A Leeds woman has spoken out after one of her tyres was deflated in a night of action across Leeds that saw more than 100 cars affected.
It was still dark on the morning of Tuesday, November 29 when Alisha left her home in Meanwood to drive to work at around 7am. There was a note on the bonnet of her car, but she was in a rush and decided to read it later.
Alisha, 29, noticed immediately that something didn't feel right, but originally thought the ground might be icy. But only minutes into her drive, she realised one of her tyres must be flat.
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Alisha told LeedsLive: "I went to set off and could hear a noise like the car was grinding. I eventually realised I might have a flat tyre, so I drove it back home.
"It was still dark, so when I got out to look I thought my tyre had been slashed. Then I read the note, and found out it had been deflated on purpose as part of an action."
The note, from activist group The Tyre Extinguishers explained that they had deflated one of Alisha's tyres because it was a 4x4. The group explained that the activism is intended to protest against the emissions and air pollution from SUVs.
Alisha got the bus to work, and her boyfriend had a look at her tyres. He discovered that the tyre had been deflated rather than slashed, and lentils had been stuffed in the valve.
"It was a massive inconvenience to me," Alisha said. "I suppose it worked because I got the bus to work but I only use the car about once a week as I'm barely in the office and try to walk around Meanwood.
"I have a 1.2 Nissan Juke, which has an Eco Mode. It's not as bad as other SUVs so I felt it was strange my car was targeted.
"It just sort of shocked me. I was absolutely infuriated - I couldn't believe the cheek of it. Who do they think they are? Obviously I understand their point but I feel like some of their targets are unfair.
"It just made me really angry. What if I was disabled? Or there had been an emergency and me or my boyfriend needed to get to hospital?"
Alisha reported what had happened to her car to the police, who informed they had received dozens of similar reports that day. They added that they are treating the action as criminal damage.
In a statement, the Tyre Extinguishers said nearly 900 SUVs were targeted across the world late on November 28 and in the early morning of November 29. Leeds was by far the area where action was most prolific, with the group reporting that 121 cars were hit across areas like Headingley, West Park, Kirkstall and Far Headingley.
Numerous others in Meanwood reported the same happening to their cars - including Stephanie Wood, who posted a photograph of her deflated tyre.
Marion Walker, Tyre Extinguishers spokesperson, said: “We want to show that anyone, everywhere, can take climate action to end the dominance of massive cars in the world’s cities. All they need is a leaflet and a lentil! Our movement will continue to grow – once the idea is out there, it can’t be stopped.”
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