Just Stop Oil has blocked a coach taking the first group of migrants back to Bibby Stockholm barge.
As many as 23 supporters of Just Stop Oil blocked the road, which is the only one with access to the boat on the Isle of Portland.
The group unfurled a banner reading “No Prison Ships” as they stood in front of the coach, stopping asylum seekers heading back to the barge two months after it was evacuated following the discovery of Legionella.
The coach, which had around 30 migrants on board, moved forward as the protesters pushed against it and screamed at the driver to stop.
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Demonstrators then sat down on the tarmac to halt the bus even further.
A spokesperson for the eco group said: “We know that our government's plan for new oil and gas is going to lead to more people being displaced from their homes. Forced from where they have lived for generations due to the actions of our failing politicians.
“People coming to the UK must be met with common humanity, and not housed in prison ships. Not on our watch. We are taking action today to show love and solidarity with all people coming to this country.
“Responding to displaced people with cruel schemes like Bibby Stockholm, the Rwanda plan, or filthy barrack housing is not a solution. The best way to prevent people from being forced out of their homelands is to stop our governments from planning and implementing climate disasters, while protecting people’s right to move and seek safety. The first step is stopping new oil and gas.”
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Protesters blocking the bus
However, their attempts were unsuccessful, and they were forced to give up on the blockage.
Just Stop Oil said they were “repeatedly driven into, resulting in them leaving the carriageway for their own safety.”
The group admitted defeat and accused the driver of “intent to kill”.
A spokesman said: “We are saddened to report that we were unable to halt transportation of refugees to the prison - the driver rammed through the block, risking killing those in front.”
Two people were arrested.
Out of the 39 people who were removed from Bibby Stockholm back in August, 29 were returning on the coach today.
The Home Office has said that tests for Legionella had been conducted on the barge ahead of their return.
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Out of those who did not return to the barge, some had found accommodation with relatives whilst others returned to their home countries.
The asylum seekers were met with eco-protesters cheering them on and waving banners reading “scrap the barge” and “refugees welcome”.
The eco-protesters were not the only people opposing the return of the migrants to the barge today.
Annika, of Portland Global Friendship group, said: “I think the barge is a horrible idea, it feels very oppressive, it feels like a prison here with the amount of security that they have to go through.”
Yesterday, the co-founders of Just Stop Oil were arrested after officers “forced entry to their homes” amid a series of “unprecedented” protests in London.
Roger Hallam and Indigo Rumbelow were arrested at two separate addresses after the group said “it wanted to cause maximum disruption”.
However, the climate protest group insisted it would “not be intimidated” and three weeks of protests - set to begin on October 30 - would go ahead.
