Extinction Rebellion Protest At Cenotaph Ahead Of Armistice Day Commemorations

Extinction Rebellion staged a protest at the Cenotaph, just hours before a Remembrance Day ceremony was due to take place.

The climate change activists unveiled a banner reading "Honour Their Sacrifice, Climate Change Means War" at the memorial in Whitehall, central London.

After the banner was displayed, British Army veteran and Extinction Rebellion member Donald Bell observed a two-minute silence before hanging a wreath of poppies bearing the message "act now".

Pictures from Extinction Rebellion show the wreath later being removed by police.

Mr Bell, 64, who completed four tours in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, said: "Unchecked climate change means a return to a world at war.

"I took action today knowing that I would be criticised.

"I knew that I would be accused of being disrespectful and hated by many for speaking out in this way.

"Remembrance Day is never an easy time for veterans and this was not an easy decision for me to make."

A two-minute silence was held at the memorial at 11:00, followed by a rendition of 'The Last Post' to commemorate Armistice Day.

Due to COVID-19, it was a small closed ceremony which also marked 100 years since the Cenotaph's permanent inauguration in 1920.

The memorial was boarded up in June ahead of expected protests after it was graffitied during anti-racism demonstrations. 

Cover image: Extinction Rebellion protestors with their banner at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Day (Picture: TheLightscaper/Extinction Rebellion).