Just Stop Oil Protesters Arrested After ‘Les Misérables’ Disruption

Five protesters from the climate activist group Just Stop Oil have been arrested by the London’s Metropolitan Police. The arrests have been made after the protesters disrupted a performance of Les Misérables taking place at the Sondheim Theatre.

Due to the disruption, which took place Wednesday night, the performance had to be stopped. The audience was then evacuated from the venue.

Just Stop Oil describes itself as a “coalition of groups.” Its goal is “to ensure that the government commits to ending all new licenses and consents for the exploration, development and production of fossil fuels in the UK.”

Just Stop Oil Protesters Arrested

According to a report by CNN, the disruption took place during the performance of the song Do You Hear the People Sing? during Wednesday’s show. The protesters carried orange banners onstage that had the name of their group as well as the words “The Show Can’t Go On.”

Despite efforts of the theater’s security to remove the activists from the stage, this was not immediately possible. This is because the protesters locked themselves to the set. This was confirmed by the group itself.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police quickly arrived and arrested five protesters on the scene. You can watch a clip of the protest below.

🚨 BREAKING: Just Stop Oil interrupt Les Mis.

🦺 4 people are locked to the stage of the French-revolution-themed show.

💬 “Valjean steals bread to feed a starving child. How long before we are all forced to steal?

🌡 The fossil fuel show can't go on: https://t.co/3tlBID7nKA pic.twitter.com/nCXsIGINoS

— Just Stop Oil (@JustStop_Oil) October 4, 2023

‘The Show Cannot Go On’

In a tweet posted on its X (formerly Twitter) account, Just Stop Oil said, “Like the citizens of Paris in 1832 you have locked your doors, while the young face slaughter on the streets.”

“Like the citizens of Paris in 1832 you have locked your doors, while the young face slaughter on the streets,” the tweet continued. “We will inherit a scorched earth, unfit to live in and our politicians will be long gone.”

“We cannot let this stand,” the climate activist group insisted. “The show cannot go on.”