There was a great deal of concern amongst residents about Extinction Rebellion (XR) coming to Windsor and setting up camp in Home Park but they proved themselves very considerate guests.
Nerves were jangling about the prospect of XR coming to town. Much of this is around the fear of the unknown and how the national media take advantage, creating negative news which provides more powerful clickbait than positive news. The key is to not judge a book by its cover, be that designed by the organisation itself or produced by AI robots sponsored by those who have an opposing agenda, but to read the book, all the books, to get a much better insight for yourself into a topic.
Democracy should be about everyone having their say without fear of judgement by others. Grownups sharing information and changing hearts and minds… or not as the case may be.
On Wed 14th August I reached out to XR and following a conversation I emailed our MP, local Cllrs and town centre manager encouraging dialogue and suggesting the Dog Show area of the Great Park as potentially a less disruptive option. The Crown Estate explained the park is shut at night and the stag deer might not appreciate visitors at this time of year!
Cllr Helen Price’s posted on FB about thanking XR rebels for tidying up after themselves and Thames Valley Police for their efforts over the weekend. Love Cllr Jack Douglas’ comment “Hugely impressive that the park has been left so tidy – I believe it is tidier than when they arrived!”
It seemed fitting to ask a number of parties for their take on the weekend’s events, starting with XR…
I have been really moved by some of the Windsor people that started off hostile to our presence but ended up having a chat, a tea or some food with us and ended up sharing the same concerns that we are expressing during our protest. The Windsor Anglers were really worried that we planned to disrupt their fishing competition yesterday. They turned up in the early morning and had a look at the camp. They told us that they are witnessing a deterioration in the river environment and are very concerned. They hoped that we would come back next year!
In order to keep issues such as climate breakdown and democracy in the news in order to effect change, it is necessary to occupy uncomfortable spaces where you do not have permission to be, otherwise the message is completely ignored. Extinction Rebellion would like to thank the people of Windsor for engaging with our protest and being open to discuss the issue of upgrading democracy. Special thanks to Jon Davey, ‘I Love Windsor’ and his local networks for ensuring that our intentions were honestly communicated to Windsor and helped to debunk the fantasy that we intended to ‘storm the castle’. This is an excellent example of the kind of press misinformation that undermines our current democratic process!
It is clear that the expansion of Heathrow is a major concern for residents, and one that could be the subject of a community assembly to involve the people actually affected by a third runway, in the decision itself.
Paul Stephens Extinction Rebellion Protest Liaison
This looked like our MP taking part in the XR protest march on Friday evening so it was only polite to ask him for his thoughts on how it all panned out…
V Good look-alike 😉
Whilst concerned about disruption, I recognised Extinction Rebellion’s right to stage their protest, but called on them to be respectful of the ordinary residents, visitors and businesses of Windsor.
There were a couple of points of irritation, but I am pleased that the protesters largely stayed within the scope of peaceful protest and left the Home Park in a clean state. I would particularly like to thank Thames Valley Police for their elevated presence over the weekend in ensuring disruption to local residents, businesses and visitors was kept to a minimum – there was a lot of work behind the scenes.
Jack Rankin MP for Windsor
How was it for local retailer Brian McCormack of Snappy Snaps?
I didn’t really see anything. I heard drums being banged and a few chants but other than that it was like any other weekend.
Richard Endacott is a local resident, royalist, politics teacher, football & cricket coach who had some concerns but popped down and engaged with the rebels… I asked him for a few words!
As a teacher of A-Level Politics, I attended the Extinction Rebellion protest to find a bit more about whether peaceful protest was either feasible or appropriate in such an internationally renowned location. As ‘Direct Action’ appears in Component One of the course, I was keen to find out their aims and objectives for the protest and more selfishly, to try and find some resources I can use in the classroom.
I arrived at The Long Walk, slightly apprehensively, as the press coverage had been overwhelmingly negative, with talk of counter demonstrations and ‘storming of the Castle’ by a marauding group of politically motivated activists. There was also a huge police presence in town and its environs. What I found was a group of more ‘experienced’ like minded campaigners, sitting quietly in groups with banners and flags picnicking on the Long Walk. I spoke to one lady about their central demand for Citizens Assemblies (CA – Component Two, A-Level Politics). For the un-intiated a citizens assembly is a group of people who come together to discuss issues and propose solutions. Her main argument was that as Climate Change wasn’t a political priority it is rarely discussed, her view is that a CA would bring this topic to the forefront.
