ENVIRONMENTAL protesters from Oswestry branch of Extinction Rebellion (XR) declared Thursday 'Fossil Fools Day' by protesting outside on of the town's banks.
On Thursday, April 1, activists performed a theatrical protest outside Barclays in Cross Street, demonstrating against the banks' ongoing investment in fossil fuels
The demonstration involved people dressed as jesters, others dressed as 'climate crime scene investigators' and one man dressed up as a bank manager.
The event began with the protestors cordoning off the entrance to the bank using 'climate crime scene' tape and a banner reading 'No Future in Fossil Fuels'.
The Barclays branch happened to be closed at the time of the protest so no-one was prevented from entering or leaving.
The activists could be seen engaging in a mock interview with the bank manager, which they broadcast over a PA system.
They ended the demonstration by pouring 'oil' over a model of the Earth.
An XR spokesperson said: "'Barclays banks sit proudly in our high streets, claiming to be a valuable part of our communities and our lives.
"In reality, it is a bank of death. Barclays doesn't go out of its way to tell you that it funds weapons manufacturing, deforestation and fossil fuels.
We have only a matter of years before climate and ecological collapse become unavoidable.
"Barclays' investments are locking in a fossil economy for decades, dooming young people and those in the Global South to an unimaginable future of suffering."
This performance took place as part of a national day of action for the 'Money Rebellion' campaign, which also saw XR activists cover the Bank of England with fake oil.
Barclays has pledged to be carbon neutral by 2050 and to do their part to limit global warming to 1.5°C as per the 2015 Paris Agreement.
Despite these goals, campaigners have criticised Barclays for increasing their fossil fuel investments between 2019 and 2020.
As a result, Barlclays has been targeted by UK-wide direct action campaigns such as Money Rebellion.
It has also faced challenges from its shareholders to reduce its fossil fuel investments.
Local Extinction Rebellion activists have been targeting Barclays Oswestry since 2019.
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