As the bankers and consultants of Canary Wharf made their way to work on a clear April morning in 2021, seven women on a very different mission were in their midst. At 7am, they were not walking up to Barclays headquarters to begin a day of spreadsheets and bar charts, but rather to draw attention to the bank’s financing of fossil fuel projects. The seven were Extinction Rebellion activists, armed with chisels and hammers.
What happened next led to a high-profile trial for criminal damage, and this is the inside story. It is not just the story of broken windows and legal arguments. It’s a snapshot of how climate movements have evolved, how the courtroom is being used as a platform, and the toll a life of protesting can take on those involved.
“I see myself as a person who cares about people and the environment and animals, and sees what needs to be done, which is to break through this sleepy business as usual,” Sophie Cowen explains.
She doesn’t come