The main camp was situated on Home Park, I headed over there, primarily to catch up on the cricket which was being played on the nearby pitch, but also to see the camp in action. Again, I was taken aback by the age demographic, but also how well organised the camp was. I picked up a number of resources and spoke to a couple of people about the camp and their experiences. The main focus of the conversation was however turned on me, with questions about the mental health crisis in schools and how young people can be motivated to participate in protests.
Overall, my experience was overwhelmingly positive. There were calls for the Daily Mail to pay for the costs of the policing, but the XR representatives were delighted with the free publicity they received. I am looking forward to the XR representative coming into school to discuss directly with my students exactly how they operate and to open a discussion on the positive impact direct action can have.
Personally I was nervous, I’ve had no dealings or involvement with XR in the past and question some of their previous methodology. But XR are just people, they are allowed to change their approach and positive behaviour needs to be rewarded with a listening ear and open mind. Thank you XR.
And thank you for taking the time to read this blog. Add your thoughts below…
Thank you Jon, for this overwhelmingly sensible, inquisitive and considered response to last weekend. Great to hear your views and the thoughts from the local residents you spoke to.
How convenient for XR that none of the offensive photos were posted here, and I can’t post them either… The sinister, hooded, faces covered, black caped ‘oil slicks’, the protestors laying in the road …How they expect support for any cause from people who block motorways etc and prevent people from getting to school, work, hospital, whatever … most people, myself included, recycle, have electric cars if they can, do whatever they can to protect the environment. But we, the general public, have almost no influence on the people who make decisions about what actually has an affect on the environment. XR, stop p***ing off Joe Public and make some useful, realistic suggestions. Did you notice that the majority of the report about your demonstration in Windsor was about the appreciation for not being aggressive and difficult or disruptive? Not about what you support and promote?
Ah you didn’t like the Oil Slicks? They are so theatrical and thought-provoking – with a deliberate dose of dark and sinister, because climate breakdown is unfortunately very bleak and sinister.
Unfortunately recycling and driving electric cars (even if I do that myself too!) is not going to get us out of this mess.
If you followed the theme of the non-disruptive and very peaceful weekend in Windsor you’ll have picked up that XR don’t do ‘solutions’, we were proposing an upgrade to democracy with the additional of Citizens’ Assemblies. To get increased involvement from ordinary members of the public beyond just voting every 4 years and to tackle the issues and decisions that clearly our out-dated, unfit for purpose party political system can’t handle.
We have upgraded democracy before (Kings and Queens > Parliament > votes for men to votes for women) and we can do it again.
Do get up-to date. XR no longer blocks the public. Actions are now targeted at fossil fuel companies, banks and insurance companies that finance polluting projects not compatible with the Paris Agreement etc. This has been a policy for more than a year.
Thank you Jon for that very balanced and impartial report into the weekend’s XR protest in Windsor.
Thank you Jon, for this overwhelmingly sensible, inquisitive and considered response to last weekend. Great to hear your views and the thoughts from the local residents you spoke to.
Kay – ‘rebel’ from Nottingham.
How convenient for XR that none of the offensive photos were posted here, and I can’t post them either… The sinister, hooded, faces covered, black caped ‘oil slicks’, the protestors laying in the road …How they expect support for any cause from people who block motorways etc and prevent people from getting to school, work, hospital, whatever … most people, myself included, recycle, have electric cars if they can, do whatever they can to protect the environment. But we, the general public, have almost no influence on the people who make decisions about what actually has an affect on the environment. XR, stop p***ing off Joe Public and make some useful, realistic suggestions. Did you notice that the majority of the report about your demonstration in Windsor was about the appreciation for not being aggressive and difficult or disruptive? Not about what you support and promote?
Ah you didn’t like the Oil Slicks? They are so theatrical and thought-provoking – with a deliberate dose of dark and sinister, because climate breakdown is unfortunately very bleak and sinister.
Unfortunately recycling and driving electric cars (even if I do that myself too!) is not going to get us out of this mess.
If you followed the theme of the non-disruptive and very peaceful weekend in Windsor you’ll have picked up that XR don’t do ‘solutions’, we were proposing an upgrade to democracy with the additional of Citizens’ Assemblies. To get increased involvement from ordinary members of the public beyond just voting every 4 years and to tackle the issues and decisions that clearly our out-dated, unfit for purpose party political system can’t handle.
We have upgraded democracy before (Kings and Queens > Parliament > votes for men to votes for women) and we can do it again.
Do get up-to date. XR no longer blocks the public. Actions are now targeted at fossil fuel companies, banks and insurance companies that finance polluting projects not compatible with the Paris Agreement etc. This has been a policy for more than a year.
Tad rude… folk will tune in in their own time…