Extinction Rebellion: Climate change protesters block Birmingham city centre road
Climate change protestors been caused travel disruption in Birmingham city centre on Thursday morning.
Activists from Extinction Rebellion met up at Birmingham's Snow Hill railway station this morning and have blocked city roads for seven minutes at a time.
Around a dozen protestors were outside St Chad's Cathedral holding banners and signs with messages such as "Rebel For Life" and "Climate Emergency".
They said they were taking action due to the Government and Birmingham City Council failing to take the Climate Emergency they have declared seriously.
The protestors positioned themselves at a pedestrian crossing on the A4400 St Chad's Queensway outside the Holiday Inn Express for seven minutes on and two minutes off.
WATCH footage from the protest:
West Midlands Police officers were at the scene monitoring the protest which was described as peaceful.
A police spokesman said: "We're aware of a planned protest in relation to climate control that is taking place near to Snow Hill Train Station in Birmingham this morning.
"We're in the area to ensure public safety is maintained but are expecting some disruption to local traffic routes."
Why are they holding the protest?
A spokesman for Birmingham Extinction Rebellion said: "Extinction Rebellion is committed to non violence and respectful communication with the public, while nevertheless taking what action we deem to be necessary and appropriate.
"Despite Parliament and Birmingham City Council both declaring a Climate Emergency, government policy clearly shows this emergency has not been, and is not being, taken seriously.
"This is evident in the plans for airport expansion at Heathrow airport and Birmingham airport, HS2 and other planned projects.
"UK policies are currently consistent with a 3-5 degrees warmer world, which would spell devastation for hundreds of millions of people.
"The emergency is not only a climate emergency, but an ecological one, as we are now living through a mass species extinction.
"Locally, the general population have not been made aware that the council voted to declare a Climate Emergency, nor do they realise the implication that business as usual is not an option, hence the need to disrupt 'business as usual' with road blocks, and communicate with the public about why this is necessary.
"We are taking this action for everyone: for those who are facing loss, for those facing displacement, for those facing death, for all our children and for future generations who face an existential threat from the climate and ecological crisis."
