Just Stop Oil are a group of climate activists trying to stop the Government from backing new fossil-fuel projects around the UK.
The group, which identify as a non-violent civil resistance group, have also made headlines recently for their high-profile and disruptive protests. Just last week, five of its members were arrested for halting a performance of the Les Miserables musical.
Just Stop Oil are campaigning for the future of the planet, and trying to limit the negative impacts of climate change by stopping the use of oil. The group seem committed to continuing their activism until the Government starts listening to their climate demands.
Members of the group even hosting a collection of non-violent training sessions around the country to help prepare activists for what they might “experience in action”.
Just Stop Oil also have more protests and a ‘deliberate disobedience’ lined-up, planning to slow march in London from October 29. Ahead of more organized activism, let’s take a look at some of the group’s most high-profile targets.
British Grand Prix
In July 2022, a group of Just Stop Oil activists ran onto the track at Silverstone during the British Grand Prix shortly after a crash halted the race. Although cars were still reportedly going around the track, the activists forced their way onto the race course in an effort to raise awareness for their climate goals.
F1 driver Lewis Hamilton also appeared to show his support for the activists, saying: “Big up those guys”.
He added: “I love that people are fighting for the planet and we need more people like them.”
Van Gogh Painting
Last year, Just Stop Oil activists threw tomato soup at Vincent Van Gogh’s Sunflowers painting which hangs in the National Gallery. The painting is estimated to be worth £74.8 million painting, however, it was covered with glass.
After throwing soup at the art, the activists then glued themselves to the wall in protest.
Phoebe Plummer, 21, was on the campaigners later arrested for her involvement. She said in a statement: “The cost of living crisis is driven by fossil fuels - everyday life has become unaffordable for millions of cold hungry families - they can’t even afford to heat a tin of soup.
“Meanwhile, crops are failing and people are dying in supercharged monsoons, massive wildfires and endless droughts caused by climate breakdown. We can’t afford new oil and gas, it’s going to take everything.
“We will look back and mourn all we have lost unless we act immediately.”
Ashes Test
In June 2023, Just Stop Oil protestors disrupted the first day of the Ashes Test cricket match between England and Australia.
A protestor can be seen running toward the wicket, spilling orange powder across the grass before they were tackled by members of the England team including wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow and England captain Ben Stokes.
Wimbledon
In July 2023, several Just Stop Oil protestors stormed onto the courts at Wimbledon before throwing jigsaw pieces and confetti onto the ground during a match between Grigor Dimitrov and Sho Shimabukuro.
The protestors, who were identified as Deborah Wilde, 68, and Simon Milner-Edwards, 66, appeared in court a month later where they accepted that they had gone on to the court but pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated trespass.
London Pride
In September 2023, Just Stop Oil campaigners disrupted the London Pride march because the event was sponsored by United Airlines.
The group chose to stop the parade by sitting in front of the Coca-Cola float, before spraying pink and black paint over the road. Seven people were arrested during the incident for “public nuisance”.
A spokesperson for Just Stop Oil later explained why London Pride had become a target, saying: “Pride was born from protest. It speaks to how far we’ve come as a community, that high-polluting industries and the banks that fund them, now see Pride as a useful vehicle for sanitising their reputations, waving rainbow flags in one hand whilst accelerating social collapse with the other.
“It is queer people, and particularly queer people of colour in the global south, who are suffering first in this accelerating social breakdown.”
London’s West End
London’s West End has been one of the latest targets for Just Stop Oil. The eco-activists took to the stage at the Sondheim Theatre on Shaftsbury Avenue during a performance of Les Miserables.
Despite angry calls from the audience demanding they get off stage, the campaigners raised a flag and prompted the performance to end early.
Five campaigners were later arrested and charged for their involvement.
