Insulate Britain activists today had ink thrown into their faces as the campaign group blocked more roads during the morning rush-hour.
Campaigners from the Extinction Rebellion splinter group disrupted the slip road at junction 1a of the M25 – the UK’s busiest motorway – as well as the A40 in west London as part of a 16th day of “non-violent civil resistance” involving road blocks.
Other members of the group were arrested before they managed to block a roundabout close to the Dartford Crossing, Kent.
During the protests, many activists glued themselves to the tarmac, as well as to each other, as police tried to move them from the area.
During this morning’s activity, a man at one of the sites approached protesters sitting on the road and squirted a dark coloured substance on their faces, saying: “It’s ink”, before walking away.
Christian, 77, a retired doctor, told Greatest Hits Radio London News that it wasn’t painful, but it is “sad that we have to do this”.
He said: “I’m a retired doctor, I’ve spent my life trying to help people and I’m reduced to having to do this because the Government won’t address the problem adequately.”
🚨 | NEW: Two Insulate Britain protestors have had ink thrown over their facespic.twitter.com/abTnxptDev
— News For All (@NewsForAllUK) October 27, 2021
One motorist expressed his annoyance by playing the bagpipes in protestors’ faces:
In an utterly bizarre development, one motorist just started playing bagpipes in protestors' faces before police moved him off#InsulateBritain pic.twitter.com/S0qJ50if3V
— Ivor Bennett (@IvorBennett) October 27, 2021
🚨 | NEW: An Insulate Britain protester has glued himself to a road in Dartford
— News For All (@NewsForAllUK) October 27, 2021
pic.twitter.com/peCyTizO24
Kent Police said 32 protesters, including four who were suspected of planning the disruption, were arrested, while the Metropolitan Police said 17 demonstrators were detained on the A40 junction.
During this morning’s protests police were seen trying to de-escalate tensions between motorists and protesters:
🚨 | NEW: The Police are having to calm down an angry motorist as Insulate Britain block his route pic.twitter.com/MmmzwZM9e7
— News For All (@NewsForAllUK) October 27, 2021
#UPDATE | Officers have arrested 17 Insulate Britain activists for obstructing the highway at the A40 junction/Gypsy Lane, North Acton. Police worked quickly to get roads open again. Traffic is now flowing. Thanks to motorists for their patience.
— Metropolitan Police Events (@MetPoliceEvents) October 27, 2021
Speaking this morning from Dartford, Insulate Britain protester Amy Pritchard said they were initially planning on obstructing the roundabout but they have been prevented from entering it.
She said: “The police have not been charging us with anything or interviewing us. There’s been a political decision not to deal with us and we don’t want to be blocking roads, so it is fine. And we will continue until our demands are met and we are prevented from doing this.
“The decarbonisation at the speed and scale that is necessary is more important than the legal consequences for us all individually.”
She said she has been arrested 11 times since September 13.
Yesterday, the group had urged motorists to avoid the M25 and called for those who do need to use the road to cut their speed limit to 20mph “to minimise the risk of accidents”.
The protesters’ planned action was in response to a new injunction banning activities that obstruct traffic along the 4,3000-mile network of motorways and major roads in England. This is the fourth injunction taken out in response to Insulate Britain’s protests.
Activists have blocked roads since September 13, causing misery for drivers stuck in long queues of traffic.
The group wants the Government to insulate all UK homes by 2030 to cut carbon emissions.
Insulate Britain said in a statement: “We are not concerned with endless injunctions. We are not concerned with our fears. We are concerned with fulfilling our duties and responsibilities at this ‘period of consequence’.”
Meanwhile, transport secretary Grant Shapps said they are using “every avenue of existing law” to prevent the “life-endangering actions” of the group. He said a longer-term solution is in the changes to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill which include “additional powers against disruptive protests”.
Such powers include unlimited fines and prison sentences of up to six months, Shapps said.
The Department for Transport said on Tuesday that more than 100 Insulate Britain activists have been served with court papers in relation to the injunctions.
What has happened so far this week?
The eco-warriors returned on Monday to block some of London’s busiest roads after pausing their demonstrations for almost two weeks.
Monday’s protest saw further clashes between drivers and protesters.
One motorist, whose father is ill with cancer, wished cancer on a protester’s family as the blockades were preventing his father from getting treatment.
Others glued themselves to the road, making it difficult for police to move them on. Some glued their hands and feet to the tarmac, while one man took it a step further and fixed his face to the floor.
🚨 | WATCH: The protestor with his head stuck to the road has his saypic.twitter.com/h7rbwXL9EG
— News For All (@NewsForAllUK) October 25, 2021
How have people reacted?
People took to Twitter to share their reactions to the protests.
Some slammed the retaliation towards the protesters, with one Twitter user saying: “Retaliatory attacks aren’t the way”:
An older gentleman, clearly shaken up. This isn't something to celebrate/glorify. I'm 100% opposed to the tactics of his organisation but retaliatory attacks aren't the way. The government is pitching the public against each other. They're laughing at us.
— TLBoy (@JustinPierpoint) October 27, 2021
Absolutely disgusting that someone did this to them.
— ohdanieljames (@ohdanieljames) October 27, 2021
Several people said that “hitting the public is the wrong thing to do”:
Don’t try and make me feel bad. There’s way of getting your message across and hitting the public is the wrong thing to do. What did you expect to happen?
— Bobby (@AsdaFinest) October 27, 2021
I’m sure they are nice people. And he’s obviously helped 1000s of people in his career as a GP but they’ve simply attacked the wrong people. They’ve gone after honest working class people who can’t make the changes they want. Go after those who can!
— CalebMark (@CalebMarks89) October 27, 2021
Ok, if you want to make a point why not go to a government building and protest instead of stopping Joe public from getting to work?
— Big Serge (@AmBigSerge) October 27, 2021
The #insulatebritian have lost the plot. Go and lobby the Government, the MPs, big corporations. You are not winning the public over with your stupid, reckless actions. You say you understand people are angry… I don’t think you do. #A40
— dee 🦖 (@SWDee17) October 27, 2021
Others support the demonstrations, with one Twitter user saying such protests are a “last resort”:
Please be more tolerant of protestors, they are trying to get the government to do what is right for we the people. All other avenues have been ignored by No 10, listen to what they want to happen. Last resort to get a corrupt and inept cabinet to act for the poorest in country.
— amanda mccall (@agmccEcosse) October 27, 2021
#insulatebritian Just a thought. If protesters in the past had not used what were seen at the time as radical tactics. Women would not have the vote.
— Klinger OBE (@bernie4077) October 27, 2021
Others however were less sympathetic towards protesters:
Probably wouldn’t have happened if he wasn’t sat in the middle of a busy road!
— Chris (@howler50) October 27, 2021
He is now retired and hates doing it 🤔. Seems he didn’t disrupt any traffic or people going to work whilst he was earning his crust. I’m guessing that would have disrupted his life too much but happy to now disrupt others. Got time on his hands now with nothing else to do
— Fran Murray (@Miss2ook) October 27, 2021
— fin (@DubWinlay) October 27, 2021
Insulate Britain outside my work! I did walk down and told them they’re pathetic! 😂 but the video is too large to upload on here haha #insulatebritain #protestors pic.twitter.com/myg2MFm9Cr
— Holly (@IsThatHolly_) October 27, 2021
Additional reporting by PA.
