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A Just Stop Oil march was interrupted today after a man ripped signs out of people’s hands and pushed activists.
Four protesters embarked on a ‘mini-march’ in central London while 18 others launched a ‘slow march’ through the city.
Once the latter group reached Mansell Street, they were approached by a man in a black jacket.
Footage shows him reaching for signs and forcibly trying to remove Just Stop Oil members from the road.
A phone was also reportedly smashed after it was thrown from an activist’s hand.
A Just Stop Oil spokesperson told Metro.co.uk: ‘We understand how frustrating it can be to be disrupted, however, as of this morning 13 people are dead and 13,000 people have had to be evacuated from their homes in Italy, due to 6 months worth of rain falling in a day and a half.
‘A quarter of a million people are currently homeless in Somalia due to extreme flooding, despite the country experiencing it’s worst drought in 40 years.
‘The disruption we are seeing on British Streets is nothing compared to the disruption wrought if we do not stop licensing new oil, gas and coal.’
A witness who recorded the incident said they were left ‘shaken’.
The 18-strong group was removed from the road by officers at around 8.30am.
When contacted by Metro.co.uk, the Metropolitan Police urged commuters not to intervene in marches despite ‘frustration.’
A spokesperson from the force said: ‘Police responded quickly to both protests and put in place conditions for the protesters to move out of the road and continue to protest lawfully on the pedestrian areas should they wish to do so.
‘In both cases, the protesters complied and moved out of the road.
‘The Met and City of London Police are aware of an incident in which a member of the public appears to have remonstrated with Just Stop Oil protesters this morning, Friday 19 May, in the City of London, before the arrival of police.
‘At this stage, we are not aware that any allegations have been made in regard to this matter.
‘We completely understand the frustration and anger of London’s communities when protesters walk slowly in the roads. We urge people not to intervene and to wait for the arrival of police, who will attend the scene promptly. We thank people for their patience.’
Just Stop Oil supporters have been marching every day since April 24.
One of those taking action as part of the ‘mini-march’ this morning was Adrian Johnson, 57.
The former deputy headteacher, from Forneth, said: ‘Having taught high school science for thirty years, I trust the scientists.
‘And they say there can be no new oil, gas or coal; yet our government is doing the opposite. My wife Carol and I have engaged in civil disobedience, as we have seen nothing else is working fast enough.
‘We do this for our children, our grandchildren and everything we love and care about.’
Cam Ingram, a gardener from Leith, also took part in this morning’s action.
The 27-year-old added: ‘As a gardener I can see first-hand the effect extreme weather is having. Anyone who works on the land will tell you that the climate is spinning out of control.
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‘The conditions are making it difficult for crops to survive. If it’s this bad now, what will 2050 look like?’
Since the Just Stop Oil campaign launched on February 14 2022, there have been over 2,100 arrests and 138 people have spent time in prison.
On Wednesday, a meeting between senior police officers and MPs was interrupted by a group of Just Stop Oil (JSO) activists.
MP Tim Loughton was questioning Metropolitan Police Temporary Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist about Operation Golden Orb – used during the coronation – when a campaigner was heard interrupting proceedings.
As the live feed was swiftly cut, Mr Loughton said: ‘To be clear, they were Just Stop Oil protesters who tried to undermine the activities of this committee with our witnesses today.’
A total of 64 people had been arrested ahead of the King’s Coronation.
The Just Stop Oil group repeatedly calls on the public to join them in ‘civil resistance’ against new oil, gas and coal.
A slow march is also planned for Parliament Square, London on Saturday.
Last month, two Just Stop Oil protesters were jailed after scaling a bridge on the Dartford Crossing last year.
Morgan Trowland and Marcus Decker caused traffic chaos when police were forced to turn back vehicles from beneath the pair.
The two men had scaled the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge which links the M25 in Essex and Kent, on October 17.
They unfurled a ‘giant Just Stop Oil banner’ and ‘rigged up hammocks’ when they climbed 200-feet above the road.
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