KNIGHTON campaigner Angie Zelter was one of four Powys people among the 23 arrested after blocking Victoria Embankment in London, outside the UK Ministry of Defence complex, on Monday morning.

She was part of a peaceful protest amid calls for the UK to redirect resources from military to address climate change, and as part of the start of the XR London Rebellion.

The protesters, from the Extinction Rebellion (XR) Peace group, blocked the Embankment with a car and by attaching themselves to a mock Trident missile.

Among the protesters were Rewilding North, a group from Wales, a group from Cornwall, a group from Yorkshire, people from Scotland and other parts of the country.

Angie Zelter, founder of the non-violent direct action nuclear disarmament campaign group Trident Ploughshares, was arrested for an obstruction of the highway.

“Climate change causes war and war causes climate change. About six per cent of global carbon emissions are from military activity. As the climate crisis gains pace there will be increasing tension. If countries continue to resort to war as a means of solving conflict we will not be able to avert climate crisis,” said Ms Zelter.

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Other Powys people arrested with XR Peace are Leya Ostell from Presteigne, and ‘John and Vanessa’ from Llangunllo.

The XR Peace presence at the Embankment continued later on Monday morning with artist Peter Kennard, who created the iconic image of the CND symbol with a broken ballistic missile, producing a new work of art linking militarism and the climate emergency; and MP Caroline Lucas spoke in the afternoon along with veteran CND activist Bruce Kent and Lindsey German of Stop the War.

XR Peace is a coalition of peace groups including: Trident Ploughshares, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, Scottish CND, CND Cymru, Stop the War, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, War Resisters International, Nukewatch, Edinburgh Peace & Justice Centre, Iona Community and Nipponzan Myohoji UK Peace Pagodas.

An XR spokesman told the County Times on Wednesday morning: “Ms Zelter was arrested for obstruction on Monday and was released later that day but was also arrested yesterday under Section 14 of the Public Order Act. I have not heard this morning yet whether she is released or is being held for court today.”