Extinction Rebellion have unveiled a banner being suspended from Central Hall during the YUSU Freshers’ Fair promoting their second ‘International Rebellion’ which starts next week.
The move comes after a week in which YUSU declared a climate emergency before the University of York announced that it had fully divested from the fossil fuels industry following years of student campaigns to do so, as reported on first by York Vision.
The banner, however large, was short-lived as it was taken down with an hour of it being unfurled.
XR have been increasingly focusing on university campuses in the UK in recent weeks since the launch of their XR Universities branch just under a month ago. This has culminated with protests at freshers’ fairs at Newcastle University and the University of Manchester, the latter reported on by The Mancunion.
When contacted for comment, YUSU Environment and Ethics Officer and co-coordinator of York’s branch of Extinction Rebellion, Merry Dickinson, told York Vision: ” October Rebellion starts on Monday and we need everyone to join us in rebellion against our government to demand climate action from a state that has failed us for far too long.
“Particularly for students, this is your future on the line and the time to act is now!”
Featured image by Harry Clay