LONDON: Extinction Rebellion climate protesters dug up the lawn of Trinity College, Cambridge on Monday, as part of a week-long series of demonstrations in Britain’s ancient university town.

The activists dug up the grass in front of the 16th-century “Great Gate”, digging channels in the turf with shovels and pitchforks and planting Extinction Rebellion flags.

Trinity had ramped up security measures, closing the college, library and chapel to tourists for the week, so the protesters were not able to access the central “Great Court.” A spokeswoman for the college refused to comment on the incident but said that a statement would be released later.

Extinction Rebellion says it wants non-violent civil disobedience to force governments to cut carbon emissions and avert a climate crisis it says will bring starvation and social collapse.

“Trinity College must cut ties with fossil fuel companies and stop trying to hawk off nature for profit,” said Extinction Rebellion Cambridge on its Facebook page. “Oh, and it should take the opportunity to replace the lawn with flowers. Spring is just around the corner after all.” In anticipation of the week’s protests, another of Cambridge’s colleges, St. Catharine’s, closed the main gate leading to its 17th-century court over concerns that Extinction Rebellion protesters would set up a campsite on the grass.

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2020