Climate activist Greta Thunberg was among dozens of people detained Saturday by police in The Hague as they removed protesters who were partially blocking a road in the Dutch city.
As police made arrests, Greta Thunberg and her fellow Extinction Rebellion protesters were discovered seated in a bus, as reported by an AFP correspondent.
Earlier, scores of police officers, some mounted on horses, prevented demonstrators, including Greta Thunberg, from accessing the A12 main road leading into the coastal city of The Hague in the Netherlands. This area is a frequent site of protests by the Extinction Rebellion (XR) group.
Flash:
Climate activist Greta Thunberg detained by #Dutch police after she and a group of marchers blocked a main road in #Hague to protest against #FossilFuels' subsidies.#GretaThunberg and other protesters of Extinction Rebellion environmental group were seen sitting in… pic.twitter.com/vXMN4tAYxf
— Yuvraj Singh Mann (@yuvnique) April 6, 2024
Marching with XR flags and signs, the protesters, their messages boldly proclaiming “stop fuel subsidies now!” and “the planet is dying!”, made their way from the city center to a field next to the highway. However, their progress was halted by a formidable barrier of law enforcement officers.
Greta Thunberg, clad in a gray top, black pants, and blue shoes, stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the assembly from the very beginning. She joined in the spirited chants alongside the group, their voices echoing a shared urgency.
As the march reached an abrupt halt, Thunberg expressed her conviction: “It’s crucial to demonstrate today because we are living in a state of planetary emergency,” she told AFP, her words resonating amidst the imposing police blockades.
“We must do everything to avoid that crisis and to save human lives,” she added.
Climate activists in the Netherlands have drawn attention to a significant paradox. While there is considerable backing from both the Dutch parliament and the public to reduce fossil fuel subsidies, the implementation of these plans is not expected until 2030 or even 2035.
The Extinction Rebellion (XR) group has voiced deep concern over the ongoing ecological emergency, emphasizing that time is of the essence. Their recent demonstration serves as a strategic move to exert pressure on the Dutch government in anticipation of an upcoming debate on fossil fuel subsidies scheduled for June.
The urgency to address climate-related issues remains at the forefront of their advocacy, even as they grapple with delays in policy implementation.
ALSO READ | British Teacher Convicted of Child Sexual Assault Permanently Banned from Education
