Just Stop Oil’s ‘Beyond F***ed Banquet’ was derailed today by counter-protesters, who set off suspended alarms on balloons.
The divisive climate activism group held an event in London to “take a step back, mourn what will die and disappear, but also celebrate what we’ve achieved”, offering campaign updates, stories from people “in resistance”, plant-based food and music.
But the banquet was thrown off course when ‘Just Stop Fucking Everyone’ protesters stormed the event with deafening alarms.
The group, which clashed with the JSO this week as they prepared to march on London, was revealed to be led by the British. youtubers Josh Pierters and Archie Manners.
Manners told MailOnline tonight: ‘Climate change is the biggest crisis facing our generation, but if we are going to solve it, we must work together.
‘JSO’s tactics for the last 18 months have not worked; in fact, people across the country are discouraged from this vital cause as a result of their protests.
‘The JSO people mean well; but they are doing it the wrong way. Preventing mothers from going to the hospital or ruining people’s day at pool is doing nothing to address climate change.”
The group was revealed to be led by British YouTubers Josh Pierters and Archie Manners.
A frame of the video shared online shows the balloons containing alarms, apparently launched by an ‘opposing group’ from Just Stop Oil.
Video shared online shows balloons containing alarms being released at a Just Stop Oil event
Just Stop Oil took to Twitter tonight to applaud the group’s ingenuity, sharing a video of the members trying to shoot down the balloons.
They ignored the interruption and wrote: ‘Props to @j_s_p_p_o for his flawless action design.
“We invited them to eat with us, but the alarm bells that went off at our banquet were the perfect metaphor for the urgency of the climate crisis.”
‘Just stop bugging everyone’ he told MailOnline that JSO had mistakenly tagged another account called ‘Just quit bugging people’.
Earlier this week, Just Stop Oil members were apparently surrounded and ‘restless’ by counter-protesters wearing ‘Just Stop P***ing Everyone Off’ t-shirts on July 20.
Counter-protesters were seen forming a human chain in an attempt to thwart a demonstration.
But they “dispersed” after the activists “explained their reasons for demanding an end to the new oil and gas,” JSO explained on its social networks.
MailOnline contacted Just Stop Oil for comment.
Just Stop Oil describes itself as “a coalition of groups working together to ensure that the government commits to stopping the production and licensing of new fossil fuels.”
Formed in February 2022, the group has proven divisive, using disruptive tactics to bring attention to its issues.
While favoring nonviolent action, the group uses vandalism and blocking traffic to call for change.
In recent months, a number of major sporting events have also been disrupted by Just Stop Oil protests.
Four activists in their 60s invaded the courses at the Championships earlier this month due to disruptions at the Grand National, Epsom Derby and Ashes.
MailOnline revealed in an exclusive that Just Stop Oil protesters would receive unprecedented lifetime bans for trespassing on Wimbledon courts.
The balloons are shown at the event in a video shared on Twitter earlier today.
The pranksters were revealed to be YouTubers Josh & Archie, with 1.44 million subscribers.
JSPEO protesters surround Just Stop Oil members who are allegedly planning a march in London
Roadblocks have led to clashes with the public. Earlier this week, an angry motorist punched an activist after blocking a road in South Kensington.
Daniel Knorr, 21, an Oxford student, blocked a road in South Kensington ‘causing a pregnant woman to crash her car’.
A man with the woman got out of the wrecked car and angrily confronted Knorr, who is shown in the footage slamming him to the ground.
Just Stop Oil said: ‘Daniel was mugged while marching this morning, and he remained non-violent throughout. Disruption is difficult, but it is necessary.
