Ten people have been arrested after protesters doused the gates of Parliament with paint.
Activists from Animal Rebellion threw white paint - representing milk - at the Palace of Westminster on Wednesday morning in protest of “the destruction and cruelty of the dairy industry”.
Six people also carried out a sit-down protest in Bridge Street outside Parliament, blocking the road ahead of Liz Truss’ first Prime Minister’s Questions.
Two demonstrators superglued themselves to each other in the road, while police were seen attempting to unstick them.
Scotland Yard has confirmed 10 people have been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage.
A video posted by Animal Rebellion showed activists spraying the gates and walls outside Parliament with white paint, and emptying it onto the ground from milk bottles.
The group says the protest - which came as Prime Minister’s Questions took place inside the House of Commons, on the first day of Liz Truss’ premiership - is an “escalation of their plant-based future” campaign.
About today’s protest, taking to Twitter, Animal Rebellion wrote: “The road has been blocked just in front of Big Ben. The landmark also just got a new coat of white paint to represent the destruction and cruelty of the dairy industry.
“This follows four days of disruptive action as part of the Plant-Based Future campaign.”
But, who is Animal Rebellion? Here’s everything you need to know.
Who is Animal Rebellion?
Animal Rebellion is an animal and climate justice movement with the stated aim of compelling government action towards a plant-based food system. It has around 100 organisers and was founded in London in June 2019, but 12 people, including Daniel Kidby, Dora Hargitai, and Alex Lockwood of the University of Sunderland.
The justification for their activism is stated as the impact of animal agriculture on climate change, species extinction, and ecosystem breakdown.
They use civil disobedience methods, that result in their members being arrested. These can include graffiti, destruction of property, blockading and preventing food distribution, trespassing onto livestock industry premises, and blockading streets.
The movement states on its website that it is nonviolent and focuses its actions on systems, not individuals.
On their website, they say: “Animal Rebellion is a mass movement that uses nonviolent civil disobedience to bring about a transition to a just and sustainable plant-based food system, to halt mass extinction, alleviate the worst effects of climate breakdown and ensure justice for animals.”
