Extinction Rebellion’s bizarre protest in King George Square

Climate change activists from the controversial Extinction Rebellion movement are staging a strange protest in Brisbane involving hundreds of shoes and people dressed in red resembling characters from TV series The Handmaid’s Tale.

HUNDREDS of shoes have been arranged in circles in Brisbane’s CBD in a symbolic protest for climate action.

The protest, which began at around 11.30am Saturday, was held at King George Square, out the front of City Hall.

Hundreds of shoes arranged in a circle at the Extinction Rebellion protest at King George Square.

A crowd of around 50 people was in attendance.

A group of protesters were spotted moving in unison dressed in red, resembling characters from hit book series and television show The Handmaid’s Tale.

Extinction Rebellion protesters dressed as characters from The Handmaiden's Tale.

Extinction Rebellion spokeswoman Kate Miller said the circles of shoes were meant to represent that “it’s the children ... who are going to bear the cost of climate change.”

Ms Miller said the group of red performers were not a reference to The Handmaid’s Tale, but rather are called the Red Rebels.

“They are attached to different global XR groups,” she said.

“(They’re) communicating to people that this isn’t a rally today, this is a vigil.”

Hundreds of shoes arranged in a circle at King George Square in Brisbane's CBD.

One speaker said it was her “duty as a mother” to protest.

“We can work now to prevent degrees of warming that will save lives,” the speaker said.

There has so far been no disruption to CBD traffic.

Originally published as Extinction Rebellion’s bizarre protest in King George Square