PRO-PALESTINIAN and climate groups disrupted the Barclays AGM today in protest at the bank holding shares in Israeli arms companies and continuing fossil fuel investments.
The annual shareholder meeting at the Scottish Event Campus in Glasgow descended into chaos as the campaigners drew attention to Barclays’ large investments in companies making weapons currently being used to Palestinians in Gaza and in fossil fuel and tree-burning corporations.
Organisers, including representatives of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PCS), Fossil Free London and Extinction Rebellion Glasgow, flew Palestine flags, made speeches and held up banners reading: “Barclays funds bombs and big oil.”
Fossil Free London spokeswoman Joanna Warrington said: “As lifeless children are carried in their fathers’ arms across Gaza, this UK bank is investing millions in the bombs that killed them.
“Barclays oily money is being ploughed into bombs and big oil.
“Meanwhile, the world’s heart breaks for the suffering in Palestine, and we all fear for a worse future as flooding and famine becomes the new normal.
“Barclays must stop funding the arms trade, and stop funding dirty and dangerous companies like Shell.”
The protest took place as Israel threatens to launch a large-scale ground assault on Rafah and in the run-up to a fresh wave of Gaza solidarity marches, rallies and meetings across Britain this weekend.
Demonstrations will be held in several cities, including Liverpool, Bristol and Birmingham, with the next national march for Palestine following on Saturday May 18.
The protests are organised by the Stop the War Coalition, Palestine Solidarity Campaign and other groups.
Stop the War has also called for a Workplace Day of Action on May 15, urging workers to down tools for 30 minutes or stage a lunchtime protest to mark the 76th anniversary of the Nakba, the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians that accompanied Israel’s creation in 1948.
Coalition chairman Chris Nineham said: “Stop the War is calling on workers across all sectors to come together next Wednesday to say: Hands Off Rafah!
“We hope everyone with a conscience will join us as the push to take the struggle for justice for Palestine into the workplace continues.”
Barclays has been contacted for comment.
