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Cyclist disperses Just Stop Oil protest (Twitter)“Go and protest properly!”: Cyclist pushes Just Stop Oil protestors off the road to make way for traffic
As the climate change and environment activist group Just Stop Oil started their tenth week of protests in the country’s capital, things came to a head when a cyclist decided to take matters into his own hands and started pushing and pulling the protestors, telling them to “f****** move” and “go and protest properly”.
Dressed in blue shirt and blue shorts with a bike in hand, the cyclist appeared to aggressively shove the activists blocking the Holloway Road in Islington, London this morning to draw attention to the group’s demand for the government to stop licencing all new oil, coal, and gas projects.
“All of you, get out of the f****** way! Move!” screamed the cyclist, as he was joined by another man wearing a blue shirt. The two of them managed to clear off a section of the road to let drivers by.
As the cyclist was leaving the site, he said: “Go and protest properly, you s*** a*** c****!”
*Warning: clip contains strong language*
🌡 What are we supposed to do in a crisis caused by our government? Sit tight and wait until they decide to call an election? pic.twitter.com/VQPCtB4OmM
— Just Stop Oil (@JustStop_Oil) June 26, 2023
However, Just Stop Oil asked: “What are we supposed to do in a crisis caused by our government? Sit tight and wait until they decide to call an election?”
Meanwhile, some people suggested if the cyclist was guilty of assault, and questioned if the police would take action against the cyclist.
After today's incident, Just Stop Oil has replied to road.cc regarding the cyclists’ involvement and him asking the activists to “protest properly”.
A spokesperson said: “We understand that it is frustrating when individuals like this cyclist get caught up in disruption, but history shows that only disruptive protest works. We’re not prepared to stand on the pavement and be ignored, the stakes are too high.
“We face increasingly frequent extreme weather events such as heatwaves, wildfires and floods which threaten transport, homes, health and livelihoods. Our crops will not survive and we will face mass starvation and the collapse of ordered civil society unless we stop new oil and gas.
“We need everyone, including cyclists, to join us on the streets.”
> Just Stop Oil begin slow cycling protests
The Metropolitan Police confirmed enforcement actions had been taken after today's slow march, which saw four groups march in different locations on the capital. Officers, issuing the Section 12 used against unlawful assemblies, including blocking roads, cleared the Islington road later and informed that traffic was back to moving now.
Those assaults are intentional and deliberate; if he wanted to ride his bike through he could very obviously have done so.
— Drew Law (@Drew129Law) June 26, 2023
The incident has once again heightened the violent rhetoric against activists, with another incident showing a motorcyclist driving through two protestors holding a banner. Figures like Howard Cox have declared on live television that he is “tempted to run the protestors over”.
After today’s video went viral, reactions were mixed. Some people pointed out that the drivers for whom the cyclist was clearing the way would “happily run him off the road”, while others claimed that the man had done more than anyone “to amend cyclist-driver relations”.
Irony being most drivers would happily run him off the road.
— Samanta's Wildlife (@SamantaWildlife) June 26, 2023
Man done more for for the promotion of good cyclist/motorist relations than anyone bar none. https://t.co/aiPRtGNx2Q
— Richard (@DickyTrickle) June 26, 2023
It’s not the first time that a cyclist has found himself in opposition to the environment activist group.
Previously in May, a cyclist on the pavement of the same road as the incident today approached the Just Stop Oil protestors and accused them of “harming the cause” and “f***ing it up for all of us”.
The rider – who pointed out to the protesters that he was “a liberal and a cyclist” – told them: “Everyone is just trying to go about their business, go about their day, and you are f***ing it all up for all of them.
“You might feel better about yourselves, but all you are doing is harming the cause because everyone hates you.”
He added: “I’m a liberal, and a cyclist, and I live in north London – and I hate you.”
