UPDATE: Barclays 2 given community service order for breaking windows 

Two activists with Extinction Rebellion Glasgow were sentenced today to serve 300 community hours for breaking the windows at Barclays in Glasgow to demand an end to its funding of the fossil fuel crisis.

The 300 hours must be done over the course of 18 months, and both must attend weekly supervision appointments with a social worker.

Myke Hall, one of the two activists, commented on the sentencing:

“No one benefits from prosecuting peaceful protesters, the court is defending unethical corporate privilege. A just world will only come about when informed peaceful protestors are allowed to stand up to mega-corporations that are actively funding the destruction of life on Earth, rather than being punished for it”.

On 5 July 2024, the Barclays 2 were found Guilty of Malicious Mischief, Breach of the Peace, and Wielding a Bladed Implement.

On 14 November 2022, accompanied by a support team, and wearing protective equipment, they calmly and carefully used hammers and chisels to crack 13 full length glass windows at the Barclays Bank branch in Glasgow, causing over £60,000 in damage, and held banners saying “Stop Rosebank” and “This is an Intervention”.

The protest was part of Extinction Rebellion and Money Rebellion’s UK-wide Better without Barclays campaign of disruption. The campaign happened nationwide across hundreds of branches across the UK.

Barclays is the biggest funder of fossil fuels in Europe and the 7th biggest funder of fossil fuels worldwide. Barclays are also funding the proposed Rosebank oil field by providing stakeholders Equinor with $2.46 billion of backing since 2015. Rosebank contains over 500 million barrels of oil, which if burned would produce the equivalent CO2 emissions of 28 low-income countries combined.

Both of the Barclays 2 represented themselves in court, and gave testimony explaining that Barclays’ investments benefit the fossil fuel industry, at the cost of lives. They explained that peace-keeping organisations are calling for direct action against destructive industry, and that campaigns including a diverse range of tactics, including property damage, have proved effective historically in cultivating progressive system change.

The action in Glasgow follows in the footsteps of suffragettes, and the Ploughshares movement: using nonviolent direct action and causing damage to property to prevent and draw attention to greater damage.

They explained the potential for destruction posed by developing the Rosebank oil and gas field, a project that is already illegal internationally. They explained that since the action, Barclays Bank has regularly been the target of protests in solidarity with the people of Palestine for their continued funding of arms manufacturers contributing to the genocide of the civilian population in Gaza.

The jury voted unanimously after only a short time deliberating to find the Barclays 2 guilty of all charges. The presiding sheriff has asked them to consider how they will repay the cost of the damage.

XR Glasgow organised court support for the day with solidarity from Gaza Genocide Emergency Committee, Unite the Union Community Branch Tayside and Fife and Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism!