News / Broadmead
Protesters gather outside Barclays
Protesters have gathered outside Barclays in Broadmead to call for a boycott of the bank over their links to arms sales and their investment in fossil fuels.
Extinction Rebellion Youth Bristol (XR), the group behind the protest, have been standing outside the branch with posters and banners, as well as distributing leaflets to people passing by.
They claim Barclays is among the top ten investors across Europe who invest in arms companies- photo: Martin Booth
On the leaflet they give information on three issues: arms sales, the war in Palestine and fossil fuel investments.
is needed now More than ever
XR Youth is a organisation that branches off from Extinction Rebellions, specifically aimed at those that are under 30 and are ‘rising up for climate & social justice.’
The branch was previously targeted in June by groups Palestine Action and Shut the System, which saw the groups smash the windows of the city centre store.
Since then the store has had security consistently stood outside and a barrier around the glass as they repaired the store front.
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A Barclays spokesperson has said “We provide vital financial services to US, UK and European public companies that supply defence products to NATO and its allies.
“Barclays does not directly invest in these companies. The defence sector is fundamental to our national security and decisions on the implementation of arms embargoes to other nations are the job of respective elected governments.”
“Building a new energy system that provides clean, reliable and affordable energy won’t happen overnight, and will require significant capital. Barclays is delivering against its target to facilitate $1trn of Sustainable and Transition Finance by 2030 and as at HY24 had mobilised $123.8bn. Barclays is committed to financing the energy sector through this transition, providing finance to meet current energy needs while financing the scaling of clean energy.”
Main photo: Martin Booth
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