The incident, as expected, divided cyclists’ opinions on social media, with people questioning how can you be a cyclist and oppose Just Stop Oil, while others claimed that despite being a cyclist they didn’t agree with the methods used by the group.
Three weeks ago, Just Stop Oil, which usually takes to the roads on foot and organises slow marches to cause disruption and draw attention to their cause, staged its first ‘slow cycle’ demonstration, as activists rode their bikes slowly in London’s West End.
A spokesperson from Just Stop Oil told road.cc that the change was part of the group’s plans to “evolve” its tactics in the face of what it claims is the government’s attempt to “restrict our legitimate rights to protest”.
“This criminal government is quietly signing off on over 100 new oil and gas projects that will hasten climate collapse and destroy the conditions that make human life possible. It is an act of war against the young and millions of people in the global south,” the spokesperson said.
“At the same time, they are enacting laws to ensure that no-one can stop them. They are restricting our legitimate rights to protest and to march in the road as people have done throughout history to express dissent. So, our tactics will continue to evolve.
“We are happy to show solidarity with cyclists everywhere and ask them to join us in civil resistance. Whether marching or cycling we will continue to do whatever is non-violently possible to end new oil and gas.”
What do you think? Should cyclists be in support of Just Stop Oil’s environment activism or is their disruption too much of an inconvenience in the face of climate change?
Adwitiya joined road.cc in 2023 as a news writer after graduating with a masters in journalism from Cardiff University. His dissertation focused on active travel, which soon threw him into the deep end of covering everything related to the two-wheeled tool, and now cycling is as big a part of his life as guitars and football. He has previously covered local and national politics for Voice Wales, and also likes to writes about science, tech and the environment, if he can find the time. Living right next to the Taff trail in the Welsh capital, you can find him trying to tackle the brutal climbs in the valleys.
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125 comments
Cool, you want to "just stop oil" so embrace nuclear energy, because it isn't all about cars and with governments pushing to stop the sale of ICE based cars manufacturers are already pushing for full electrification, but these things are not done overnight. Example being stallantis who own a lot of brands pushing to full EV across their brands and taking the bold move to start with Alfa Romeo being 100% EV by 2027.
Funny how the media are quick to report the JSO and IB protests as harmful but slow to report the physical harm done to the protestors at all.
Also on the 'anti-working class' thing: surely every day we gain by delaying the inevitable is more than a day taken from future generations? By simply carrying on and getting to work we're destroying future jobs and lives. We should accept the lesser sacrifice now to prevent the greater loss in the future.
I love cycling. Exciting. Often exhilarating. Never boring. That's for cricket fans!
And yes. I have, also, previously, fallen asleep at a test match. Never again.
Tyre extinguishers. Are you ready!?!
Ive falken asleep before grand tour stages...
If you ever need proof that cyclists aren't a monoculture, I present a Gammon/carbon roadie hybrid.
They have gone to far now - disrupting the Test match !
George Davis is innocent !
Absolutely, they've lost my sympathy. I mean good God, disrupting the coronation and all that sort of thing, fine, but some things are simply sacred.
All I can think of is the two Aussies there with a bat each, and the lost opportunity...well done Jonny anyway.
In most walks of live, assulting someone like he did would result in arrest and certaintly in football or rugby, you would be sent off for violent conduct.
The wicketkeepers actions one of a thug and thus, he should be comdemed. It is not for him to take the law into his own hands.
To be fair to Bairstow all he did was pick up the non-resisting protester and carry him off the field of play, no violence was inflicted or harm done. It is legal to use reasonable force to remove a trespasser from a property; by entering the field of play the protester was guilty of aggravated trespass (with which he has now been charged), so fairly sure Bairstow is on pretty safe legal ground. As someone who believes it's a scandal that my Surrey boy Ben Foakes isn't keeping wicket, I was just surprised to see Bairstow didn't drop him.
Okay, but its still voilent conduct for which, in football or rugby, the player would have rightly been sent off.
Its not the players role to police the crowd.
