Windsor Extinction Rebellion protesters hope action ‘proved people wrong’

Extinction Rebellion protesters in Windsor hope to have ‘proved people wrong’ after the group finished three days of demonstrations on Sunday.

Activists camped out in Home Park and walked into the town each day to demonstrate in front of the castle and Windsor Great Park.

The Royal Borough council had warned of an ‘enhanced police presence’ in the town over the weekend and Windsor MP Jack Rankin said action ‘had the potential to go beyond peaceful protest’.

Extinction Rebellion (XR) however, said the protest was aiming for ‘minimum disruption for maximum impact’.

Reflecting on the weekend, XR spokesperson Olympic gold medal-winning canoeist Etienne Stott told the Express:

“Hopefully we proved people wrong, and hopefully they saw we were true to our word and respected people and the place we were camping.”

Prior to the action, national news outlets had reported XR protesters had planned to ‘storm the castle’.

Etienne added: “We don’t measure our success only on the way we’re represented in the press.

“But I think one of the things we try to do is try to stand up and challenge those certain parts of the media that really misrepresented us ahead of these actions.”

A Thames Valley Police spokesperson said: "In the lead up to the demonstration, Thames Valley Police undertook significant planning with organisers and partners, as part of our work to facilitate a peaceful protest and ensure the safety of everyone in Windsor.

"Over the weekend, there were no incidents of concern related to the demonstration.

"We would like to pay particular thanks to the local community and businesses for their engagement and co-operation with our officers throughout."

Hundreds of activists held a ‘Massembly’ in The Long Walk on Saturday where they debated and voted on action they wanted taken to improve the environment.

On Saturday protesters erected a pink letter box outside the castle and ‘posted letters’ to the Royal Family urging more support for the environment.

The weekend also involved several marches up to the castle involving drummers and protestors holding placards.

Speaking on the first day of demonstrations, Etienne said protesters had come out to advocate for the environment because of the increasing ‘pressure’ it was facing.

He highlighted expansion of London City Airport as one example of potential pressure.

“For people in Windsor, I think that might be kind of concerning because I was truly shocked to see when I visited the first time to see how loud and how disruptive the Heathrow flight line is,” said Etienne.

“I would imagine there are people looking at the expansion of London City and thinking ‘is a third runway at Heathrow back on the cards?’”

In July, the Advertiser reported a third runway at Heathrow could be revived in a government push for economic growth. 

Etienne hoped the demonstration had allowed people in Windsor and beyond to see what XR 'was all about'.

He said: “I think it was positive to have fruitful and constructive dialogue with the police and council which in the end delivered a safe inclusive colourful and cheerful action that hopefully got people talking around the world.

“There was interest focused on Windsor for something other than the Royal Family which I think was also very positive.”