The Londoner: Extinction Rebellion says sorry for being privileged

Extinction Rebellion have apologised for their tactics that “made it easier for people of privilege to participate” while excluding black people and other marginalised groups.

The environmental activists said their decision to present “the experience of arrest and jail time as something straightforward, rather than acknowledging the stressful, intimidating and sometimes deadly experience marginalised people face at the hands of the police, was a mistake”.

XR have had thousands of their members arrested. But lockdown and the emergence of Black Lives Matter protests worldwide have led to reflection. In a post on their website, the UK branch of XR indicated a change in their relationship with the police. They said their choice to communicate with the police before demonstrations “was a strategic one”, but said they now feel “awarding gifts and chanting: “We love you’ to the police” is inappropriate.

Ahead of their protests, which will begin again in September, XR said their rebellion will “prioritise anti-racism” and they will use workshops and training to correct their past errors.

They add “we’re sorry this recognition comes so late.” Better late than never.

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Angels in America actor James McArdle tells the Stage about lockdown at his parents’. “My mum and I have been doing scrabble tournaments. I did have to do a Zoom call with this Oscar winning director from my teenage bedroom though. My dad had no idea and I heard him call from downstairs: “James - your dinner’s ready.” Keeping it real.

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LAWYERS at Irwin Mitchell were offered twerking lessons. An hour-long bottom gyrating zoom class “designed to teach you the basics of Twerking” was organised by the firm’s gender diversity group. Participants were advised to wear “a loose pair of shorts”. Alas it was abandoned due to “low engagement”. Rather aptly, we spied this story on website Legal Cheek.

SW1A

Stanley Johnson is irritated at the over-70s being labelled a Covid high risk, writing in SAGA: “There are almost nine million over-70s in the UK and it’s inconceivable we are all at risk. I am against all forms of ageism, especially when applied to me!”

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JAMES GRAHAM, writer of Brexit: The Uncivil War with Benedict Cumberbatch as Dominic Cummings, has “absolutely no plans” to return to the character and pen a film about the long drive to Barnard Castle. Gutted.

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SAJID JAVID celebrated pubs and restaurants reopening but was chided for missing out hairdressers. He atoned tweeting, “wasn’t my personal priority yesterday”, complete with a bald-headed emoji. Close shave.

Naomi shares a Sunday selfie portrait at home

NAOMI CAMPBELL looked the full supermodel-at-home yesterday as she shared a radiant Sunday selfie. Meanwhile, Helen Mirren also looked the part, at least for the “new normal”, sporting a face mask as she caught a plane. And Robbie Williams and Maya Jama brought the brightness with colourful outfits. Say it loud, say it proud.