Does the environmental movement have a class problem?

Critics of Extinction Rebellion like to argue that it's made up of "crusties" who can afford to get arrested, but this is a lazy stereotype.

By Hettie O'Brien

GLASGOW, UNITED KINGDOM - JULY 15: Extinction Rebellion Activists block roads near the Tron Clock tower on July 15, 2019 in Glasgow, Scotland. Climate activists are blocking a major cross road in Glasgow city centre today, using a large boat to demand Government action on climate change. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Carefully stacked crates of organic pulses were the only sign that something unusual had happened at Smithfield Market on Monday evening. Overnight, activists from Animal Rebellion – an offshoot of the environmental movement, Extinction Rebellion – had transformed the market where London’s butchers have arrived early each morning for almost eight centuries into a maze of tents and hastily erected stalls, selling organic fruit and vegetables. Butchers and bone collectors looked on in bemusement.

By Tuesday morning, the stalls had been cleared away and the activists dispersed. “I think they felt as if we were attacking them,” Amit, an organiser for Animal Rebellion, said of the reaction. “[The workers] obviously didn’t like our presence, and probably felt like we were attacking their livelihood… but we just feel that things have got to change in order to make a better future for everybody.”