Just Stop Oil protesters plan to make M25 a ‘no-go zone’

Protesters have pledged to block the M25 motorway around London for three days starting today, in an act of civil disobedience and disruption that’s already causing havoc in Surrey.

National Highways reports that three lanes have been closed between Junction 11 for Chertsey and J10 for Wisley on the south-west stretch of the motorway, and a Just Stop Oil spokesperson has told reporters there are plans to block the M25 in three places, including J14 Northbound and one site not yet disclosed.

The protest comes in the wake of record UK temperatures yesterday, and the group is demanding that the government immediately halts all future licensing and consents for the exploration and production of fossil fuels. In a declaration posted online today, the group says this is “the necessary first step to ensuring a liveable future”, adding that government failure to take such a step would be “criminal dereliction of its fundamental duty to protect its citizens”.

Just Stop Oil’s statement says it is making the M25 a site of civil resistance, and the group has “asked” that no one travels on this motorway from Wednesday to Friday as it will be blocking the route, notwithstanding the fact that schools breaking up will mean many drivers have holiday travel plans.

“We ask that no one travels on this motorway from Wednesday to Friday this week as we will be blocking the highway. We fully acknowledge the cost and disruption this will cause to the public and ask that they take their demands for compensation to the government which has caused this unprecedented threat to our lives and liberties,” the statement runs.

The extremist nature of the group is reflected in the language of its proclamation, which states: “All time temperature records are being obliterated, thousands of people are expected to die from heatstroke and the liars and plotters who are vying to lead us are too busy fighting among themselves to even care. This is the moment when climate inaction is truly revealed in all its murderous glory for everyone to see: as an elite driven death project that will extinguish all life if we let it. 

“The criminals that have our democracy by the throat are currently overseeing the destruction of everything that is needed for society and the state to function. By continuing to allow and expand fossil fuel production they are sealing our fate.”

Just Stop Oil also claims to be working in coalition with other groups to escalate civil resistance, and we have asked police forces covering the M25 for comment on the threat. Today’s development follows recent JSO publicity stunts that included a track invasion at the Silverstone Grand Prix and criminal damage to Constable’s Hay Wain painting at the National Gallery.

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