Today supporters of Youth Demand have disrupted traffic in Leeds and Cambridge, demanding a two-way arms embargo on Israel, and for the UK government to halt all new oil and gas licences granted since 2021. [1]
At 11:00am, a group of supporters blocked the Headrow/ Briggate junction in central Leeds, holding a banner that read ‘YOUTH DEMAND’ along with a Palestine flag. Members of the public forcibly removed action takers from the road to drive past. The action takers returned to the road, before ending the road block.
Joe Clark, a 23 year old student from Leeds, took part in the action. He said:
“I’m taking action today because the UK does not value Palestinian life. You cannot pay respects to fallen soldiers whilst simultaneously sending weapons to commit a genocide. We won’t stop until our government is no longer complicit in the tragic hypocrisy.”
At 12:30pm, another group of supporters blocked roads in Cambridge, holding banners that read ‘STOP ARMING ISRAEL’ and ‘YOUTH DEMAND’, as well as Lebanese and Palestinian flags. They started at Victoria Avenue, before moving onto Chesterton Road.
Will, a 23 year old PhD student from Cambridge took action today, saying:
“I’m taking action because this genocide has gone on for over a year and still the government, no matter the party, is sending weapons to Israel. So long as those in power believe enable murder and occupation, everyone must resist.
Ordinary protest methods have failed. The political system allows those in power free reign to perpetrate genocide so long as it furthers their interests. The only human thing we can do is bring it to its knees.
We are blocking roads because direct action is the only realistic way to oppose this genocide. We have to put pressure on the choke points of this system, or genocide, climate collapse and extractivism will remain the status quo.”
Young people will not accept our politicians supporting the murder of innocent people. This week, young people are taking action in cities all around the country. Sign up for the national week of action at https://youthdemand.org.
ENDS
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Notes to Editors
[1] Youth Demand is a youth resistance campaign fighting for an end to genocide, demanding a two-way arms embargo on Israel and an end to all oil and gas projects licensed since 2021. Youth Demand is part of Umbrella and a member of the A22 Network of civil resistance projects.
