ANP
NOS News•
Many hundreds of climate activists have blocked the Utrechtsebaan on the A12 in The Hague. Thousands more activists are protesting above the road.
The activist climate group Extinction Rebellion had called for people to come to The Hague to protest against government subsidies for fossil fuels such as oil, coal and gas.
According to reporters on the spot, hundreds of people are walking on the Utrechtsebaan. With cardboard signs, slogans and chants, the activists want to draw attention to the “ridiculous government policy”, says one of the activists.
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A police spokesman says he is in contact with the demonstrators and the mayor and reports that no reports of arrests have been received so far. The police do not give an estimate of the number of people, “but there are quite a lot”. Police have called on demonstrators to leave the highway or arrests will follow.
“I am prepared to be arrested,” a demonstrating law student says to reporter Jeroen Gortworst. “I know the consequences of civil disobedience. We are here for a reason, something has to be done now. We will remain seated until the police remove us.”
Area ban
earlier this week police detained six climate activists in their home for allegedly calling for a “dangerous and disruptive blockade”. After questioning, the activists were released. They did receive a three-month area ban for the A12.
One of those demonstrators, Lucas Winnips, has not complied with the area ban and is still on the Utrechtsebaan. According to the climate activist, “the message is too important not to show up”.
