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09/05/2023, 15:34 Just Stop Oil activists protest new ‘draconian’ policing laws | Morning Star

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Just Stop Oil activists


protest new ‘draconian’
policing laws

Police speak with a Just Stop Oil protester in central London


following the coronation ceremony of King Charles III.
Picture date: Saturday May 6, 2023.

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09/05/2023, 15:34 Just Stop Oil activists protest new ‘draconian’ policing laws | Morning Star

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A
laws.
CTIVISTS from Just Stop Oil gathered in central London today
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in protest against the government’s new “draconian” policing

About 40 protesters marched through the capital in two groups to


Piccadilly as part of the group’s daily action since April 24 to
demand the government end new licences for fossil fuel projects in
Britain.

Today’s action followed arrests of 64 anti-monarchy activists over


the coronation weekend.

Nineteen Just Stop Oil activists were among those arrested on


Saturday for possession of T-shirts and flags with the “Not My King”
slogan written on them.

One of those arrested on Saturday but back in central London


today was Sam Griffiths.

The 47-year-old from Walthamstow said: “Our right to peaceful


protest is being strangled.

“All the rights we cherish came from people putting themselves on


the line and defying the power of their day. I’m proud to be part of
that great tradition.

“I can’t bear to stand by and see everything I care about being


destroyed due to our addiction to oil.

“I’m sick of the inaction, corruption and callousness of our


government. It is our civic duty to defy them.”

Just Stop Oil spokesman James Skeet said: “When studying history
and reading about nations descending into authoritarian police
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09/05/2023, 15:34 Just Stop Oil activists protest new ‘draconian’ policing laws | Morning Star

states, I would often wonder, how did people allow this?


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“Could they not see what was happening? Why did no one stand up
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and resist?

“Now I am watching while the government introduces ever more


repressive measures; they are effectively banning protest and
arresting peaceful people, simply for possessing a divergent
opinion.”

Mr Skeet called on the public to “stand up and say ‘enough is


enough’” and join the group’s weekly Saturday slow march in
Parliament Square from 12pm.

The Conservatives have reportedly received £3.5 million from


polluters, fossil fuel interests and climate deniers during 2022.

The government continues to pay £236m a week of taxpayers’


money to oil companies.

Last week BP announced first quarter profits of $5 billion (£3.95bn)


in the first three months of the year while it’s competitor Shell has
been accused of a “profiteering bonanza” after it made record first-
quarter profits of more than $9.6bn (£7.59bn).

OTHERS LIKED

SATURDAY 06TH MAY 2023

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09/05/2023, 15:34 Just Stop Oil activists protest new ‘draconian’ policing laws | Morning Star

CHARLES III IS A GORMLESS HALFWIT


WHOSE CORONATION BEARS WITNESS Log in
TO A FAILED REVOLUTION
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MONDAY 08TH MAY 2023
‘WE NO LONGER HAVE THE RIGHT TO
PROTEST’
WEDNESDAY 16TH MAR 2022
WHEAT
MONDAY 08TH MAY 2023
ON VICTORY DAY, OPPOSE THE ERASURE
OF THE INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE THAT
DEFEATED FASCISM
SUNDAY 07TH MAY 2023

POLICE STATE BRITAIN

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‘We no longer have LATEST STORIES


the right to
protest’
TUESDAY 09TH MAY
2023
Millions of
workers will have
Laws giving police greater powers to
right to strike
detain protesters must be repealed,
abolished under
says anti-monarchy campaigner
new laws
following coronation arrests

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09/05/2023, 15:34 Just Stop Oil activists protest new ‘draconian’ policing laws | Morning Star

TUESDAY 09TH MAY


2023 Log in
Around 700,000
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us
missed housing
payments in the
EDITORIAL | MONDAY BRITAIN | MONDAY 08TH FEATURES | SUNDAY
last month, data
08TH MAY 2023 MAY 2023 07TH MAY 2023 shows
On Victory Day, Ex-army chief The ongoing
oppose the castigates Suella struggle for the TUESDAY 09TH MAY
2023

erasure of the Braverman's NHS  Disabled people


international Rwanda plans face ‘cost-of-
alliance that breathing’ crisis
due to energy bill
defeated fascism hikes

Music therapy
TUESDAY 09TH MAY
2023
SNP accused of
ARTS MIK SABIERS is drawn to the ‘choking’
dirty glitch pop of an artist that has potential of
come through the slaughter Scotland's
airports
TUESDAY 09TH MAY
2023
Public wants ban
on forced pre-
payment meters,
research finds
TUESDAY 09TH MAY
2023
Cannes film
festival, May 16 -
May 23 2023
MONDAY 08TH MAY
2023
Matthews takes
Giro 3rd stage,
Evenepoel keeps
lead

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09/05/2023, 15:34 Just Stop Oil activists protest new ‘draconian’ policing laws | Morning Star

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Wheat

Charles III is a ‘We no longer On Victory Day,


gormless halfwit have the right to oppose the
whose protest’ erasure of the
coronation bears international
witness to a alliance that
failed revolution defeated
fascism

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