We said we would stop them and we did.
150 people met in Oxford Circus, navigated their way to Shepherd's Bush and one of BP's busiest petrol stations was closed for over 3 hours.
Check out the amazing video and click on the 'read more' to read an action report and see some photos.
Our message to BP was clear: “you’re not going into the tar sands without a fight!”
We began gathering on all four corners of the recently remodelled Oxford Circus crossroads junction at 13:00, and the word was passed around: on the whistle blast we descend into the tube station. When the time came, a few coppers followed along to the westbound Central Line tube platform, but had no more clue than the great majority of party goers as to when to disembark. But by this time, whistles had been distributed, and the cue to get off made known – another whistle blast, echoing along the length of the train, signalled our disembarkation at Shepherd's Bush station. Through careful spacetime co-ordination with an advance party, the BP petrol station on the south side of Shepherd's Bush Green was easily taken, without any interference.
The party got into full swing:
• the Rhythms of Resistance samba band were rocking the neighbourhood, to the delights of the dancing masses
• the roof over the petrol pumps was occupied, and a large long banner affixed thereto, reading 'BP + TAR SANDS = CLIMATE CRIME'
• six people were holding a huge 'CLOSED' sign across the vehicular entrance
• diverse other banners were being deployed
We really wanted to get the message out there and we handed out thousands of leaflets. People were supportive and, surprisingly, we didn't get one driver who was annoyed about the station being closed. A lot tooted their horns in support.
We danced to live music from the Rhythms of Resistance samba band and the Green Kite Midnight ceilidh band, plus MP3s piped through the Dissident Ireland sound system, we rocked the forecourt, left peacefully and there were no arrests.
To see some more photos from the day click here and here.
And remember the BP Annual General Meeting is only a few days away (April 15th). See you there.
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