Just Stop Oil confirms Pride action in London: ‘Reclaim a fossil fueled Pride’ -TGN

Just Stop Oil will protest Pride in London (HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images)

Just Stop Oil activists have confirmed they will take action during Pride in London, in protest of the event’s sponsorship deals.

The move follows several other high-profile demonstrations by the environmental group, during which they disrupted the cricket test match at London’s Lord’s and the World Snooker Championships in Sheffield, blocking major roads in and around the capital.

On Thursday (June 29), anti-fossil fuel campaigners tweeted a warning ahead of the Pride event, stating that during Saturday’s (July 1) parade, activists “may or may not take action” if their demands are not met.

The demands include Pride in London being open about who its sponsors are, making a statement demanding an end to new oil and gas exploration, and organizing a meeting to discuss participation in the civil resistance to climate change.

As shown on the Pride in London website, the title sponsor of this year’s event is United Airlines, the third largest in the world with more than 900 aircraft in its fleet.

Twenty-four hours after the demands were issued, Just Stop Oil announced it would go ahead with action, with a protest scheduled for Saturday afternoon at noon in Parliament Square.

In a press release on the Just Stop Oil website, the activists stated they would consider “potential escalations” that could result in the “disruption of Pride” if their demands are not met.

“Pride is born out of protest,” the group said. “It shows how far we have come as a community, that highly polluting industries and the banks that finance them now see Pride as a useful means of cleaning their reputation, waving rainbow flags in one hand (while) accelerating social collapse in the other.

“How would those who sparked the gay liberation movement during the 1969 Stonewall riots think of the corporatized spectacle that Pride has become?”

The message continued: “We are calling on (Pride in London) to make a statement condemning new oil, gas and coal. We also demand that they stop accepting sponsorship money from highly polluting industries and stop including floats from these organizations in the parade.

“These partnerships embarrass the LGBTQ+ community at a time when much of the cultural world rejects ties to these toxic industries. We call on Pride to remember the spirit in which it was founded and to respect the memory of all those who fought and died to secure the rights we now hold.”

The group received a mixed response to their threat from within and outside the LGBTQ+ community.

While a number of people agreed with the group’s message, others said they see the planned demonstration as counterproductive to the Pride movement as it takes away the focus on LGBTQ+ rights.

In a broader response to the situation, writer Arthur Webber tweeted: “If Just Stop Oil continues to protest at Pride in London, it will be really interesting to see which group of commentators and political hacks hate more: the queers or climate activists.”

Left-wing political commentator and journalist Owen Jones tweeted that he would support Just Stop Oil’s action. “Pride is an important day for LGBTQ liberation,” he wrote, “but it can be used by corporations destroying the planet to pink their reputation.

“Pride isn’t just a celebration – it’s a protest.”

Writer Jason Okundaye said, “Get behind me, just stop oiling. Pride is necessarily a place for expressive political demonstrations and interrelated struggles. If a party claims to be held in our name, we should scrutinize sources of funding and see if we are being used to aid climate devastation.”

Yesterday (June 30) a spokesperson for Pride in London said: “The safety of others is paramount. This year, we’re highlighting trans+ joy so the community knows they’re #NeverMarchAlone with us.

“We call on all individuals, groups and organizations to give this space the respect and focus it deserves in an increasingly hostile and unsafe world.

“We welcome the dialogue with Just Stop Oil after the event and wish everyone a safe and happy Pride.”

PinkNews has approached Pride in London for further comment.