Is this the most middle class protest ever? Just Stop Oil protest in John Lewis and launch rant at shoppers as retailer becomes the latest department store to be hit by eco zealots
- Activists were mocked online for their ‘baffling’ protest in Oxford Street shop
Just Stop Oil eco clowns were completely ignored by shoppers today as they staged a bizarre silent protest at John Lewis in what one person described as the ‘most baffling middle class thing I’ve ever seen’.
In scenes that have been branded ‘hilarious’, about 25 activists ‘marched’ through the department store in Oxford Street, central London.
Activists took over three floors of the retailer, which was the latest outlet to be targeted by the eco warriors as part of its campaign of mayhem in the capital.
Standing silently, campaigners dangled orange banners from the railings and held placards, with one appearing to saunter into the video with a bag for life. Later, one armed with a megaphone started ranting at customers.
But protesters’ hopes of eliciting some sort of reaction from shoppers appeared to fall flat, with customers simply getting on with their shopping and a couple of women not even glancing at the group as they strolled past demonstrators.
Just Stop Oil were mocked by Twitter users after sharing the footage online, with people accusing the rabble of protesting in the shop to ‘avoid the rain’.
Dozens of activists from Just Stop Oil were pictured protesting in Oxford Street’s John Lewis store in London today
Carrying banners and signs, the eco mob took over three floors of the department store in their latest baffling shop protest
Social media users lashed out at the protesters today, with one branding the demonstration the ‘most baffling middle-class thing’ ever
Speaking of the video, one man tweeted: ‘This is the most baffling middle class thing I’ve ever seen. Literally no-one in the shop cares! Hilarious.’
The demonstration is the latest in a string of surreal protests which have seen Just Stop Oil zealots targeting high street stores across the capital.
READ MORE: Just Stop Oil eco zealot with a TAG on her ankle is seen being led away by police – as angry motorists resort to driving around activists and over pavements during yet another slow march
On Thursday, members of the eco mob were filmed staging a protest in Selfridges – before being chucked out by security.
The rabble of activists were seen being escorted out the renowned Oxford Street store by guards in suits, who told the activists: ‘You’re trespassing.’
At one point, a small scuffle appears to break out as one of the protesters was shoved onto the elevator.
‘Easy, easy, there’s no need to get violent,’ shouted one man.
The day before, on Wednesday, the group was out again, this time moaning at shoppers in the Barbie aisle of Hamleys toy store.
Just Stop Oil activist Lora Johnson – who was yesterday filmed being detained by police with a tag attached to her ankle – was among those taking part in the Hamley’s display.
The mother from Southwold, in Suffolk left customers at the iconic store perplexed as she stood at the top of an escalator and shouted ‘I want my son to grow old and die in his bed’ while raging about climate change.
She was back today at the protest in John Lewis, once again shouting at shoppers using a mega phone. ‘Two years ago it was a code red for humanity,’ she yelled. ‘Forty degree heat in the UK is not normal.’
Just Stop Oil activist Lora Johnson was filmed using a mega phone to yell at customers in John Lewis on Friday. It came after she staged a similar protest in the Barbie aisle of Hamley toy store earlier in the week
About 25 Just Stop Oil protesters took part in today’s demonstration inside John Lewis
Earlier, the group staged a baffling protest at the Hamleys toy store in London. Pictured is Lora Johnson, who says she was demonstrating for her son’s future
And last week, the group performed a bizarre escalator stunt in Harrods before being thrown out of security.
Speaking of the slew of shop demonstrations, a spokesman from the group insisted it was all about promoting ‘discourse’ about their efforts to raise awareness of climate change.
‘We don’t take action in any of these shops because we dislike them. It’s about forcing public discourse,’ the spokesman told MailOnline.
‘We’re at a pretty critical precipice. Last week the record temperature for the plant was broken not once, or twice but three times. The secretary general of the United Nations says there is a climate crisis.
‘If it’s this bad in 2022 how bad is 2050 going to look if we continue on this path. It’s a pretty unsettling.’
Asked whether he felt today’s display in John Lewis – which was largely ignored by customers – was working, the spokesman added: ‘Is it working? Well, you’re writing about it in the Mail, aren’t you.’
Yesterday, Just Stop Oil protesters were pictured staging another protest in Selfridges
The protesters were filmed wearing their orange hi-vis jackets before they were ejected from the shop
As well as protesting in the Oxford Street store, activists once again took to blocking roads across the capital with their latest round of tiresome slow marches.
About 30 eco clowns marched in through Marylebone Road, in central London, causing rush hour mayhem before they were forced off the highway by police.
Activists then split into smaller groups marching in Gloucester Road, Chapel Street, Westminster, and Orchard Street and Paddington Street, Marylebone between 9am and 10am.
Demonstrators also held up traffic in Edgware Road and around Marble Arch.
On all occasion, the Met Police said activists complied with Section 12 orders demanding they leave the highway.
No arrests have been made so far.
Today’s action is the 12th week of continuous protest in London by the climate change group.
Source: Read Full Article
