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On June 10, 2024, a Barclays branch in Richmond, London, was covered in red paint in response to a Palestinian Action protest against the bank’s business dealings in Israel.
London
CNN
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Around 20 Barclays branches have been vandalised by pro-Palestinian and environmental activists who say they are protesting the British bank’s business dealings in Israel and funding of polluting industries.
Windows on buildings have been smashed and red paint has been thrown on them, including in London, to “demand that banks divest from Israeli arms deals and fossil fuels,” pro-Palestinian group Palestine Action said in a statement shared with CNN on Monday.
In Edinburgh, a stone bearing the names of Palestinians killed in Gaza Barclays (BCS) branch office.
“Frustration with Barclays’ limited efforts to stop genocidal and climate-damaging financing is what has given rise to this new wave of radical activism,” Palestine Action said. “Targeted activity will continue until Barclays completely removes this financing from its business model.”
The environmental activist group Shut the System I posted some pictures X On Monday, apparently the first activity on the platform showed a badly damaged Barclays branch.
“Shut the System and Palestine Action have launched radical direct action in outrage at Barclays’ limited progress towards reviewing their climate-devastating and genocidal lending,” one post said.
CNN has reached out to Shut the System for comment.
Many pro-Palestinian groups have called for protests against Barclays, alleging that the bank has billions of dollars invested in companies with ties to the Israeli military.
a May 2024 Report The report, published by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Campaign Against Arms Trade and Fight Scarcity, alleged that Barclays “held shares in, or provided loans or financial services to, at least nine companies known to manufacture weapons or military technology that are sold to Israel and used in military attacks against Palestinians.”
Guy Smallman/Getty Images
A Barclays branch in Croydon, London, on June 10, 2024.
A Barclays spokesperson told CNN that the bank “provides critical financial services to publicly listed US, UK and European companies that supply defence products to NATO and its allies,” but noted that Barclays does not invest directly in these companies.
“The defence sector is vital to our national security and the UK government has been clear that its support for defence companies is compatible with environmental, social and governance considerations. Decisions about implementing arms embargoes to other countries are the work of each elected government,” the spokesman added.
“We support the right to protest, but ask that activists do so in a way that respects customers, colleagues and property.”
City of London Police arrested three men on suspicion of vandalism at a London branch of Barclays on Monday. Published in X.
