Eco activist group Extinction Rebellion have signalled a change in tack by pledging to minimus disruption to the general public in their future demonstrations.
It comes after the group promised to not disrupt the London Marathon, and said it will work with organisers to ensure nobody else does so.
Extinction Rebellion have surged to notoriety across Britain with a series of radical demonstrations, including a spate of incidents in April across London which resulted in the arrests of 70 people.
Speaking on GB News, scientist and Extinction Rebellion activist Peter Knapp revealed the group may no longer be pursuing this course of action.
An Extinction Rebellion activist says the group won't disrupt the public
GB News / PA
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He told Lisa Hartle: “The rebellions that have happened before have all had different elements to them.
“The strategy this time around, from the 1st January this year, is we are not going to disrupt the public anymore.
“That doesn’t mean that’s not necessary for protests, that is necessary. But it’s not the tactic that Extinction Rebellion will follow this time around.
Explaining why the group will not be pursuing a more radical form of protest, he said the group are aiming to make their actions “more accessible to everybody”.
Extinction Rebellion protesters will not be protesting at the London Marathongbnews“We want to work with as many people as we can”, he said.
“We want activism to be something that everyone has access to. We don’t want people to think that activism is gluing yourself onto a road or running onto a race course.
“Even though these are parts of activism, it’s a small part. It’s everything else which is accessible to people which we want people to realise.”
Extinction Rebellion are said to be expecting up to 50,000 protesters on the day of the London Marathon as it stages a four-day protest in the capital over the weekend.
Organisers of the race are said to be relaxed over the prospect of protesters causing disruption, saying they have received assurances from the group over the matter.
Director Hugh Brasher previously said his talks with Extinction Rebellion had prompted the agreement that “they will be uniquely asking all their participants to help guard the London Marathon”.
He said: “I trust Extinction Rebellion, they have been very clear of what they are doing and why. I hope Just Stop Oil and the other organisations listen to what we are saying.”
The environmental group’s spokeswoman said that while its stewards will protect the runners from the protest, “the whole thing has slightly been taken out of context”.
“We’ve been in close collaboration with the London Marathon since last year so that our protest can co-exist with the marathon,” she said.
