Climate protests take off with London airport ‘blockade’

Protesters have something to declare, but police are making sure they keep their feet on the ground. “I am not happy to be here, I want to be able to live on a planet that I can enjoy fully.” He had travelled from one of the improvised campsites set up by Extinction Rebellion in central London as part of the group’s two-week “autumn rebellion”, which kicked off on Monday with activists blocking roads around Westminster and the Houses of Parliament. “We are supporting each other a lot and we’re seeing that even though we’ve been arrested, we’re keeping our sites, we’re keeping our morale high, definitely,” Mothiur Rahman, one of the group’s organisers told Al Jazeera earlier this week, shortly after being released from an overnight jail stint. “The consequences of committing offences at airports are serious; individuals breaking the law are being, and will continue to be, arrested and prosecuted where appropriate.” Police on Thursday morning soon started dragging protesters away from the hall, asking journalists to leave the area and diverting travellers wishing to check in to another airport entrance a five-minute walk away. Posting a video online from on top of a British Airways jet, Paralympic medallist James Brown said, “We are protesting against government inaction on climate and ecological breakdown.” Slight delays have been recorded for most arrivals and departures, and the airport’s website recommends passengers check the status of their flight before travelling to the airport.