Environmental activist group Just Stop Oil targeted the US Embassy in London early Wednesday morning, covering the building in orange paint to protest Donald Trump’s projected victory in the US presidential election. The protest at Nine Elms, South West London, was aimed at drawing attention to the group’s demands for an end to fossil fuel extraction and consumption by 2030.
In a statement, a Just Stop Oil spokesperson condemned corporate influence over politics, asserting that “the only real winner of today’s election is the corporate power that controls the major parties in both the US and UK.” The group argued that regardless of election outcomes, the fossil fuel industry’s interests are prioritized over the welfare of ordinary people.
The activists’ statement warned of the severe consequences of climate inaction, citing recent natural disasters as “a small portent of what is to come” if urgent changes aren’t made. “Ordinary people have to step up, get organised and make change happen,” the spokesperson added, urging collective action to address the climate crisis.
The Metropolitan Police responded swiftly, arriving on the scene at 9:19 a.m. and arresting two men, aged 25 and 72, on suspicion of criminal damage. Both men remain in custody. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Andy Valentine emphasized the police’s “zero-tolerance” stance on such incidents, labelling the act as “vandalism purporting as protest.”
The protest comes amid mixed reactions to Trump’s anticipated return to the White House. London Mayor Sadiq Khan expressed concern over the implications of Trump’s win, suggesting it would cause “anxiety” among Londoners and underscoring the need to combat “racism and hatred.”
Just Stop Oil, known for its disruptive tactics, reiterated that direct action is necessary to force urgent governmental change in environmental policy. TfL has advised the public that traffic disruptions near Nine Elms may continue as authorities handle the aftermath of the protest.
