Riz Possnett
Elliot "Riz" Possnett | |
|---|---|
| Born | 2003 (age 20–21) Cambridge, United Kingdom |
| Education | Hockerill Anglo-European College |
| Known for | Climate and social activism |
Elliot "Riz" Possnett (born 2003) is a British activist involved with climate change demonstrations as part of the UK Student Climate Network and Extinction Rebellion since 2019. Possnett has been involved with the anti-monarchy activism group No More Royals. As of 2023, Possnett is a student at Wadham College, Oxford.[1]
Biography
[edit]Elliot "Riz" Possnett was born in 2003. Posnett's parents are South Cambridgeshire District Council chief executive Liz Watts and businessman Robert Possnett, who himself is an environmental activist.[1][2][3][4] Possnett attended Hockerill Anglo-European College in Hertfordshire and Li Po Chun United World College of Hong Kong.[5][6][7] Possnett is currently an undergraduate at Wadham College at the University of Oxford studying Philosophy, politics and economics.[8]
Activism
[edit]In January 2019, Possnett became an organizer and activist for UK Student Climate Network featuring in various media appearance including CNN and Vice News.[9][10][11][12][13] Whilst a member of Extinction Rebellion, on 8 April 2022, Possnett and others blocked London's Tower Bridge as part of a climate change protest for four hours, causing major traffic disruption on the bridge.[2][14] Possnett pleaded not guilty to obstruction of a highway at a court hearing in November.[15][2] A trial took place in June 2023.
The Times has described Possnett as a leader of No More Royals, a group formed in February 2023 aligned with the anti-monarchy movement in Britain.[16] Possnett and other activists have performed stunts prior to the coronation of Charles III and Camilla in May, notably one performed during a tour of Windsor Castle.[16][17]
Possnett staged a protest at talk by academic Kathleen Stock at the Oxford Union on 30 May 2023 due to Stock's gender-critical views.[1][18][19] Shortly after the talk began, Possnett glued their hand to the floor, wearing a shirt which said "No More Dead Trans Kids", while two other protesters waved pride flags and distributed leaflets. Possnett and the other protesters were removed by police officers after 20 minutes.[1][18]
Personal life
[edit]Publicly known as Riz Possnett, and identifying as transgender, they also use the name Elliot.[2][20]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Dixon, Hayley; Stephens, Max; Smith, Benedict (2 June 2023). "Trans activist who disrupted Kathleen Stock is daughter of four-day-week council boss". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Four deny deliberately blocking Tower Bridge during climate protest". BBC News.
- ^ Taylor, Matthew. "'Time is running out': Extinction Rebellion activists on why they risked arrest". The Guardian.
- ^ Stephens, Max (2 May 2023). "Four-day week council boss writing thesis on flexible working". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
- ^ Corr, Sinead. "GCSE Results 2019: Hockerill Anglo-European College". Bishop’s Stortford Independent.
- ^ "Li Po Chun United World College - Members". Li Po Chun United World College – via ResearchGate.
- ^ Seven, Zuva (10 December 2021). "Vaccinated in Zimbabwe, unvaccinated in the UK; how geopolitics are holding the Global South hostage". gal-dem. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
- ^ University, Oxford (2022). "New Undergraduates 2022" (PDF). Wadham College Gazette. p. 155.
- ^ Gerretsen, Isabelle. "Global Climate Strike: Meet the teenagers skipping school to fight for a greener planet". CNN.
- ^ Fishwick, Samuel (15 February 2019). "How Gen Z led a climate change youthquake". Evening Standard. p. A25. Retrieved 3 June 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Morrison, Rhoda. "YouthStrike4Climate organiser Scarlet Possnett invited by Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo to attend Women4Climate conference". Suffolk News.
- ^ "Scarlet Possnett". VICE Video. VICE Media.
- ^ "Scarlet Possnett". Entertainment.ie.
- ^ Holden, Michael. "Climate change protesters block London's Tower Bridge, vow more disruption". Reuters.
- ^ Amos, Johnny. "Bury St Eds woman denies blocking road at London protest". Bury Mercury.
- ^ a b Parker, Charlie; Woode, David (3 May 2023). "Radical anti-royalists head to London for coronation protest". The Times. Archived from the original on 3 May 2023. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
- ^ Billson, Chantelle (11 May 2023). "Trans person asked if they're 'boy or girl' during GB News coronation debate 'totally expected it'". PinkNews. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
- ^ a b Bhutani, Anvee. "Activist glued to the floor derails Kathleen Stock talk". The Oxford Student.
- ^ Hayes, Andy. "Trans rights protesters interrupt talk at Oxford Union by 'gender-critical' academic Kathleen Stock". Sky News.
- ^ "@rizpossnett" (Elliot (they/them)) on Twitter