give away the names of other people. Talk to them about the weather, pay-cuts and added job pressure due to austerity, and the need for them to break the chain of command at some point – in order to follow their own conscious and protect what they love too. However, always remember they are paid to do a role in society, and that the role they are in may ask them to turn on you very quickly.
RisingUp has done over 20 road-blocks for over a year as part of the Stop Killing Londoners – Cut Air Pollution campaign. The police have facilitated these actions and have been consistently reluctant to arrest people. The few times that they arrested people they have only arrested a small group of people who intended to risk arrest, gave plenty of warning, and allowed others to leave if they wished to do so. The police have limited capacity, and are highly unlikely to kettle (surround and trap) a crowd of a thousand people in order to arrest them all. They understand that if they attack or arrest non-violent citizens then more people would rally to our cause, and so they are highly unlikely to do so. We cannot guarantee what the police will do, and at the same time we can point to a consistent pattern of behaviour over the past 18 months: remaining calm, giving people plenty of warning, and allowing people to leave if they want to. The police have informed us that they have a protocol in place to clearly inform people before they start arresting people, and so it seems the chance of arrest for non-violently blocking the bridges on Saturday is very low.
Around 2pm we will all gather in Parliament Square for the Extinction Assembly. This is not intended to include civil disobedience, and so is even less likely to result in arrest.
The day is part of a series of escalating non-violent direct actions which will be taking place in London from the 12th November. If you are planning to attend please read our Action Consensus.
WHY BOTHER?
In accordance with our conscience and as a clear duty to our children; our communities; this nation; and the planet; we are going to rebel against this criminally negligent government.
Our government’s abject failure to protect citizens and the next generations from unimaginable suffering brought about by climate breakdown and social collapse is not acceptable.
We will no longer stand idly by and allow the destruction of all we love.
We are raging against this madness and our hearts are breaking.
We have a right and duty to rebel in the face of this tyranny of idiocy – in the face of this planned collective suicide.
We are going to act and in acting together we will overcome.
COACH TRAVEL
Coaches are now available from across the country to get down to the Rebellion Day on November 17th. Thousands will be descending on the capital for mass civil disobedience and peaceful protest.
Click on the links to eventbrite below and share with everyone in your area!
There is also a coach from Frome, Somerset. Message us on facebook for more details.
There should also be a coach from the Blackpool area. We will update in due course.
People arriving in coaches will be directed to specific pre-selected bridges, in order to ensure a necessary minimum number of people will be on each bridge.
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