There goes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-26KjYWNNCE
Why not? Are we all to become mere bystanders to the breakdown of order? And if the lawbreaker had been a drunk driver or a burglar perhaps, should we stand by while he continued on his merry way?
You can't intervene on everything you consider to be breaking the law, otherwise you will be open to assault charges.
Of course not. The law allows a person to use reasonable force to stop a burglar, or a drunk driver but the laws of cricket: see my post below, does not allow a player to act in the way the wicket keeper did.
That's the difference. One is allowed by law and indeed, should be expected by society as a whole, the second is not.
Pretty sure the laws of cricket do not cover the actions of external persons coming onto the field in order to commit a crime (which, agree with them or not, the JSO protesters were doing, to enter the playing field at a sporting event is aggravated trespass) and so a player taking action to prevent such persons would not be sanctioned under the laws of the game.
He already posted
Level 4 offence in Cricket:
42.5.1 Any of the following actions by a player shall constitute a Level 4 offence:
But then it comes down to the understanding and definition of assault.
I know he already posted, and I read the law with interest, but I am suggesting that those laws are formulated as applicable to the actions of a player during play and towards their fellow competitors, the umpires, physios etc. I do not believe that the laws prohibit a player taking action to prevent an external person committing a criminal offence.
Sorry, I added a sentence but you replied first
"But then it comes down to the understanding and definition of assault."
That seems to be the crux of it as to whether it was ok.
Indeed, and according to gov.uk "“Anyone refusing to leave the premises when asked becomes a trespasser, and can be lawfully ejected from the premises using only such force as is necessary (Scotland – using only such force which is ‘reasonable’)”. As Bairstow didn't punch, kick or otherwise attempt to harm the protestor but simply picked them up and carried them off the pitch I'm 99% certain any court would accept that as "using only such force as is necessary".
Can you point me to the laws of cricket where they specifically prohibit such actions?
It seems to me that any laws generally deal with what is NOT allowed, they do not list everything that is allowed.
You may try to argue this is violet conduct, but others (including the umpires it would seem) disagree.
He already posted
Level 4 offence in Cricket:
42.5.1 Any of the following actions by a player shall constitute a Level 4 offence:
But then it comes down to the understanding and definition of assault.
In my opinion JSO are not focusing their efforts effectively. I think they would be better advised to target the individuals who are directly responsible for deciding not to make the necessary changes. For example the directors and board members of certain companies. Blockade the roads outside their homes when they hold private social events. Disrupt the performance of a play they are attending. Fly drones over the runway when their private jets are scheduled for departure, protest and disrupt their company AGM.
Gluing oneself to a commuter train* seems a bit stupid to most people. Blocking a major road* is annoying to regular people who might otherwise broadly support the cause.
*Not sure why JSO bother when unions and drivers regularly bring disruption to rail services and roads without any assistance.
Anyway, look on the bright side
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/jun/28/uk-has-made-no-progress-on-climate-plan-say-governments-own-advisers
good to see we are showing the world how it should be done.
Crisis?
What crisis.
Where's the face palm emoji when you need it?
This topic always brings out the Grade A Nutters! Complete with pseudo-science as a bonus.
Always good as a tour of "where we get our beliefs from and how we justify them". If you're up for a less comfy experience (if you're honest) you can try applying this to yourself!
Also on why yer "logic" isn't always a winner and why "facts" are always up for debate.
Anyway - a good spotters' guide (on a different but related topic) here!
Case in point.
Whose? Yours?
You haven't made a point to anyone but yourself if it's impenetrably cryptic or nonsensical. Even for sarcasm.
Guess the internet is for venting too though!
The Left are never funny.
Chin up Sunshine.
Bernard Manning was never funny and he got paid for making people laugh. At least you're doing it for free. Keep 'em coming.
We great to announce that Bernard Manning who was told to lose 5 stone or die has today lost 5 stone.
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