Couple stages wedding on Westminster Bridge amid Extinction Rebellion protests

Victoria Bell
Updated
Two women celebrate their marriage on Westminster Bridge, during an Extinction Rebellion protest in London, Monday, Oct. 7, 2019. London Police say some 135 climate activists have been arrested as the Extinction Rebellion group attempts to draw attention to global warming. Demonstrators playing steel drums marched through central London on Monday as they kicked off two weeks of activities designed to disrupt the city. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
A lesbian couple have staged a wedding on Westminster Bridge amid the worldwide Extinction Rebellion protests. (AP)

A couple has staged a wedding on Westminster Bridge after it was blocked off by Extinction Rebellion’s climate change protest.

Activists Tamsin Omond and her girlfriend Melissa exchanged vows in front of hundreds of other protesters after bringing Westminster to a halt as they demand the Government take urgent action on climate change.

The pair then asked the crowd whether they would like to hear a song, or have them read aloud letters they had written to the earth.

The group wrote on its Twitter page: “#ExtinctionRebellion has its first marriage. In love, and in rage, they stand on Westminster Bridge to be married.”

A member also wrote: “Thanks to #ExtinctionRebellion, this beautiful wedding is happening right now in the middle of Westminster Bridge.

“So happy to witness my friend and longtime comrade Tamsin Omond marrying in this unique way.”

Activists with the Extinction Rebellion movement blocked roads across major cities worldwide on Monday, kicking off a wide-ranging series of protests demanding more urgent action be taken against climate change.

Protests are planned in 60 cities worldwide, according to the group.

More than 135 have been arrested in London as Extinction Rebellion vowed to shut down Westminster.

Activists said they expect the protests to be as much as five times bigger than those held in April, which brought major disruption to London and saw more than 1,100 arrests.

Two women celebrate their marriage, during an Extinction Rebellion protest in London, Monday, Oct. 7, 2019. Demonstrators playing steel drums marched through central London on Monday as they kicked off two weeks of activities designed to disrupt the city. London Police say some 135 climate activists have been arrested as the Extinction Rebellion group attempts to draw attention to global warming. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
They said their vows in front of hundreds of other protesters on Westminster Bridge. (AP)

In Berlin, around 1,000 people blocked the Grosser Stern, a traffic circle in the middle of the German capital’s Tiergarten park dominated by the landmark Victory Column.

Demonstrators playing steel drums marched through central London as they kicked off two weeks of activities designed to disrupt the city.

Extinction Rebellion said protesters from the XR Peace group were arrested as they blocked Victoria Embankment, outside the Ministry of Defence.

Among those arrested was 81-year-old Sarah Lasenby, a retired social worker from Oxford.

“It is imperative the government should take serious actions and put pressure on other states and global powers to radically reduce the use of fossil fuels,” she said.

Two women celebrate their marriage on Westminster Bridge, during an Extinction Rebellion protest in London, Monday, Oct. 7, 2019. Demonstrators playing steel drums marched through central London on Monday as they kicked off two weeks of activities designed to disrupt the city. London Police say some 135 climate activists have been arrested as the Extinction Rebellion group attempts to draw attention to global warming. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
A member also wrote: “Thanks to #ExtinctionRebellion, this beautiful wedding is happening right now in the middle of Westminster Bridge." (AP)

In Amsterdam, hundreds of demonstrators blocked a major road outside the Rijksmuseum, one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions, and set up tents.

The protest went ahead despite a city ban on activists gathering on the road.

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The protesters ignored police calls for them to move to a nearby square.

In Spain, a few dozen activists briefly chained themselves to each other and to an elevated road over a major artery in the capital Madrid, snarling traffic during the morning rush hour.

The National Police said 33 activists were taken to their premises and three were arrested for resisting orders by anti-riot officers.

Police officers arrest a climate protestor in Trafalgar Square in central London Monday, Oct. 7, 2019. Extinction Rebellion movement blocked major roads in London, Berlin and Amsterdam on Monday at the beginning of what was billed as a wide-ranging series of protests demanding new climate policies. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Police officers arrest a climate protestor in Trafalgar Square in central London today. (AP)
Climate activists take part in a demonstration at Whitehall, in London, Monday, Oct. 7, 2019. London Police say they've arrested 21 climate change activists over the past few days as the Extinction Rebellion group attempts to draw attention to global warming. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Climate activists take part in a demonstration at Whitehall, in London, Monday, Oct. 7, 2019. London Police say they've arrested 21 climate change activists over the past few days. (AP)
Police arrest a climate activist during an Extinction Rebellion protest in London, Monday, Oct. 7, 2019. London Police say some 135 climate activists have been arrested as the Extinction Rebellion group attempts to draw attention to global warming. Demonstrators playing steel drums marched through central London on Monday as they kicked off two weeks of activities designed to disrupt the city. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
London Police say some 135 climate activists have been arrested as the Extinction Rebellion group attempts to draw attention to global warming. (AP)
Climate activist gather on Westminster Bridge, during an Extinction Rebellion protest in London, Monday, Oct. 7, 2019. London Police say some 135 climate activists have been arrested as the Extinction Rebellion group attempts to draw attention to global warming. Demonstrators playing steel drums marched through central London on Monday as they kicked off two weeks of activities designed to disrupt the city. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Demonstrators playing steel drums marched through central London on Monday as they kicked off two weeks of activities designed to disrupt the city. (AP)

Founded in Britain last year, Extinction Rebellion (XR) now has chapters in 50 countries.

Mrs Merkel’s chief of staff Helge Braun criticised its tactics.

“We all share an interest in climate protection, and the Paris climate targets are our standard in this,” he told ZDF television.

Demonstrators block Trafalgar Square in central London Monday, Oct. 7, 2019. Extinction Rebellion movement blocked major roads in London, Berlin and Amsterdam on Monday at the beginning of what was billed as a wide-ranging series of protests demanding new climate policies. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Extinction Rebellion movement blocked major roads in London, Berlin and Amsterdam on Monday at the beginning of what was billed as a wide-ranging series of protests demanding new climate policies. (AP)

“If you demonstrate against or for that, that is OK. But if you announce dangerous interventions in road traffic or things like this, of course that is just not on.”

He dismissed the idea of declaring a “climate emergency”, saying that the German constitution does not provide for such a thing and it does not translate into “concrete action”.

Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, today criticised Extinction Rebellion saying that disrupting the lives of ordinary people risked “turning people against” the cause.

The Metropolitan Police warned that elements of the “unprecedented” protest are “hugely disappointing and irresponsible”.

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