A striking, silent procession took place at York Station this afternoon (Sunday).
Members of the Red Rebels Brigade group, dressed in eye-catching scarlet outfits to symbolise the danger of the climate crisis and its impact on humanity, walked through the busy concourse.
At one point they stopped as a message was read out calling on others to join them in their campaign to save the planet.
They then made their way over the footbridge, before finally catching a train on another stage of the journey to Glasgow.
Afterwards, the York branch of Extinction Rebellion unfurled a large banner over York city walls at Station Rise, declaring: “World leaders act now – No more blah blah blah.”
It came on the first day of the Cop26 Climate Change summit in Glasgow.
Members of the Red Rebels, a performance group which focuses on social and environmental issues, were travelling to Glasgow in a silent pilgrimage from stations across the country.
A message of hope
The station – extra busy because the bad weather had caused long delays – was able to continue operating normally while the Red Rebels carried out their procession.
There was a heightened police presence, but officers kept a watching brief.
Gemma, a Red Rebel supporter from York, told YorkMix: “It’s the opposite of disruption. It’s about bringing the voice of the people to the climate talks in Glasgow, and it’s about celebrating the railways rather than disrupting anything.”
“It’s a message of hope,” said Laura, from Extinction Rebellion York.
“And it’s showing a different way to bring things to the public light. It doesn’t always have to be chaining yourself to something, you can get pretty creative with these things, and then do something bigger and better.”
Their next big demonstration is on 6 November, which is the COP26 march. In York, this begins outside York Minster at midday.
“There’ll be a big Extinction Rebellion presence along with loads of other activist groups,” Laura said. “So that’s definitely one to look out for. And then we’ve got some things planned forward in the future as well – it’s a really amazing time.”
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