Activists from Extinction Rebellion Bristol (XR Bristol) have staged a sit-down protest at Barclays bank in Broadmead. The demonstration this afternoon (Monday, November 14) is part of national action taken over the last 24 hours, with thousands of XR Activists targeting more than 110 branches of Barclays around the country.
They say they want to draw attention to the bank's investment in fossil fuel extraction and encourage its customers to switch to a more ethical bank. The week-long protest follows Barclays' announcement of much higher than expected pre-tax profits for the quarter of nearly £2bn.
Higher interest rates have helped increase Barclays’ profits, whilst the cost of living over the same period has soared. Activist Richard Baxter, 61, from Redland said: “I am terrified of what is happening to the world as a result of climate change, but so many people I speak to feel powerless to act, wondering what they could possibly do in the face of inaction by our leaders.
