Climate activists on Wednesday disrupted annual shareholder meetings of British banks Barclays PLC and Standard Chartered PLC, angry at the firms’ funding of fossil fuel projects.

It follows a recent similar demonstration against HSBC Holdings PLC.

At Barclays’ meeting in Manchester, chairman Nigel Higgins was forced to pause proceedings as security officials removed protesters and after activists triggered alarms, interrupting his speech.

Members of Extinction Rebellion and sister group Money Rebellion said about 60 of their supporters had disrupted the meetings, with some having glued themselves to seats.

‘We are disrupting... because we are in a climate crisis, but Barclays and Standard Chartered are more interested in their profits than a habitable planet,’ said student Aidan Knox, who demonstrated at the Standard Chartered meeting in London.

Further protests are planned at the upcoming annual general meetings of insurance market Lloyd’s of London and energy giant Shell PLC.

source: AFP

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