Oct 7, 2019

Climate activists block roads in major cities around the world

Extinction Rebellion group in London. Photo: John Keeble/Getty Images

Thousands of climate change activists led by group Extinction Rebellion kickstarted 2 weeks of peaceful protesting around the world on Monday to demand a drastic global reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, Reuters reports.

The big picture: Protests throughout Europe, Australia and New Zealand saw activists blocking busy bridges and roads, gluing and chaining themselves to cars and lampposts, and singing together as police stepped in to arrest them. In Amsterdam, activists held signs that read: “SORRY that we blocked the road, but this is an emergency," per Reuters.

The mass movement is the latest protest organized by Extinction Rebellion, a climate group founded in the U.K. that rose to prominence after blocking traffic for 11 days in London in April.

  • On Monday, 276 activists from Extinction Rebellion in London and more than 100 in Amsterdam were arrested for obstructing roads.
  • Protestors in New York City spattered the Wall Street Bull and themselves with fake blood, laying down around the statue to convey a message of urgency.

What to watch: Extinction Rebellion announced it plans to protest in more than 60 cities over the next 2 weeks in an effort to pressure governments to meet its demands for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025.

In photos
Theater group by a sculpture on Lambeth Bridge on Monday in London, England. Photo: Guy Smallman/Getty images
Extinction Rebellion protesters create a blockade in London. Photo: Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images
Potsdamer Platz square in Berlin, Germany. Photo: Abdulhamid Hosbas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Protestors outside the building where the Bayer-Monsanto office is located in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Photo: Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP via Getty Images

Go deeper ... In photos and video: Climate protests snarl D.C.'s morning commute

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Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

We usually think of Memorial Day as the start of the summer, with all of the fun and relaxation that goes with it — but this one is just going to remind us of all of the plans that have been ruined by the coronavirus.

Why it matters: If you thought it was stressful to be locked down during the spring, just wait until everyone realizes that all the traditional summer activities we've been looking forward to are largely off-limits this year.

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  2. U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 3 a.m. ET: 1,643,499 — Total deaths: 97,722 — Total recoveries: 366,736 — Total tested: 14,163,915 — Map.
  3. World: White House announces travel restrictions on Brazil, coronavirus hotspot in Southern Hemisphere — Over 100 coronavirus cases in Germany tied to single day of church services — Boris Johnson backs top aide amid reports that he broke U.K. lockdown while exhibiting symptoms.
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  5. Economy: White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett says it's possible the unemployment rate could still be in double digits by November's election — Public employees brace for layoffs.
  6. Federal government: Trump attacks a Columbia University study that suggests earlier lockdown could have saved 36,000 American lives.
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  8. Other resources: CDC on how to avoid the virus, what to do if you get it, the right mask to wear.

Subscribe to Mike Allen's Axios AM to follow our coronavirus coverage each morning from your inbox.

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Data: The Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins; Map: Andrew Witherspoon/Axios. This graphic includes "probable deaths" that New York City began reporting on April 14.

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By the numbers: More than 97,700 people have died from COVID-19 and over 1.6 million have tested positive in the U.S. Over 366,700 Americans have recovered and more than 14.1 million tests have been conducted.

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