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Extinction Rebellion: crossing the line?
Vote as we say or else… XR moves from political persuasion & protest to punish those who don’t do as they’re told
Extinction Rebellion (XR) claims to be a pressure group prepared to take violent direct action in order to emphasise the critical danger of climate change, and protest political and societal inaction or even complacency towards what could literally be the end of the world as we know it. The danger is real, and up to this point I have supported their actions, even though some have been perhaps ill-advised and at worst, counter-productive. But this week, they staged an attack which reveals an extremely worrying and dangerous change in direction in the nature and motive of their actions, and for these reasons, I will no longer support or defend them. I’d encourage individuals and other campaign groups to seriously reconsider too.
Over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend (May 2021), XR in Cambridge (UK) attacked the local Labour Party HQ and community centre with oil based paint, showering the walls, windows and sign, and painted stencilled slogans onto the doors. In the process, they also splattered two parked cars, covered the pavement and left a trail of dribbled paint and footprints along the street and into a local graveyard. The building they attacked stands at the centre of the community, also hosting a charity that provides counselling…
