Granddad joins Extinction Rebellion in latest Barclays protest

Members of Extinction Rebellion have smeared black paint on a branch of Barclays bank today.Video footage, shared by the activist group, shows protesters throwing the substance against the front of the bank while the words “Europe’s biggest fossil fuel funder” were also been spray painted on its entrance in Birmingham city centre.It is one of 100 branches targeted by the group across the UK today, including some in the heart of London.Writing on Twitter, Extinction Rebellion Birmingham said: “This morning XR Birmingham came to pay a message to @BarclaysUK. Europe’s biggest fossil fuel funder.”Cut ties with Fossil Fuels. Your social license is ended.”But witnesses in the second city were disgusted by the action, reports Birmingham Live.Sam Caswell, a 33-year-old shop worker, said: “Vandalising businesses is not a way to get people on side.”You can’t argue against their cause but the way they are going about it just puts you off these people. It doesn’t sit right with me.” Black paint was thrown against a Barclays in Birmingham (Image: Birmingham Live)Photos show activists sitting in the street outside the bank, which now has a fake police cordon around it saying: “Climate Crime Scene”. Other activists can be seen holding signs which read: “This is an intervention.”Peter Morgan, a 74-year-old grandfather, took part in the demo because he is concerned for future generations.The pensioner, from Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, said: “When you protest, you cause some disruption and of course we regret it. You feel you have to do something. If climate change, and it will, becomes a real serious issue for this country, everybody is going to be inconvenienced big time so it’s a question of balance.”I’m 74 and I’ve spent my life trying not to mess people about but in the last two or three years, I’ve felt that I have to do something. I have children and grandchildren, and I really care and worry about what’s going to happen to them.”Rhiannon Chapman, 24, of Ladywood, Birmingham, stopped to watch the protestThe student said: “Good on them, people need to stand up, listen and act. The paint will wash off.” Climate activists from Extinction Rebellion covered the Barclays bank with black paint (Image: Anita Maric / SWNS)In the City of London, a climate activist from Extinction Rebellion covered another Barclays branch in paint.And activists have broken the window at Barclays’ new offices in Glasgow today too.Extinction Rebellion claims that Barclays is the biggest funder of fossil fuels in Europe and the seventh biggest funder of fossil fuels worldwide.According to Extinction Rebellion, Barclays has invested a total $144,897billion in fossil fuels since the Paris Climate Accords in 2016.Express.co.uk has approached Barclays for comment.