Extinction Rebellion Oxford to attend London protests from October 7

Rowan Tilly and Mike Betts appeared at Hendon Magistrates' Court in London on Tuesday, having been arrested during the Extinction Rebellion protests in the capital in April.

The pair say they were dismissed over a technicality, as police officers failed to follow exact procedure prior to their arrest.

Now they are both planning to join dozens of other protesters from Oxford returning to London on Monday to join what Extinction Rebellion have vowed will be 'the biggest ever act of non-violent civil disobedience'.

East Oxford resident Ms Tilly said: "In a way, police arresting us is a part of what we are doing – part of the process of civil disobedience, to try to get a dialogue going.

Also read: School commends pupils who took part in climate protests

"There's always a bit of fear but you measure that against the magnitude of the problem and the urgency of the situation."

Yesterday four Extinction Rebellion activists were arrested after spraying 1,800 litres of fake blood at the Treasury from a fire engine.

Police outside the Treasury yesterday. Picture: Aaron Chown/PA Wire

Tomorrow, a sub-group from the Oxford branch, the Red Rebels, will protest in and around Radcliffe Camera from 1pm.

Ms Tilly, of Percy Street, was sat blocking Waterloo Bridge when she was arrested on April 21.

Oxford Extinction Rebellion activist Activist Rowan Tilly (right) on Waterloo Bridge in April. Picture: Zoe Broughton

The 61-year-old was one of thousands of peaceful protesters who held key sites across London for two weeks, and was charged with an offence contrary to Section 14 of the Public Order Act 1986.

Mr Betts, of Walton Crescent, Jericho, was charged with refusing to comply with a section 14 order.

The 46-year-old was also arrested on the bridge that day.

Also read: Oxford's Lord Mayor backs Extinction Rebellion protests

Ms Tilly said: "The law is very exacting, which is sometimes to its own detriment.

"Although police told me I could not sit there under the Public Order Act, they should have told me I could go to Marble Arch to continue to protest.

"Because of the Human Rights Act, we are entitled to protest."

More than 1,000 people were arrested during the April activism, including about 20 from Oxfordshire, and criminal proceedings are ongoing against several of those.

Owen McKnight from Oxford is arrested at the Extinction Rebellion protests in London in April 2019. Picture: Ted Dave/Extinction Rebellion

Mr Betts said of the hearing: "The presiding judge heard the police officer's account and quite quickly said there were grounds for dismissal."

Extinction Rebellion is set to begin another two weeks of action on Monday, occupying 12 sites around Westminster.

Also read: Extinction Rebellion take over Oxford museum

Both Mr Betts and Ms Tilly plan to join in, despite only just walking free from their last run-in with the law.

Business owner Mr Betts said: "I'm not somebody who ever expected to be arrested in my lifetime, but I took that decision on the severity of the situation we are all facing.

"For me, sacrificing a clean criminal record and anything that might follow was entirely fine, given the possibility for me to have some small impact.

"You watch the news and hear the dreadful details of what's going on, and you feel utterly helpless.

"It's an important message to people attending that it is very peaceful, totally non-violent – and police have responded in kind."

Oxford’s rebels will be based near Whitehall from Monday, and several have expressed a willingness to be arrested.

Read also: Prince William's visit to Oxford, as it happened

Retired accountant Pam Sutherland, 60, said: "I am terrified – but not as terrified as I am at the prospect of uncontrolled manmade climate change."

Before activists blocked Botley Road almost one year ago, the Extinction Rebellion movement in the city was little-known.

It started with small meetings in someone's living room in Cowley Road, but now 2,200 people are signed up as members via Facebook.

Steve Dawe, a spokesperson for the Oxford team, said: "Our group is one of the largest in the country.

"The level of care here is significant – even smaller places like Charlbury and Abingdon have Extinction Rebellion groups, and they are getting bigger.

"It's grown really rapidly in our area."

The 63-year-old lecturer, who lives in Lye Valley, said at least 5,000 people packed into Broad Street for the Youth Strike 4 Climate protest last month, a youth movement campaigning for the same cause.

Mr Dawe called for policies from local councils and the government to address issues such as poor building insulation and air pollution.

Although Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council have committed to creating a zero emission zone in the city, he said this is 'not enough'.