Climate Rush - Deeds Not Words

Peter Marshall | 14.10.2008 10:46 | Climate Chaos | Gender | London

Around a thousand demonstrators celebrated the 100th anniversary of the 'Suffragette Rush' on the Houses of Parliament on Monday 13 October 2008 with a 'Climate Rush' which again tried to gain entry to the Houses of Parliament. Pictures (C) 2008, Peter Marshall, all rights reserved.

The buns say 'Deeds Not Words' and 'Climate Bill Now'

Caroline Lucas and Tasmin Osmond

Rosie Boycott comes forward to speak

Joy Greasley of the WI speaking

Audience listens

Caroline Lucas

Tamsin Osmond

Deeds not Words

Police slow protesters

Tasmin Osmond and woman police

Reaching The Houses of Parliament

A confused situation at the door

Police struggle with protesters

Exactly 100 years ago, more than 40 women were arrested in the 'Suffragete Rush' as they attempted to enter The Houses of Parliament. To mark this centenary, women concerned with the lack of political action to tackle climate change organised and led a rally in Parliament Square, calling for "men and women alike" to stand together and support three key demands:

* No airport expansion.
* No new coal-fired power stations.
* The creation of policy in line with the most recent climate science and research.

Those attending were asked to wear white, and many dressed in ways that reflected the styles of a century ago, and wore red sashes with the words 'Reform Climate Policy', 'No New Coal' 'Climate Code Red' and 'No Airport Expansion', with campaigners against a second runway at Stansted having their own 'Suffrajets' design. We were also offered fairy buns with 'Deeds Not Words' and 'Climate Bill Now'.

There were approaching a thousand people in the square for the speeches by Rosie Boycott, Joy Greasley (Vice-Chair of the Women's Institute), a Muslim lawyer (I didn't catch her name) and Green Party MEP and leader Caroline Lucas. As she finished speaking most of the crowd, led by Tamsin Osmond and friends, walked and ran across the road towards the main door into Parliament, chanting the Suffragette slogan 'Deeds Not Words'. The campaigners pushed through the police who made only a token attempt to stop them on their way, falling back to protect the door itself with several lines of police, and preventing any protesters entering the building. Two women got loud cheers and applause when they got over the wall and walked down a ramp inside, but they were soon brought back.

There was a long melee outside the door, with police picking up demonstrators and throwing them back. I saw no violence by demonstrators towards the police, they were just trying to move forwards towards the door. Eventually the area became so crowded that little movement of any kind was possible, and for a short time the protesters sat down. The stand-off was still continuing when I left at 7pm although people were drifting away. Later reports state that half a dozen arrests were made, including Tamsin Osmond, who was in breach of her bail conditions following the 'Plane Stupid' roof-top protest at the Houses of Parliament in February.

A lot more pictures at