Protestors shut down Barclays bank in Oxford for four hours today.

The action by environmental activist group Extinction Rebellion was taken to protest the bank's investment into fossil fuels. 

This action was part of similar protests taken across the UK to coincide with Barclays annual general meeting which is being held in Manchester. 

As it happened: Oxford Barclays blocked by XR protestors on day of AGM

Protestors barred the entry to the bank from 8am until 12pm, chanted and held signs, and shared information leaflets with members of the pubic.

Oxford Mail: XR Protestors Anne, Ines and Mary. XR Protestors Anne, Ines and Mary.

The doors to the bank were blockaded by a group of XR members including Anne Taylor, Ines Smith, and Mary Gill who are all in their seventies.

Ms Taylor, who has three grandchildren of which the youngest is three, said: “Companies like Barclays are profiting from the future of our grandchildren.

READ MORE: Oxford Extinction Rebellion activist on protests in London

Ms Smith added: “It’s not only the future of our grandchildren we are fighting for, but everyone. I work for Oxfam, and I can see what’s happening in the global south because of climate change already, it’s here.”

On why the disruption was necessary to prove this point, Ms Taylor added: “We are at a tipping point. We’re not doing this because we want to disrupt people’s day, but this is an emergency, we need to get the message heard.”
Oxford Mail: XR protestors held signs and blocked entry to Barclays on Cornmarket Street in Oxford.XR protestors held signs and blocked entry to Barclays on Cornmarket Street in Oxford.

Oxford University biology student Jamie Walker, 21, was also among the protestors.

He said: “If businesses continue to back fossil fuels, then we will reach a point of no return in terms of the climate crisis.

“I think that this action is necessary because the science is there, and it needs to be taken action on. This is why researchers needs to be paired with this kind of activism.”

Oxford Mail: XR protestor Jamie Walker, 21, who is a biology student at Oxford university expressed his frustration that global leaders 'not following the science'.XR protestor Jamie Walker, 21, who is a biology student at Oxford university expressed his frustration that global leaders 'not following the science'.

Oxford Mail: XR protest Oxford. XR protest Oxford.

Jenny Stanton, 71, from Oxford who has a seven-year-old grandchild expressed her fears for the future.

She said: “I heard about the code read from the UN report, and the 50’C temperatures in Pakistan and you can’t ignore what’s happening. I’m very afraid. It’s just awful.”

Oxford Mail: Brigid Avison, 69, from Charlbury (left) and Jenny Stanton, 71, from Oxford (right) hold signs and engage passers-by in debate as part of the XR protest.Brigid Avison, 69, from Charlbury (left) and Jenny Stanton, 71, from Oxford (right) hold signs and engage passers-by in debate as part of the XR protest.
Members of the public who wanted to go to Barclays had mixed reactions to the protest, but after the bank did not reopen at 12pm the queue that had formed to get into the bank became restless.


Oxford Mail: XR Protestors at Barclays on Cornmarket Street in Oxford. XR Protestors at Barclays on Cornmarket Street in Oxford.

One woman who had come into Oxford to go to the bank at 9am with her baby, said she was absolutely ‘furious’.

She said: "I'm a working mum, I have one day off, I've been here since 9 O'Clock because I have to go to the bank.How am I going to pay for parking? It's unacceptable.”

Christine North, an 83-year-old from North Oxford, said: “I’m changing banks. Protest or not it is unacceptable that there was no notice given, update or explanation. It’s just wrong.”

Barclays has been contacted for a comment.

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