Extinction Rebellion Day 3

I'd planned a morning off in south London but around 10am a message came through that the Whitehall site needed more people. I packed, caught the train, got to Charing Cross and, very much to my surprise, was allowed through the police cordon between Trafalgar Square and Downing Street. By the time I reached the camp, all the tents had been removed and rebels on the pavement were singing to the few people still lying, locked-on, in the road. The Metropolitan Police, who were alone on Monday and reinforced by the City of London police yesterday, were today joined by Heddlu - the Welsh police.

As we sang, they put goggles and ear defenders on the pairs on the ground, slid a protective sheet of something into the lock-on tubes, then cut them apart with an angle grinder (extra).

Glorious Rabble, The Extinction Rebellion choir, with whom I practised in Oxford and flashmobbed on Sunday, were having another session today at lunchtime in Trafalgar Square (I've missed the last two days' singing because the message didn't come through on Monday and I needed to stay in Whitehall yesterday). But the stage in Trafalgar Square was occupied by a political meeting and the steps in front of the National Gallery, where we were allocated some space, were being dominated by this bizarre Christian-Pagan love-fest. We exchanged glances and crept away. Quick re-plan. Agreeing to support the few people left in Whitehall turned out to be an inspired idea: as we sang, more and more people joined in. The wonderful Seize the Day were also playing and they and our choir leader, Stephen Taberner (extra), alternated with the microphone until all the 250-odd rebels in Whitehall were singing in four-part harmony. 

Very special. Although I needed to get back to Oxford I couldn't leave.