A man has been caught on camera throwing a Just Stop Oil activist to the ground as the eco-group slowly marched down a east London street on Friday.
The motorist was filmed ripping banners out of the hands of the activists, and snatching phones before hurling them away, as he took on the protesting group.
He turns to one activist and pushes her to the ground, as others continue to march, amid the din of horns blasting from the built-up traffic behind them.
The woman picks herself up and goes to sit on the pavement as the motorist continues to square up to others in Mansell Street - a stones throw from the Tower of London.
⚠️ Content warning.
— Just Stop Oil (@JustStop_Oil) May 19, 2023
💥 Some violence is obvious, and some is hidden.
🛢️ The hidden violence of approving new oil and gas, when people are dying in floods and wildfires is extreme.
💀 Our government are guilty of drownings, death by smoke inhalation, heat stress and starvation. pic.twitter.com/9C3orcRx4S
Just Stop Oil tweeted the clip, adding: “Content warning. Some violence is obvious, and some is hidden. The hidden violence of approving new oil and gas, when people are dying in floods and wildfires is extreme.”
The group, who held two slow marches in Cannon Street and Tower Hill on Friday morning, added: “We understand how frustrating it can be to be disrupted, however, as of this morning 13 people are dead and 13,000 people have had to be evacuated from their homes in Italy, due to 6 months’ worth of rain falling in 36 hours.”
Cam Ingram, 27, from Leith on the march, said:“As a gardener I can see first-hand the effect extreme weather is having. Anyone who works on the land will tell you that the climate is spinning out of control. The conditions are making it difficult for crops to survive. If it’s this bad now, what will 2050 look like?”
Police said they dealt with three separate marches with a third in Bayswater Road close to Hyde Park, west London.
There are no reports of any arrests with Scotland Yard saying the activists complied with instructions and eventually moved out of the road.
A Met spokesman said the force were “aware of an incident in which a member of the public appears to have remonstrated” with protester before the arrival of police.
He added: “At this stage, we are not aware that any allegations have been made in regard to this matter.
“We completely understand the frustration and anger of London’s communities when protesters walk slowly in the roads. We urge people not to intervene and to wait for the arrival of police, who will attend the scene promptly. We thank people for their patience.”
