Youth Demand are a British environmental activist and political activist group who oppose new fossil fuel licensing and production agreements by the British government for drilling in the North Sea and British arms exports to Israel.
.jpg) Youth Demand supporters at the Gaza Ceasefire Now march in London, April 2024 | |
| Formation | January 2024 |
|---|---|
| Founded at | Birmingham |
Region served | United Kingdom |
| Methods | Non-violent protest, direct action |
Parent organization | Umbrella |
| Affiliations | Just Stop Oil |
| Website | Official website |
Background and aims
editThe group was established in January 2024 after a meeting at the Old Print Works in Birmingham as one of four groups under a central coordinating group called Umbrella. The four groups under 'Umbrella' are the direct action group Just Stop Oil, Assemble, Robin Hood, and Youth Demand.[1]
A spokesperson for youth demand said that their aims were "an end to all new licences and consents for exploration of fossil fuels in the North Sea" and the imposition of "a two-way arms embargo on the state of Israel ... [to] stop selling them weapons and we stop buying their weapons. We sever all the links between the UK and the Israeli war machine".[1]
Youth Demand claim to be represented at 17 British universities and have 5,000-10,000 people on a mailing list.[1]
Protest actions
editIn 2024 members of the group spray-painted the headquarters of the Labour Party and the Ministry of Defence.[1]
Three members were found guilty of public order offences after they laid children's shoes and hung a banner that said 'Starmer stop the killing' outside the Kentish Town home of Keir Starmer, then Leader of the Labour Party, in April 2024.[2]
On 15 July 2024 two members of the group were arrested after spray-painting '180,000 killed' on the pavement in front of the Cenotaph on Whitehall.[3]
10 members of the group were arrested in Victoria Embankment Gardens on the day of the State Opening of Parliament on 17 July 2024.[4]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Boffey, Daniel (17 July 2024). "'Revolutions are coming': who are Youth Demand and what do they want?". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
- ^ "Trio guilty over pro-Palestine protest at Sir Keir Starmer's home". BBC News. 2024-06-19. Retrieved 2024-09-24.
- ^ "Two women arrested over Gaza protest at Cenotaph". BBC News. 17 July 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
- ^ Davidson, Tom (17 July 2024). "Met Police arrest ten Youth Demand protesters ahead of King's Speech". The Evening Standard. Retrieved 17 July 2024.