Just Stop Oil Storms Clapham South in Mass Protest Against New Fossil Fuel Licences
Protesters Take Over A24 and Clapham High Street
At 8:15am, about 20 Just Stop Oil activists clad in hi-vis vests marched slowly north along the A24 near Clapham South, weaving through Clapham High Street. They were trailed by around seven police officers. Scenes of disruption also unfolded in Camden Town as part of the campaign.
Voices from the Frontline: ‘Government Ignores Human Cost’
Adam Beard, 53, a gardener and carer from Stroud, slammed the government’s greenlight on new fossil fuel projects. “I’m taking action to highlight our government’s total disregard for human life and suffering in the pursuit of short-term profit,” he said. “They’ve approved a new coal mine – the dirtiest fuel – mostly for export. This shows the huge gap between their words and actions. They must stop all new fossil fuel licences. We’ll keep disrupting until they do what’s right for humanity.”
Elvy Swan, 21, from Melbourne, Australia, added: “Our generation faces a catastrophe far worse than most realise. People are already dying. We don’t have time to debate details. We must end new oil and gas immediately.”
Just Stop Oil Slams Government: ‘Plan to Destroy Our Freedoms’
A spokesperson for Just Stop Oil blasted the government’s backing of fossil fuels. “Approving a new coal mine shows the Government doesn’t care about ordinary people or democracy. Their support for coal, oil, and gas plans to destroy our freedoms and rule of law,” they declared.
“This will cause millions of deaths and force countless people to abandon their homes. Most people here and worldwide back our call: no new fossil fuels. But the Government silences dissent by jailing protesters, introducing harsh laws, and restricting public protest. We ask you to join us – the time to stand by is over. We must resist or lose everything.”
Government Prepares Crackdown as Civil Disobedience Grows
The Government plans new legislation before Christmas to “close loopholes” that allowed Just Stop Oil supporters to block roads. Critics say this confirms ministers only tolerate protests that go unnoticed. The controversial Public Order Bill is set to finish its committee stage in the House of Lords this week, facing fierce criticism from peers and civil rights groups.
This week’s protests come after a major legal success for climate activists. Last Friday, three Insulate Britain supporters were unanimously found not guilty of public nuisance at Southwark Crown Court for disrupting Bishopsgate. Meanwhile, another trial for activists begins today at Inner London Crown Court.
Ongoing plea and bail hearings continue for Just Stop Oil activists arrested during their November M25 actions and earlier events. Over 700 arrests were made in just six weeks of sustained protest during October and November, bringing total arrests since April to over 2,000. Currently, 24 Just Stop Oil supporters remain behind bars.
Just Stop Oil pledges to keep peacefully resisting the government’s push for more than 100 new oil and gas projects by 2025. They warn the government’s failure to tackle soaring energy bills and fossil fuel expansion is “complicit in the deaths of millions” and jeopardises democracy itself.
