A GP from Bristol was among the Just Stop Oil protesters who forced a stoppage in play during Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership final at Twickenham. Two men invaded the pitch midway through the first half of the match between Saracens and Sale, throwing orange paint powder on to the field.
Twickenham Stadium later confirmed two men had been arrested and that the incident is now a police matter. Fans jeered the duo before cheering as stewards escorted them from the stadium. Orange powder remained on the field as the match resumed.
Following the incident, a statement from Just Stop Oil said the men involved in the protest were Dr Patrick Hart, 37, a GP from Bristol and Sam Johnson, 40, a construction worker from Essex. Dr Patrick Hart said in a pre-prepared statement: “I am doing this because it’s my duty as a doctor. The climate crisis is the greatest health crisis humanity has ever faced. People are dying now and more will die every day unless we stop new oil, gas and coal.
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“In the same way the tobacco companies lied to us that tobacco was safe, the scrum of fossil fuel companies and corrupt politicians have been lying to us. They are keeping us addicted to fossil fuels, even though they know it’s killing us. I am not prepared to let them get away with mass murder.
“We are ordinary people. We are the doctors and nurses who care for you when you are sick. I call on everyone to come and join us in the streets and be on the right side of history.”
Just Stop Oil shared “they are demanding a halt to any new licences for oil, gas and coal projects in the UK”. A statement from Twickenham Stadium read: “Twickenham Stadium can confirm two people have been arrested and this is now a police matter.
“We would like to thank our stewarding team who acted decisively and swiftly.”
The protest followed a similar one at the World Snooker Championship in April. On that occasion, a man tipped orange paint on the table during the match between Robert Milkins and Joe Perry at the Crucible in Sheffield.
A woman was prevented from executing a similar stunt on the other table after being tackled by quick-thinking referee Olivier Marteel.
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