Topless Extinction Rebellion Female Activists Lock Themselves to UK Parl't Gates

LONDON (Sputnik) - Around two dozen topless women have locked themselves to the iron fences surrounding the UK Parliament building on Thursday as part of a protest by environmental movement Extinction Rebellion (XR) to request an immediate response to climate change.

Images posted on XR London's Twitter account show the activists locked by their necks with bike locks to the railings, with many others seated in front of them, behind a banner reading: "can't bear the truth?"

"Rebels are currently blocking the gates of Parliament to demand: 1. That this government take the climate & ecological emergency seriously 2. The media report the truth, as they claim to do so but don't 3. That MPs support the Climate & Ecological Emergency Bill," the organization tweeted.

Extinction Rebellion’s Breast Protest Ever https://t.co/v6GcsR090G pic.twitter.com/Qy9YD07mCM

— Gaia Fawkes (@GaiaFawkes) September 10, 2020

​XR, which was not on the streets for the last six months due to the COVID-19 lockdown, resumed on September 1 its demonstrations against the government’s lack of action to tackle climate change.

SENSITIVE MATERIAL. THIS IMAGE MAY OFFEND OR DISTURB Police officers stand near Extinction Rebellion climate activists who padlocked themselves to the railings of the Houses of Parliament during a protest in London, Britain, September 10, 2020.

© REUTERS / TOBY MELVILLE

SENSITIVE MATERIAL. THIS IMAGE MAY OFFEND OR DISTURB Climate activists are seen padlocked to the railings of the Houses of Parliament during an Extinction Rebellion protest in London, Britain, September 10, 2020.

© REUTERS / TOBY MELVILLE

The Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill was tabled on September 2 in the House of Commons by Green Party lawmaker Caroline Lucas and another 11 lawmakers from other parties but the Conservatives.

SENSITIVE MATERIAL. THIS IMAGE MAY OFFEND OR DISTURB Police officers remove an Extinction Rebellion climate activist after they had attached themselves to the Houses of Parliament, during a protest in London, Britain, September 10, 2020.

© REUTERS / TOBY MELVILLE

According to XR spokesperson Rupert Read, the bill, written by scientists, lawyers and activists, embodies the movement’s three demands to the UK authorities: tell the truth by declaring a climate and ecological emergency, act now to halt biodiversity loss and reduce gas emissions to net-zero by 2025, and create and be led by the decisions of a Citizens’ Assembly on climate and ecological justice.

SENSITIVE MATERIAL. THIS IMAGE MAY OFFEND OR DISTURB Police officers remove an Extinction Rebellion climate activist after they had attached themselves to the Houses of Parliament, during a protest in London, Britain, September 10, 2020.

© REUTERS / TOBY MELVILLE

Around 800 "rebels" have been arrested so far for breaching the conditions imposed on the protest by the London Metropolitan Police, XR has claimed.