A climate protester walks along a beam after climbing up onto the scaffolding surrounding the Elizabeth Tower that houses the Big Ben clock in London, Friday, Oct. 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
The Associated Press
LONDON (AP) - A climate-change protester dressed as Prime Minister Boris Johnson has climbed the Big Ben clocktower at Britain's Parliament.
The man in blond wig, suit jacket and tie scaled the tower, which is covered in scaffolding for repairs, and unfurled banners reading "No pride on a dead planet" and "Citizens Assembly".
The Press Association news agency identified him as 43-year-old tree surgeon Ben Atkinson. He posted a Facebook comment urging Johnson to convene a citizens' assembly.
Extinction Rebellion has staged two weeks of demonstrations in London calling for stronger action against climate change.
In one event, protesters who stopped a subway train clashed with angry commuters. The group apologized Friday for the disruption, saying "we don't do this out of malice, we do it because we are scared and we care."
Police officers look at a climate protester as he sits on a beam after climbing up onto the scaffolding surrounding the Elizabeth Tower that houses the Big Ben clock in London, Friday, Oct. 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
The Associated Press
A climate protester walks along a beam after climbing up onto the scaffolding surrounding the Elizabeth Tower that houses the Big Ben clock in London, Friday, Oct. 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
The Associated Press
A climate protester makes a phonecall after climbing up onto the scaffolding surrounding the Elizabeth Tower that houses the Big Ben clock in London, Friday, Oct. 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
The Associated Press
A climate protester demonstrates with banners on the scaffolding covering the Elizabeth Tower that houses the Big Ben clock in London, Friday, Oct. 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
The Associated Press
A climate protester walks along a beam as he demonstrates after climbing up onto the scaffolding surrounding the Elizabeth Tower that houses the Big Ben clock in London, Friday, Oct. 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
The Associated Press
A climate protester demonstrates with banners on the scaffolding covering the Elizabeth Tower that houses the Big Ben clock in London, Friday, Oct. 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
The Associated Press
A climate protester demonstrates with banners on the scaffolding covering the Elizabeth Tower that houses the Big Ben clock in London, Friday, Oct. 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
The Associated Press