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Hundreds of climate activists defy police ban, block traffic in Amsterdam

Demonstrators gathered on a main traffic artery through the city in front of the national Rijksmuseum with banners that read, “stop talking, start acting” and “tell the truth.”

Hundreds of climate activists defy police ban, block traffic in Amsterdam

People attend a protest march as part of the world’s largest climate strike in Sydney on September 20, 2019. - Children in Australia and the Pacific Islands kicked off a millions-strong global climate strike on September 20, heeding the rallying cry of teen activist Greta Thunberg and demanding adults take action to stave off environmental disaster. (File Photo by PETER PARKS / AFP)

Bringing their attention to the ever-increasing threat to the climate crisis, hundreds of climate change activists chanting “rebellion!” blocked traffic in downtown Amsterdam on Monday morning, defying a ban by police who said they would make arrests to prevent them from disrupting commuters.
Police had approved plans by activist group Extinction Rebellion to demonstrate on condition they would not block traffic.

The city warned people on their way to work by car and bike to avoid the area because “the police were planning to end the illegal blockade.”

“The aim is de-escalation and to break up the blockade and allow for the safe flow of traffic,” police said in a statement. “Some demonstrators will be arrested. Police also seized materials that facilitate the demonstration.”

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Demonstrators gathered on a main traffic artery through the city in front of the national Rijksmuseum with banners that read, “stop talking, start acting” and “tell the truth.” London police detained several Extinction Rebellion activists on Friday before they could carry out a plan to block traffic.

On October 6 more than 400 students protested in New Delhi against the inaction on climate crisis.

Around dozens were arrested including four teenagers, in Australia on Monday after the protesters from the Extinction Rebellion tried to block traffic in Sydney. The Extinction Rebellion is a climate activists’ organisation which demands governments to tell the truth about climate emergency.

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