Extinction Rebellion protesters urge Queen to lead on climate action at Royal Ascot

The protesters entered the race track with a banner reading “race to extinction” – intending for the Queen to see.
The protesters entered the racetrack while the horses were stationary.The protesters entered the racetrack while the horses were stationary.
The protesters entered the racetrack while the horses were stationary.

Extinction Rebellion protesters have today (June 19) staged a demonstration at the Royal Ascot, urging the Queen to use her platform to drive change on climate action.

Four women from Extinction Rebellion entered the Royal Ascot race track with a banner reading ‘Racing to extinction’ before Queen Elizabeth and onlookers.

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The Queen has attended the Ascot, an annual event, on its fifth and final day.

The women entered the track while the horses were stationary to avoid harming any animals or people.

After entering the race track, the women glued themselves to their banner and chained themselves to the fence before the Queen, requesting that she use her influence to tackle the climate and ecological emergency.

The protest pays tribute to the suffragette, Emily Davison, who died attempting to attach a flag to the King’s horse during the Epsom Derby in 1913.

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It comes after the protesters recently sent requests in writing to the Queen urging the monarch to use her influence to encourage politicians to act on climate change.

They say they would like the Queen to make an “emergency speech to parliament and her citizens, urging them to tell the truth and act now on the climate and ecological emergency. In her face-to-face talks with the prime minister, they ask that she encourage him to respond proportionately to the environment and climate emergency declared by the government in May 2019.”

They have also requested that she “urge parliament to reassess the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (2021), which will restrict our democratic right to protest government inaction, and the inadequate Environment Bill.”

One of the protesters, Sam Smithson, 38, said: “I’m really sorry to be disrupting this event, but unfortunately, like suffragette Emily Davison, we have been left with no other choice, as we are running out of time in the race to tackle the climate and ecological emergency. We can’t negotiate with each other or nature for more time by carbon offsetting, whilst also promoting infinite growth on a finite planet and chopping down our ancient woodlands.”

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