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Just Stop Oil protesters have blocked the famous Abbey Road crossing in the same pose as The Beatles as they block traffic in London in their latest climate stunt.
Members of the eco-mob walked onto the pedestrian crossing in north west London at 1pm today as they continue to cause chaos on the roads of the capital.
Video shows four protesters walking onto the crosswalk and performing the pose made famous by The Beatles on the cover of their Abbey Road album.
However, the group then sat down on the tarmac, blocking the road to traffic through Maida Vale.
Video shows at least one vehicle driving on the pavement to get round the protesters, who are calling for the Government to stop issuing new oil and gas licences and consents.
The Met has sent four police vans and dozens of police officers to the scene and the road has been closed while they try to remove the activists.
It is the 23rd consecutive day of protest by the group, which has caused chaos on the roads of London and South East England in recent weeks, as well as performing several high profile stunts.
Last week supporters of its cause blocked part of the Dartford Crossing, one of the busiest roads in the country for one-and-a-half days after climbing a bridge, while also blocking traffic in multiple London roads.
And last weekend two eco-zealots prompted worldwide outrage after throwing soup on Vincent Van Gogh’s masterpiece painting ‘Sunflowers’ in the National Gallery.
Four Just Stop Oil protesters blocked Abbey Road in London earlier this afternoon, recreating the famous pose made by The Beatles
Protesters unfurled a banner with the words ‘Just Stop Oil’ emblazoned on it as they conduct the demonstration on Sunday, October 23
Cars appeared to mount the pavement as they drove around the protesters earlier this afternoon after the eco-zealots blocked the road
The four protesters walked onto the crossing at 1pm as they demanded an end to the Government issuing licences and consents for oil and gas
In a statement released this afternoon, Just Stop Oil parodied some of The Beatles most famous lyrics.
‘Four Just Stop Oil supporters are blocking Abbey Road, London,’ it said.
‘They are demanding that the government halts all new oil and gas licences and consents.
‘The four stepped out at 1pm, onto the iconic zebra crossing on Abbey Road made famous as the cover to Beatle’s Abbey Road album. After recreating the famous crossing, they made the following statement, before gluing onto the crossing.
‘Let’s come together, as we face broken politics, eye watering energy bills and the loss of our freedoms, rights and democracy. Stand with Just Stop Oil supporters in prison, with the 1,700 murdered across the global south, with the 33 million displaced in Pakistan, with those who famine is stalking across Africa.
‘We can work it out, we need to stop new oil and gas, burning more will make our situation worse, perilous. New oil and gas is a toxic Truss policy proposed by a Prime Minister who wrecked the economy in less than 40 days, who sought to make the rich even wealthier while leaving families too poor to heat a tin of soup.
‘Imagine if our government sought to protect rather than harm us. We will not let broken politics wreck our only home and destroy all that we hold dear, schools, hospitals, transport, the ability to grow food, ordered civil society is on the line.
‘Because, we will not die silently, it will be ordinary people, like you, your friends, colleagues and neighbours who do what our government cannot. It will take all of us.’
The Metropolitan Police tweeted: ‘We are aware of Just Stop Oil protesters in Abbey Road, NW8 blocking the road in both directions. Officers are on scene and dealing…. Further to follow.’
The group recreated the famous Abbey Road album cover by The Beatles in 1969 (pictured) before sitting down on the road today
Police were seen standing in front of the protesters after they sat down in the middle of the road and clasped each other’s hands
One of the protesters, who identified himself as Shaun Davies, a musician from Manchester, quoted George Harrison when defending his actions.
The 32-year-old said: ‘”We’re now the results of our past actions, and in the future we’ll be the results of the actions we’re performing now,’ so said George Harrison.
‘Never have his words rang more true than they do today; so here we are, in his spirit, saying that what we do in the next three years will determine the future of humanity.
‘Let’s not sleepwalk into the furnace; let’s face our fears and act with love and courage to save all the wonderful culture humankind has created.’
Another protester, called Eben Lazarous, from Brighton, said: ‘I’m a musician, I don’t want to be here disrupting the most iconic location associated with a band I admire and love.
But unless we tackle the climate crisis, we will lose all that has been created, all that will be created, all that brings joy and comfort to millions.’
The 22-year-old added: ‘Music is one of the most powerful tools at the disposal of humankind. It can bring people together, comfort us, save us. We risk losing it all. We need everyone to come together and stand in the face of this atrocity.’
It comes a day after protesters glued themselves to a road in Islington on, leading to police to make 17 arrests for wilful obstruction of the highway.
Since the campaign began on April 1st, Just Stop Oil supporters have been arrested over 1,800 times, with 7 supporters currently in prison.
The group warned that ‘this is not a one day event’ adding: ‘expect us every day and anywhere… Our supporters will be returning – today, tomorrow and the next day – and the next day after that – and every day until our demand is met: no new oil and gas in the UK.’
The group have been receiving plenty of backlash, particularly after they were accused of having ‘blood on their hands’ after two women died on a motorway during the Just Stop Oil protest on Dartford Bridge.
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