Just Stop Oil protesters get taste of their own medicine in bizarre London clash
Just Stop Oil protesters have been given their comeuppance in a wild display as tensions between the eco group and the frustrated public boil over.
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Eco-warriors were handed a taste of their own medicine in London after a couple of YouTube pranksters blocked them from a road protest.
The Just Stop Oil protesters were surrounded by a group of Londoners led by social media stars Josh Pieters and Archie Manners - preventing them from launching another crippling “slow walk” protest on residents of the city, The Sun reports.
The counter-protest group were filmed demanding “Just Stop P***ing Everyone Off” after a fourth consecutive day of disruption.
Climate activists from groups including Just Stop Oil have sparked widespread public backlash across Europe in recent months for their highly disruptive eco-protests, blocking traffic, defacing priceless artwork and interrupting sporting events.
In troubling scenes yesterday, an enraged motorist was filmed assaulting a Just Stop Oil protester in London after a “slow walk” protest blocking traffic reportedly caused a pregnant woman to crash her car.
In the most recent incident, around a dozen people, led by the two YouTubers who have 1.4 million followers, halted the Just Stop Oil march in the south London area Elephant and Castle on Thursday, local time.
The group kittled their rivals by locking arms in matching mock-up orange T-shirts in a makeshift ring of steel.
Witnesses claimed the group linked arms around the slow march before driving Just Stop Oil off the road, where they were circled until the end of rush hour.
Each member of the counter-protest group wore identical orange T-shirts similar to ones donned by Just Stop Oil activists – but emblazoned with a demand to “Just Stop P***ing Everyone Off”.
Some protesters chose to sit down on the pavement as they conceded defeat to the upstart group, which cleared them from the road before cops had even arrived.
But other Just Stop Oil supporters attempted to convince their new rivals to join their disruptive action, claiming the interruption to their protest represented a “chance to debate”.
YouTube star Archie, 30, retorted: “There’s an election this time next year. If you don’t like this government, why don’t you stand for election?”
Archie - who has 1.5 million subscribers on the video streaming platform, added: “We’re not keeping them hostage.”
Addressing floored protesters, Archie said: “You are very welcome to leave at any point.
“We just want to stop (Just Stop Oil) p*ssing people off”.
Just Stop Oil claimed the counter group dispersed from the scene and their march along London’s busy A201 road continued, although after rush hour traffic had subsided.
People were originally confused by the prank and were unsure whether it could be another stunt from Just Stop Oil.
But the eco-group insisted the counter-protest was genuine and had not been set up as a publicity stunt.
Magician Archie – who donned a face mask whilst standing next to prank partner Josh, 29 – hinted at his involvement after reposting the footage with the caption: “More coming soon.”
The duo have previously flown a mock Chinese spy balloon over Parliament after US intelligence agencies shot down a genuine craft earlier this year.
They also targeted anti-vaccine campaigner Piers Corbyn in another video seen by millions online.
Elsewhere in London, 132 protesters ground traffic to a halt with slow marches in the fourth day of the group’s “escalation of resistance” campaign.
The latest round of marches has also seen Just Stop Oil hit groups target packed main roads in Westminster and west London.
But one furious coach driver appeared to nudge a hoard of protesters with the front of his vehicle after they attempted to grind cars in west London to a standstill.
On Wednesday frustrations boiled over when a pregnant woman yelled at the group before a man punched and kicked protester Daniel Knorr in the head.
Speaking after the incident, 21-year-old Daniel said: “I haven’t said anything to the police and I don’t plan to, but I’m afraid that the police might go after this man.”
The Oxford university student was previously hurled off the Lord’s pitch by hero England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow after attempting to wreck the second Ashes test match.
Representatives for Josh and Archie were approached for comment.
A version of this article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission
Originally published as Just Stop Oil protesters get taste of their own medicine in bizarre London clash
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