LONDON: Climate change activists daubed red paint on the glass facade of the London headquarters of Standard Chartered bank and on the medieval Guildhall building nearby on Friday as they ramped up a two-week campaign focused on the capital’s financial district.

Hundreds of Extinction Rebellion protesters marched through central London carrying banners saying “People over Profit” and “Built on Blood Money”. Demonstrators had gathered near the Bank of England before moving to streets in the area.

A line of police officers stood in front of the Guildhall, home of the City of London Corporation which governs the city’s historic financial centre, after protesters sprayed red paint on the stone and glass front of the building.

At the Standard Chartered building, two men sat above its revolving doors. Bright red paint was daubed on the facade and on the large blue letters spelling out the bank’s name.

Extinction Rebellion, which caused days of traffic chaos in London two years ago, said it is targeting the city’s financial district. It accuses the industry of funding climate change.

The group wants an emergency response from governments and a mass move away from polluting industries.

Extinction Rebellion’s two-week campaign has prompted banks and buildings in London’s other financial district, Canary Wharf, to increase security after its supporters previously smashed large glass panels on the buildings of banks there.

Published in Dawn, August 28th, 2021