Extinction Rebellion activists dressed as reindeer and elves cause traffic chaos by gluing their hands to the road and dumping fake coal on the streets in Christmas-themed climate change protest
- The protesters dressed as reindeer pulling a fake sleigh, blocking traffic
- A man chained a head-piece to his head as part of a Santa Scomo costume
- The action in Sydney is part of the global Extinction Rebellion movement
- Police used acetone to remove the group who glued themselves to the road
Climate change protesters dressed as reindeer and elves have caused traffic chaos by gluing their hands to a major road in Sydney’s CBD.
One of the protesters was dressed as Scott Morrison in a Santa suit, pulling a sleigh with the words ‘coal slays life’ while charcoal and cardboard cutouts of flames lay on the ground around him.
Others scattered themselves across the ground like corpses – as part of the ‘die-in’ – a form of protest which aims to draw attention and disrupt traffic and pedestrian movement.
The protest was organised by the Sydney branch of the Extinction Rebellion Group.
The group was quickly surrounded by NSW police as they blocked off the road at Pitt Street and the corner of Martin Place, in Sydney’s CBD.
Police rescue crews were tasked with removing the protesters from the street using acetone.
Meanwhile seven people have been arrested over the action, including the one who was dressed as Santa Scott Morrison.
Protesters dressed as reindeer have glued their hands to the corner of Pitt Street and Martin Place in Sydney to protest climate action
Police led the man away while he held a lump of coal over his head, and a Hawaiian lei around his neck- a reference to the Prime Minister’s decision for an overseas holiday during the bushfire crisis.
Before arresting the man police had to use bolt-cutters to remove his head piece.
Extinction Rebellion is a global environmental movement with the stated aim of ‘using nonviolent civil disobedience to compel government action to avoid tipping points in the climate system, biodiversity loss, and the risk of social and ecological collapse.
The group regularly uses disruptive tactics in their protests, including blocking off roads or other thoroughfares to delay or impact on people’s ability to get to work or other activities.
Protesters dressed as reindeer have glued their hands to the corner of Pitt Street and Martin Place in Sydney to protest climate action
Protesters are scattered across the ground as ‘corpses’ as they protest climate inaction ahead of Christmas in Sydney
Extinction Rebellion protesters are lying across the ground in Sydney’s Martin Place this morning as part of a ‘die-in’ where they are protesting a lack of action on climate change
The non-violent direct action also involved people singing Christmas carols in Martin Place as others lay on the ground and people dressed as reindeer glued their hands to the street
Police rescue were among those tasked with removing the protesters from the corner of Pitt Street and Martin place in Sydney this morning
NSW Police were quick to attend Sydney’s Martin Place on Friday where seven people were arrested for taking part in a climate change protest
A protester waves an Extinction Rebellion flag at the protest in Sydney’s Martin Place on Friday morning
Coal was scattered across the road at the intersection of Pitt Street and Martin Place in Sydney where Extinction Rebellion held a protest on government inaction on climate change
The protest was organised by the Sydney branch of the Extinction Rebellion group- as part of non-violent direct action calling for urgent action on climate change
Clean-up crews were left to remove the coal that was strewn across the road at Pitt Street at the intersection with Martin Place in Sydney after a Christmas-themed protest by Extinction Rebellion