Environmental activist group Just Stop Oil protested at EGX 2023, the biggest games event in the UK that is held in London, and interrupted the Tekken eSports tournament. The protestors stormed the stage during the Tekken 7 finals and fired a water gun with orange paint on the gaming equipment, including a large screen and two monitors.
The protestors disrupted the event and players were unable to finish the match. Just Stop Oil later shared the video of the incident that showed three protestors taking to the stage before they were removed by security.
Just Stop Oil Protestors Disrupt EGX Tekken Tournament
The video shared by Just Stop Oil on its official X, formerly Twitter handle showed protestors on stage as they called for the UK government to curb oil, coal, and gas licensing. The organization also released a press release boasting about the incident during the Tekken 7 Major finals and asked gamers to join the march for the cause that will be held in November.
As the final Tekken event began. three protesters walked up to the players and smeared paint on their monitors in an attempt to damage the monitors and ultimately stop the match. One of the demonstrators said,
We are Just Stop Oil, and we are demanding that the UK government immediately cease all new licensing for coal, oil, and gas. The UK government is playing with our lives.
🚨 THIS ISN’T A GAME: Just Stop Oil Disrupt UK’s Biggest Gaming Convention
🦺 3 supporters of Just Stop Oil have disrupted the winners final of Tekken 7 at #EGX2023, covering the equipment in orange paint.
🖋️ We’re fighting for our lives. Join us — https://t.co/7BzUVS0A3x pic.twitter.com/M770G5PFLb
— Just Stop Oil (@JustStop_Oil) October 15, 2023
Just Stop Oil stated in the press release that the protestors were cosplaying as ‘Ghostbusters’ characters and targeted a viewing screen for the Tekken 7 finals and were later removed by the security at the venue. The protestors were then arrested by the Metropolitan Police on the charges of Criminal Damage. A Just Stop Oil spokesperson commented on the incident and said:
Video games let us escape into new and exciting dimensions, but real-world physics is about to deliver the deaths of billions. Put more carbon into the atmosphere at this point and it’s game over. Gamers cooperate to win, and we need these skills to survive.
Everyone must step up and join in civil resistance against new oil and gas because this isn’t a game. Let’s unite to make this world safe so that we can get back to exploring cyber worlds. Join Just Stop Oil on a slow march through London from 29th October.
This move by Just Stop Oil did not go well with the attendees of the event as they booed the protestors and this also sparked backlash on social media as people questioned what this has to with gaming events or Tekken. Regardless of all this outrage, the protestors defended their actions.
Just Stop Oil explained the reason behind its targeting the EGX 2023 for the demonstration. It stated that Barclays Bank is the sponsor of EGX 2023 and has been accused of being “Europe’s number 1 financier of the climate crisis” and also mentioned that “they have financed around $167 billion in fossil fuels. Moreover, Shell sponsors the popular game Fortnite as well as gaming influencers.”
For those who don’t know about Just Stop Oil, it is an environmental activist group in the UK that wants the government to cease all new fossil-fuel projects and licensing. The group has been in the spotlight for using non-violent resistance, vandalism, and traffic obstruction and has previously used orange paint on government buildings and popular art pieces.
The group has received support for its message and cause but has also been criticized for its methods. EGX also released a statement regarding the incident and said that it was quickly dealt with by the venue security and authorities. The statement added that the protestors were peacefully removed from the show, and the Tekken tournament quickly resumed after a short reset.
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