Extinction Rebellion protesters invade red carpet at London Leicester Square premiere

Rabble Alliance v Rebel Alliance: Extinction Rebellion protesters invade the red carpet at the Star Wars premiere and are dragged away by security

  • Bristol Extinction Rebellion protesters stormed Leicester Square premiere
  • Activists from a group called Film Strike for Climate also seen lying on red carpet
  • They were dressed as Star Wars characters and meant actors were rushed away

Extinction Rebellion protesters dressed as Star Wars characters invaded its London premiere this evening before being dragged away by security. 

The XR activists managed to sneak into the dedicated fans’ area outside Leicester Square’s famous cinema.

They then stormed the red carpet before lying down and holding up signs calling on film industry bosses to ‘tell the story of the climate crisis’.  

Stars of the new film, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, and other celebrities were quickly rushed off and unable to greet their fans.  

Protesters from Extinction Rebellion invaded the Star Wars premiere in London this evening before being dragged away by security

Demonstrators managed to get onto the red carpet at Leicester Square before lying down and holding up signs

Demonstrators managed to get onto the red carpet at Leicester Square before lying down and holding up signs

Two of the eight XR 'rebels' involved in tonight's protest hold up a banner with lightsabers on

Two of the eight XR ‘rebels’ involved in tonight’s protest hold up a banner with lightsabers on

Eight so-called ‘rebels’ from the Bristol XR branch and a group of filmmakers calling themselves Film Strike for Climate took part. 

An XR spokesman claimed the protest ‘only lasted a few moments’ before members were ‘peacefully removed’.  

Explaining the motives behind the protest, Alfie Warren-Knight, founder of #FilmStrikeforClimate, saidin a statement: ‘At the world government summit in Dubai, Harrison Ford said ‘We are faced with, I believe, the greatest moral crisis of our time’.

‘The film industry must use its influence and story-telling powers to help people around the world understand the urgency of the situation and to spark wide-spread public discussion about the climate and ecological emergency before it’s too late. 

‘It has shown in the past how it can mobilise around other important issues in society such as the #MeToo movement. 

Activists from the Bristol XR branch and a group called Film Strike for Climate took part

Activists from the Bristol XR branch and a group called Film Strike for Climate took part

The protest was streamed live on Facebook, with these two activists appealing to supporters

The protest was streamed live on Facebook, with these two activists appealing to supporters 

‘The industry must show a brighter future is still possible, and inspire people to rise up against the ‘Evil Empire’ of ecocidal business-as-usual. 

‘We need radical culture and system change to prevent climate and ecological breakdown, and must join forces to improve our chances of a liveable future.’

Earlier fans were left elated when they spotted villain Darth Vader and dozens of stormtroopers marching along the red carpet. 

This afternoon three XR ‘rebels’ were found guilty of obstructing the railway after gluing themsleves to DLR trains in Canary Wharf, east London. 

Following the first Crown Court trial linked to the environment movement, Cathy Eastburn, 52, Mark Ovland, 36, and Luke Watson, 30, were convicted.  

An XR protester is pictured speaking to a live stream of the red carpet sit-in

An XR protester is pictured speaking to a live stream of the red carpet sit-in 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk