Updated October 17, 2019. London’s Met Police recently ordered extra vegan meals to cater to detainees from the Extinction Rebellion protests.
Police have arrested more than 1,600 in London so far in connection with the protests.
Back in April — when Extinction Rebellion held mass protests across the capital — the Met ran low on vegan options for those held in custody. This time — according to inspector Brian Smith of Brixton Police Station — there are plenty of plant-based options to go around.
“Everyone knows we ran a bit low [on vegan meals] last time so this time we’ve got plenty, “ Smith said in a video posted to social media. “In fact, yesterday a pallet load of vegan food was delivered so we’ve got plenty for everyone.”
A Met Police source told the MailOnline, “record numbers of vegan meals are being used in our cells.“
Fighting for the Planet
Extinction Rebellion believes the planet is facing an unprecedented climate emergency. It is on a mission to convince governments to recognize the urgency of the climate crisis. It wants them to pledge to end biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2025.
Cutting down on meat and dairy consumption is crucial in fighting the climate crisis. Last year, the United Nations labeled tackling meat consumption as the world’s most urgent problem.
Plant-based food is kinder to the environment. According to the biggest-ever food production analysis conducted in 2018, going vegan is the single biggest thing a person can do to reduce their impact on the planet.
Lead researcher Joseph Poore said in a statement, “it is far bigger than cutting down on your flights or buying an electric car. Agriculture is a sector that spans all the multitude of environmental problems. Really it is animal products that are responsible for so much of this.”
Extinction Rebellion wants governments to declare a climate emergency and specify 2025 as its target year for reducing emissions.
Not all arrested activists are resentful towards the police force. Staff at Brixton Station received a thank you note and flowers from one detainee. The note read, “to all the kind souls at Brixton police station, for all you have done with decency and professionalism.”
The Met Police has tried to restrict protestors to one area in London, Trafalgar Square. The force urged section 14 of the public order act. Extinction Rebellion’s lawyers have submitted an application for a High Court judicial review of the action.
Some politicians — including the Green Party’s Caroline Lucas and Labour’s Clive Lewis and David Drew — hope the High Court will side with Extinction Rebellion.
