Those were the Days - Extinction Rebellion in London

The grassroots movement have spread across the world in a few months since its inception in the United Kingdom in May 2018. The momentum was reached in 2019 when many protests were organised worldwide.

Activists from the campaign group Rising Up! launched the Extinction Rebellion in Autumn 2018, blocking bridges across the River Thames in London. In Spring 2019, Extinction Rebellion protesters occupied busy sites in central London.

In mid-October, there was a two-week series of actions in major cities around the world labelled as "International Rebellion". Thousands gathered around Westminster, Trafalgar Square, Downing Street and Victoria Embankment on London. A major gathering was held in front of Westminster Abbey.


Extinction Rebellion uses protests, disruption and civil disobedience to pressure governments about the 'ecological climate risks, social collapse and sixth mass extinction of species'.

A number of activists in the movement accept arrest and imprisonment as a tactic to try to achieve its goals. They believe that letters, emailing, marches don’t work. Over 1000 arrests had been made by 11 October 2019.


When the movement reached the United States the ecological demands were expanded to social issues relating to Indigenous and Black people, and poor communities, calling for justice, regeneration and reparations.

The movement believes in ongoing ecocide and fights for 'planet where all species and people of all colours have equal opportunities in a just and fair society for generations to come'.

The symbol is a depiction of the black hourglass in a circle, as a warning that very little time is left to take action.


Extinction Rebellion is loosely networked and not-centralised. Everybody can join a local group or establish one and they can organise events and actions on their own.

Many observers have noticed that Extinction Rebellion uses the tactics and language of white middle-class hippie young adults, and it may not appeal to the working class in general.

As thousands of people gathered in Trafalgar Square, there were food shortages in nearby supermarkets.


Many Londoners had been affected by the disruptions. Initially, they supported the rebellion. It had declined after the two weeks of actions of blocking transport and overflowing the streets. It had alienated the general public from XR activists.

It is necessary, according to XR manifesto, to mobilise at least 3.5% of the population to achieve a systemic change. An essential element is a social disruption - without it no one is going to take notice. The followers believe in a strategy employed by the Suffragettes in the early 20th century to achieve votes for women.

Winter season of 2018-2019  was the warmest on record in the UK.