Just Stop Oil Protestors Charged After Pride Parade Halt
Seven protesters were arrested by Metropolitan Police officers on Saturday for disrupting the Pride parade in London. Members of the environmental climate action group, Just Stop Oil, halted the parade in Piccadilly, sprayed black paint on the road, and lay down in front of the floats while chanting “just stop oil.” The activists demanded transparency about Pride in London’s sponsors, an end to new oil and gas exploration, and a meeting to discuss joining the civil resistance against climate change.
Five individuals, aged between 22 and 68, were charged under the Public Order Act for behavior likely to cause harassment, alarm, or distress and were bailed to appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on August 4.
Two others, aged 19 and 22, were released on bail pending further inquiries. This action follows a series of demonstrations by Just Stop Oil, including disruptions at major sporting events and road blockades in and around the capital. The group criticizes the corporatization of Pride, stating that it contradicts the protest origins of the LGBTQ+ rights movement and allows high-polluting industries to exploit the event for reputation-building while accelerating social and environmental collapse.
