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Extinction rebellion protest take to Maidstone streets for 'die-in' outside Kent County Council offices

14:38, 19 July 2019

updated: 15:54, 19 July 2019

Extinction Rebellion protesters have taken to the streets of Maidstone.

A group of banner-waving campaigners have carried out a so-called "slow march" through the town from Palace Avenue to County Hall where they are staging a "die-in" - lying motionless on the floor.

The activists, who are pushing for immediate action on climate change and the loss of biodiversity, have carried out similar protests in the County Town before.

Extinction Rebellion protesters staged a "die-in" outside County Hall in Maidstone
Extinction Rebellion protesters staged a "die-in" outside County Hall in Maidstone

They previously "hijacked" County Hall, where Kent County Council is based, in May.

Protester Steve Cheeseman said: "we are protesting today because recently KCC declared a climate emergency as 2050. Now to me and probably anyone else that's not an emergency that’s far too late to declare zero carbon targets and it goes against scientific advice which states 2025.

"Our message is simple. We’ve come here with alarm clocks and we’re telling them it’s time to wake up and enough is enough. It’s time to wake up and realise 2050 is suicide for the human race."

This is our second or third protest so far as a group but our biggest one yet

Protests have been held elsewhere in Kent including Canterbury and Sevenoaks.

A blockade was planned at Dover but was later postponed.

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