A protester affiliated with the Just Stop Oil movement was attacked by an angry driver after an apparent car crash at the scene of the latest demonstration in London. Video footage captured the moment when a man wearing a red baseball cap approached the group of protesters wearing orange vests.
In the video, the driver confronts a man in a red top, assaulting him by punching and shoving him to the ground before kicking what appears to be a phone from his hand. Throughout the attack, the driver can be heard using expletives and shouting, “Just f****** stop.”
The protester, identified as Daniel Knorr by Just Stop Oil, remained nonviolent during the incident. Despite sustaining injuries, he expressed understanding and compassion towards the driver, mentioning that the situation was difficult and bound to create frustration. He also noted that the driver had recently been involved in a car accident and was under stress.
Daniel Knorr is known for being carried off the pitch at Lord’s cricket ground by England’s Jonny Bairstow during a previous protest. He, along with two others, has been charged with aggravated trespass at Lord’s and is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on July 31.
The demonstration in London was part of a series of disruptions organized by Just Stop Oil at various sites, including the government Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. The organization aimed to draw attention to what they deemed “illegal criminal damage” by activists Matthew Cunningham, 25, and Imogen May, 24, who filmed themselves spraying the department building with orange paint. Their action was in response to the issuance of more than 100 new oil and gas licenses in the UK.
The Metropolitan Police reported that slow-marching demonstrators were cleared from several locations, including Westminster Bridge, Victoria Street, Vauxhall Bridge Road, Marylebone, and Kensington. Conservative Party chairman Greg Hands condemned the demonstration as “unacceptable” when sharing a picture on social media showing Westminster Bridge being blocked by Just Stop Oil supporters.
The incident highlights the ongoing tensions and clashes surrounding climate change activism, underscoring the need for peaceful dialogue and understanding between protesters and the wider public.
