What future for our children? ask Just Stop Oil protesters

A PRIEST from Westbury on Trym has been arrested during climate protests in London, according to march organisers.

Just Stop Oil says 80-year-old Reverend Sue Parfitt, a retired family therapist, was in a group of nine women involved in a “slow march” along New Oxford Street in Central London on Monday July 10.

It was part of a week-long series of demonstrations by the protest group which is calling on the Government to end all new exploration for oil, gas, and coal.

A statement from JSO said ten minutes into the march the Metropolitan Police issued a Section 12 notice under the Public Order Act, and arrested several of the women.

They were among 22 Just Stop Oil supporters from Bristol who travelled to the capital for a week of continuous slow marches.

JSO says Rev Parfitt was charged with breaching section 12 of the Public Order Act, and released on bail.

Another Bristol woman, mental health worker Emma Ireland, aged 39, from Easton, was arrested at the same time, and also charged under Section 12 and released on bail. She is due to appear before Westminster Magistrates on July 26.

Just Stop Oil says two other women from Ashley Down were arrested on Wednesday July 12 at a “mums’ march” in Shaftesbury Avenue, London, as part of the week of protest, , Sophie Holland, 52, a speech and language therapist, and

Rowan Tilley, were among 24 West Country mothers taking part in a 30 minute long slow march protest.

Some held signs saying “Give our kids' hope” and “I am a mother, I won’t look away”.

JSO says police issued a Section 12 Notice and ordered the mothers from the road.

Sophie Holland and Rowan

Tilley were arrested and charged under Section 12, and released on bail. Sophie Holland is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on August 11. Other mums from the group later travelled to Hamleys Toy Store on Regent Street where some staged a protest outside, while others invaded the store holding signs saying “What future for our children?” before they were escorted out by security.

Just Stop Oil said in a statement: “These marches are taking place against a backdrop of increasingly rapid climate breakdown. Last week, Earth experienced its hottest ever temperatures, breaking records four days in a row.

“It prompted UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres to state “climate change is out of control” and that “if we persist in delaying key measures that are needed, I think we are moving into a catastrophic situation.”

The JSO campaign launched on February 14, 2022. There have been over 2,100 arrests.