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Police outnumber protesters at ‘mass gatherings’
Midday came and went on Brandon Hill on Saturday and there was no sign of any protesters as part of a planned ‘mass gathering’.
Around ten people did come to Victoria Park from as far away as the north of Gloucestershire protesting the UK’s coronavirus lockdown.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, some Extinction Rebellion protesters remain committed to holding a ‘reclaim the streets’ event, a “safe, socially-distanced action to celebrate our new bike-friendly streets and push for permanent change”.
Research group Hope Not Hate said that it seems “most likely” that the ‘mass gathering’ protests “were linked to a new, heavily conspiracy-oriented Facebook group of the same name, where the protests were promoted”.
In London, activists including the brother of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn were arrested after descending on Hyde Park
Piers Corbyn is believed to have been arrested under the Health Protection Regulations, which make gathering in a group of more than two people illegal.
The ‘mass gatherings’, with posters widely circulated on social media, were advertised to take place in dozens of towns and cities across the UK.
But on Brandon Hill, a police search for anybody taking part in the illegal events proved fruitless.
Main photo: Martin Booth
Read more: Extinction Rebellion’s own supporters call for protest to be cancelled
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