Black Lives Matter activists arrested after blocking tarmac of London airport: report

Nine activists claiming to be with a British chapter of the Black Lives Matter protest movement were arrested on charges of trespassing on Tuesday after squatting on the tarmac of the London City Airport and causing air traffic delays as a result, The Guardian newspaper of London reported on Tuesday.

While American Black Lives Matter activists have typically focused on issues related to criminal justice, the London protesters “said the demonstration aimed to highlight the disproportionate impact air pollution had on black people in a wide-ranging press release that also cited the deteriorating environment in Newham, the wealthy clientele at London City airport, the migrant crisis in the Mediterranean, the impact climate change has on sub-Saharan Africa and immigration deportations as motives behind the action,” The Guardian said.

“Prominent black rights activists accused the Black Lives Matter movement in the UK of ’cultural appropriation’ as it emerged all nine protesters on the runway were white,” added The Guardian, “but it garnered support from environmental groups” including the London-based Friends of the Earth (FoE).

“Air pollution disproportionately harms black and poorer communities, who are more likely to live in areas with poor air quality,” the paper quoted Asad Rehman, who represents FoE at U.N. climate negotiations. “Black Lives Matter UK are right to draw attention to this reality. The expansion of City airport is not compatible with our urgent need to reduce air pollution in London, nor our need to reduce global warming.”

According to the London Daily Telegraph, the British government gave the go-ahead for London City Airport’s £344 million ($462-million) expansion back in July, “with the Government saying there will be ’generous’ compensation packages for local residents affected by the increase in air traffic.”

London City Airport is the closest-in of the six international airports serving the city of London, but sees far fewer passengers per year than its larger and better-known competitors like Heathrow and Gatwick.