Exctinction Rebellion plan bank holiday protests and socially distanced marches

Extinction Rebellion will be returning to the streets of Manchester city centre as part of a series of nationwide protests over the bank holiday weekend.

Regional branches of the environmental movement in the north of England have been urged to ‘build up energy and demonstrate the power of local rebellions’.

This will include a socially distanced march through Manchester on August 30 taking in Manchester Cathedral, Manchester Art Gallery and the Royal Exchange.

The locations have been chosen to highlight the city’s ‘relationship with slavery, colonialism and the financing of fossil fuels’, according to a document distributed by XR North.

Campaigners are also being encouraged to support local organisers by distributing banners and posters across their communities, or by forcing road closures.

The demonstrations will culminate at 10am on September 1 when crowds will gather in socially distanced groups at St Peter’s Square for a larger march.

A coronavirus risk assessment has also been prepared to ensure members wear masks, protest in six-person groups and stay two metres apart from fellow ‘rebels’.

The protests will then move eastwards through the city, potentially blocking roads as they go, before meeting outside the offices of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority on Oxford Street.

Further ‘mass action’ is also planned in the days leading up to September 5, though no further details have been publicly released.

Extinction Rebellion is also preparing a ‘digital rebellion’ where members flood the voicemails and email inboxes of MPs and government social media channels.

Manchester councillors have also been warned to secure their social media accounts over the coming bank holiday weekend in an internal email sent out on Wednesday morning.

Cloud-based IT systems used by the local authority could also be compromised, according to cyber security officials at the town hall.

Councillor Nigel Murphy, deputy leader of Manchester council, said: “The council will always respect the right to peaceful protest and try to support demonstrators to do so safely. 

“However, this must always be balanced with the rights and safety of Manchester people. 

“Targeting local authorities through digital disruption has the potential to impact vulnerable people who rely on support from the council, as well as key public health and safety advice around the on-going Covid-19 crisis.

“So we would ask demonstrators to consider the unintended consequences of their actions.”

 

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