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Just Stop Oil have evaded police to climb onto another motorway gantry again today – despite choosing the same time locations and the exact same method for their protest.
Fed-up drivers ignored smart motorway markings to go into closed lanes in a desperate attempt to get to work.
They targeted the M25 gantries at junctions 1b, 8/9, 12/13, 7/8, 11, 12/13, 14/15, 20, 21a, 22, 27 and 31. Many of them were the same locations hit yesterday, sparking disbelief police were today not better prepared.
By 9am the gantry at junction 7/8 was cleared and the protester arrested, with the same happening at junction 21 within the hour.
The eco-zealots, who widely publicise their activities, want an end to the use of fossil fuels for the sake of the environment.
Speaking from the top of a gantry protester Charlotte Kirin, 53, a social worker and parent from Bury St Edmunds: ‘In order to survive, we need to take action to stop new oil and gas.
‘For as long as the government pretends this isn’t the priority, I will do what I can to demand a response.
‘History shows us that we have to challenge unjust laws.
‘What is being done to people all over the globe in the name of profit is the greatest imaginable injustice.
‘I will not turn my back on people whose lives are being destroyed for rich men’s profit.’
Just Stop Oil said ‘approximately 15’ of its supporters climbed onto overhead gantries in ‘multiple locations’ on the UK’s busiest motorway from 7am, causing police to halt traffic.
Officers from Kent, Essex, and the Met have be called into action for a second day to remove protesters from motorways
Traffic builds up near Oxted in Surrey westbound towards junctions 7-8 where activists from Just Stop Oil occupy a gantry over the M25
Proud of themselves: Just Stop Oil proudly posted their latest stunt in an embarrassment for police who failed again to stop it
Just Stop Oil supporters have climbed onto motorway gantries around the M25 as part of their campaign to demand that the government halts all new oil and gas licences and consents
The protesters did exactly same thing as yesterday but nevertheless took police by surprise when they repeated the action
From 7am this morning, approximately 15 supporters of Just Stop Oil climbed onto the overhead gantries of the M25 in multiple locations, both clockwise and anti-clockwise causing police to halt traffic
Edred Whittingham, 25, a student from Cambridge said: ‘Politics is broken in this country, and it’s up to everday people to fix it.
‘We are living in a time when millions of people are literally going hungry or freezing to death in their homes, while fossil fuel companies are making record profits.
‘We can change this, but we need to resist. Climate change will destroy the global food system while displacing hundreds of millions of people from their homes, leading to starvation, war and social unrest.
‘For our government to be still approving new fossil fuel projects is an act of genocide.’
Gridlock caused on the Dartford Crossing this morning by the Just Stop Oil protesters again
The protesters put up brightly coloured banners on the motorway gantries to try and project their message to drivers
Protesters from the groups, offshoots of Extinction Rebellion, have blocked roads and bridges in the capital in order to highlight their demand that the government stops new oil and gas projects
Who are protesters today disrupting people’s way of life and ability to work?
Charlotte Kirin, 53
Ms Kirin is a social worker and parent from Bury St Edmunds. She was among a number of XR activists who conducted a 14-hour blockade of Newsprinters in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, on September 4, 2020. She and four other protesters were found guilty of obstructing the highway during two trials at St Albans Magistrates’ Court in 2021.
Edred Whittingham, 25
Mr Whittingham is a student from Cambridge and had been Exeter University. He too is a repeat protester, with his most notorious act happening in an art gallery. He glued himself to the frame of a painting at the Manchester Art Gallery, back in July.
Molly Berry, 70
Retired lipreader Ms Berry is also no stranger to protests and disrupting the public. The campaigner is profoundly deaf and has a cochlea implant. In May she blocked Berkhamsted High Street with a placard hanging over her shoulders. It read: ‘I’m terrified there will be more pandemics because of the climate crisis’.
Molly Berry, 70, a retired lip-reading tutor from Hertfordshire said: ‘The climate crisis is not left wing or right wing.
‘It’s not an opinion or a point of view or a cause.
‘It’s real, and it’s happening now, and it is getting very close to destroying absolutely everything we love.
When my friends show me photographs of their grandchildren it breaks my heart to think of what they will face in their lifetimes.
‘That’s why I am willing to put my liberty on the line to demand that the government halts all new oil and gas.’
Essex Police said: ‘Dartford tunnel and two lanes are closed.
‘We are working as quickly as we can to keep you moving.’
There are also protests at junction 20 in Hertfordshire, with police admitting: ‘We are responding to reports of protest activity at junction 20 (Kings Langley) of the #M25.
‘Officers are at the scene. Please avoid the area and seek an alternate route where possible. We’ll update you as soon as possible.’
Surrey Police also leaped into action – after the protester had got onto the gantry.
The force tweeted: ‘Officers are on scene and dealing with protesters who have climbed on to motorway gantries between J8-9 and J12-13 along the M25 this morning.
‘Traffic is currently stopped in both directions at these junctions.
‘Thanks for your patience, we’ll update as soon as possible.
‘Officers are also on scene between J7-8 where a further protester has climbed on the motorway gantry.
Yesterday police made 35 arrests after motorists were held up for five hours when protesters scaled a gantry on the M25.
The Met and officers from other forces moved in after more than a dozen protesters forced the closure of several sections of the M25 during the morning rush hour – despite a court order barring them from disrupting the motorway.
An ambulance was allegedly among the vehicles stranded by the stunts, which meant the emergency vehicle took ‘ages and ages’ to get through the blockage, according to another trapped motorist.
The arrests came after Just Stop Oil activist Louise Harris yelled through unconvincing tears: ‘You might hate me for doing this,’ as she scaled a gantry.
Traffic builds up at the northbound entry to Dartford Tunnel as Just Stop Oil activists occupy a gantry at junction 31 of M25
Despite a galaxy of CCTV cameras protesters were able to carry out stunts again today
Motorists were so frustrated they went into closed lanes to try and get to work on time today
Queues tailed back for miles as protests in Surrey – at junction 6 and in three other locations between junctions 8-9, 12-13 and 13-14 – as well as in Hertfordshire at junctions 20, 22 and 23, east London at junction 25 and Essex at junctions 27 and 30 ground traffic to a halt.
Commuters trying to get to work expressed their frustration on social media, on a day compounded by chaos on Britain’s rail network. Planned rail strikes for Saturday, Monday and Wednesday were called off on Friday – but train companies are running a reduced service because not enough drivers were rostered on.
Harris, a wannabe popstar who previously compared herself to a prisoner of war after football fans pelted her with drinks when she stormed onto the pitch during a match, was one of the activists taking part.
Appearing to choke up in a video filmed from the gantry, she shouted: ‘Hello, my name is Louise, I’m 24 years old and I’m here…I’m here because I don’t have a future.
‘And you might hate me for doing this and you’re entitled to hate me. But I wish you would direct all that anger and hatred at our Government.
‘They are betraying young people like me.’
The protests took place despite a major Metropolitan Police operation to foil their plans, which saw a number of demonstrators, including leader Roger Hallam, arrested last night.
National Highways was also granted a court order which was meant to put an end to disruption on Britain’s busiest motorway.
But the controversial campaigners, who carried out a full month of action in October, were back in force this morning, much to the fury of frustrated drivers.
Most protesters were brought down by police within around an hour.
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