A number of people have been arrested after Extinction Rebellion protesters disrupted the Lord Mayor’s Show in London.
Footage shared on social media shows activists blocking the route of the parade in the City of London on Saturday afternoon, forcing riders on horseback to stop and the new Lord Mayor’s golden state coach to come to a halt.
Police officers were then seen dragging people out of the road while crowds who had lined the streets watched on.
A City of London Police spokesperson said: “We are aware of a group of protesters in the City today. City of London Police officers are engaging with the group to minimise disruption. A number of arrests have been made.”
The Lord Mayor’s Show dates to the 13th century and is the first official engagement of a new Lord Mayor.
Police remove Extinction Rebellion protestors during the Lord Mayor's Show parade in the City of London. Picture date: Saturday November 13, 2021.
Aaron Chown
Despite the disruption, the parade eventually continued and Vincent Keaveny was sworn in at the Royal Courts of Justice as the 693rd person to hold the office.
Extinction Rebellion said it was trying to deliver “the Children’s Charter” to the Lord Mayor, which read: “We stand here the day after Cop26, which has failed to bring about the action necessary to tackle the climate and ecological emergency, to call on you to prioritise the next seven generations above the short-term greed that focuses on wealth accumulation right here in the City of London.”
The organisation said the action was in response to the “failure” of Cop26, and protesters dressed up wearing giant heads depicting Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak while others locked themselves together in the roads.
Miranda Duncombe, a mother and member of the XR Families group, said: “Cop has failed to deliver the transformative changes needed to keep us at 1.5C of warming, a complete betrayal of our children.
“If the City of London was a country, it would be the ninth largest emitter in the world. The City’s banks and asset managers provide loans and investments for the projects and companies that are killing us.
“I am here for my children’s future. Our Government has failed to act to protect them. I’m calling for the City of London to divest from fossil fuels immediately for the children everywhere who are dying due to the climate crisis and those who will die in the future.”
The Lord Mayor of London serves as the elected head of the City of London Corporation and their terms last one year.
The 2021 procession included full-size model elephants, Japanese drummers, and a horse-drawn bus, while the state coach is the oldest ceremonial vehicle in the world still in regular use, according to show organisers.
