Extinction Rebellion are planning to block streets in Manchester as part of a nationwide protest over Bank Holiday Weekend.
The global environment movement is holding a march in an attempt to encourage the Government to act on climate change and ‘draw attention to the greatest existential threat’.
Extinction Rebellion will aim to shut off roads in the city and target spots in Manchester that highlight the city’s ‘relationship with slavery, colonialism and the financing of fossil fuels’.
A socially-distanced march is set for Sunday – in which members will parade past Manchester Cathedral, Manchester Art Gallery and the Royal Exchange.
Another march will begin from St Peter’s Square on 1 September.
The group will also be unveiling banners and occupying streets in other major cities across the UK throughout the next few days – including London, Cardiff and Bristol.
Members are planning a further protest day focused on HS2 on 4 September – holding banners aloft in Manchester and along the planned rail route.
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Police have issued a reminder that protest organisers could face fines of up to £10,000 for arranging the gatherings.
But Extinction Rebellion’s police liaison team have called it a “vague threat”.
According to the Manchester Evening News, Manchester councillors have been warned to secure their social media accounts in fear of hacking.
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Nigel Murphy, Deputy Leader of Manchester council, said: “The council will always respect the right to peaceful protest and try to support demonstrators to do so safely.
“However, this must always be balanced with the rights and safety of Manchester people.
“Targeting local authorities through digital disruption has the potential to impact vulnerable people who rely on support from the council, as well as key public health and safety advice around the on-going Covid-19 crisis.
“So we would ask demonstrators to consider the unintended consequences of their actions.”
News
Rising Manchester DJ issues heartfelt statement after Parklife set is cancelled over safety concerns
Manchester DJ Josh Baker has issued a statement after his Parklife set was unexpectedly cancelled.
The rising star techno and house DJ was supposed to be playing on the brand-new Matinee stage on Sunday evening.
But his set attracted some huge crowds, not helped by the sudden downpour as his set was due to begin.
The area around Matinee became increasingly busy and Parklife announced that the Josh Baker performance would be paused on ‘the advice of safety team’.
Josh Baker has now issued a statement on social media to his followers as his Parklife set was due to end, signed off with a row of crying emojis.
He wrote: “Unfortunately I will not be performing at Parklife due to reason outside of my control.
Josh Baker has shared a statement after his Parklife set was cancelled. Credit: Instagram, @joshbaker
“I deeply apologise. I can’t really put into words what today was going to mean to me.”
Next on the Matinee stage should have been Chris Stussy, another name that was predicted to pull in a big crowd.
At the time of writing, The Matinee Stage remains closed but there are again large queues of fans waiting to re-enter the space.
Parklife has announced it has paused one of the most hotly-tipped sets of the weekend ‘upon advice of the safety team’.
Josh Baker’s set on the brand-new Matinee stage has been attracting huge crowds from the late afternoon.
The Manchester-born DJ is a rising star in the tech and house scene and was always going to be a highlight of the festival’s line-up this year.
But his pull has maybe been a bit greater than expected, with massive crowds swarming around the Matinee stage on Sunday afternoon.
It’s been so busy that Parklife has made the decision to pause his show altogether while crowds disperse.
The warning sent on the Parklife appHow The Matinee stage looked on Saturday. Credit: The Manc Group
Security have been managing the crowds at the stage with a queue system, but when the heavens opened (and it REALLY rained at about 7pm) the area surrounding the Matinee stage became even busier.
Parklife has issued a statement on its app that reads: “Upon advice of the PL safety team, the show on the Matinee stage has been paused. We will update ASAP.”
Parklife has described Josh Baker as ‘a versatile DJ and producer, embodying the creative essence of the new wave of electronic artists’.
The Manc -
28th August 2020 
