[Lauchenoiria]

Lauchenoirian Guardian

Police criticised after multiple arrests at environmental protests
20th September 2019

Activists have criticised the Buttercity Police Department for making ‘excessive arrests’ throughout the two-week environmental protests taking place in the city. Over 30 people were arrested in Buttercity this afternoon after protesters blocked two roads leading to Buttercity International Airport. The protesters stated that their aim was to disrupt traffic to the airport to raise awareness about the pollution caused by both driving and flying.

The arrests happened after protesters refused to move from the road after being asked by police, instead sitting down and linking arms. This was in addition to earlier arrests: two of which took place outside the Xiomeran Embassy on Wednesday 11th, and twelve further arrests after direct action group the Watchdogs of Our Earth attempted to block a road in central Buttercity on the 12th. No other arrests took place until today.

Civil rights and anti-police surveillance activists have criticised the police for their handling of the protests today, claiming that the 30 arrests were ‘excessive’, and that the majority of those arrested were not in fact on the road, but rather nearby offering support to those taking part in the roadblock. The police department have called this ‘untrue’, claiming that “all individuals arrested were playing an active role in obstructing traffic”.

Climate Alliance Lauchenoiria, the group behind the two-week demonstration, released a statement saying “we neither condone nor condemn the actions of the individuals who participated in attempts to disrupt traffic. However, we are concerned that when faced with the destruction of the planet, the reaction of the Lauchenoirian authorities is to arrest individuals attempting to take action to prevent this.”

The Young Liberals, the youth wing of the Liberal Party, have had their affiliation to the Liberal Party ‘temporarily suspended’ pending disciplinary review after they came out in support of the protests, a position at odds with that of their parent party. Josephine Alvarez has previously called the protests ‘unnecessary’ and ‘counterproductive’, a view she reiterated following today’s arrests.

Protests are set to take place tomorrow in every major Lauchenoirian city, ending the two weeks of activity that Climate Alliance Lauchenoiria had announced. Protests will take place in: Buttercity, Lorentonia, Melissa City, Usera, Yervia, Elopolis, Annatown, Summersea, Seahaven, Carville and Liaville. A heavy police presence is expected at those in southern Lauchenoiria, where the protesters have come under heavy criticism. Residents of these cities are advised to avoid the locations where the protests are set to take place.