Activists from the climate protest movement Extinction Rebellion march outside the Bank of England in the City of London on Oct. 14, 2019.
Photographer: Jason Alden/BloombergExtinction Rebellion Quit ‘Disruption.’ Its Most Disruptive Tactics Live On
Since the activism group’s UK branch moved away from the type of demonstration that made it famous, other chapters have embraced the unruly approach.
On Jan. 1, 2023, climate activism group Extinction Rebellion posted a New Year’s Resolution on its website. Titled “We Quit,” the missive laid out the UK-founded organization’s plans to “temporarily shift away from public disruption as a primary tactic” and to “prioritize attendance over arrest.” This adjusted approach, XR wrote, would be more effective at bringing about “the positive societal tipping point we all need.”
The announcement marked a sharp departure from the tactics that earned XR its notoriety, including blocking roads across the UK and staging funerals during London Fashion Week. But the timing was propitious: 2023 would turn out to be the warmest year on record.