Extinction Rebellion: Chaos erupts on Macquarie Street at the Centre for Independent Studies as suits are surrounded by radical retiree protesters armed with sprays cans – and one is tackled to the ground

EXCLUSIVE

A dozen gray-haired climate activists showed up at the office of a conservative think tank and defaced the interior of the building before posting eviction notices on every wall.

The predominantly adult members of Extinction Rebellion (XR) stormed into the Center for Independent Studies (CIS) at 131 Macquarie Street, Sydney, around 2pm on Thursday and painted on it the porch and in the lobby.

The group of radical retirees has accused the CIS of receiving funding from the US-based Atlas Foundation, which has ties to fossil fuel industry lobbyists.

A CIS spokesperson told Ny Breaking Australia that workers had to call police about the “misguided” protesters after they refused to leave and one protester was knocked to the ground by officers.

“It is a conspiracy fairy tale that we were founded by the Atlas Foundation and are financed by the Atlas Foundation,” the spokesperson said.

“Neither is true, but it is a fairy tale that seems to have become popular among the will-o’-the-wisps in recent months.”

The group defaced the building’s porch and lobby with graffiti at 2 p.m. on Thursday

NSW Police arrived within 15 minutes and arrested two protesters, aged 35 and 76

An eyewitness said the group consisted mainly of “very polite looking pensioners” and a younger woman with orange hair who threw paint on the windows outside.

The younger woman was armed with a box of drained eggs that had been refilled with paint and thrown into the first floor offices.

Inside the building, an older woman, Trish, has painted graffiti on the lobby floor in orange paint: “CIS = Atlas Network = fossil fuel $$$ = climate is dressed up as the truth.”

Trish also saw eviction notices posted throughout the building, filed “by the plaintiff Extinction Rebellion and Friends” against CIS and submitted to the “Justice Court of Public Opinion.”

Reasons for expulsion included ‘aggressive lobbying’, branding of climate activists as ‘terrorists’ and the alleged role of the CIS in the continued support of the fossil fuel industry.

The CIS spokesperson said several protesters briefly tried to gain access to the office space on the first floor of the building but were thwarted by a security door.

Outside, orange and yellow spray paint was used to write similar messages, while several members stood at the bottom of the stairs and preached to passersby.

Police responded to reports of damaged property after employees in the building initially tried to negotiate with the activists to stop what they were doing.

Officers arrived within 15 minutes of the call and quickly arrested two women, aged 35 and 76, who are now assisting police with their investigation.

Other protesters were searched by police outside the building before the group was disbanded and forced to move on.

One protester, Trish, was seen actively applying graffiti to the interior of the lobby and posting several eviction notices on the walls

The notice of eviction is depicted, drawn up by demonstrators

A CIS spokesperson told Ny Breaking Australia that the protesters were spreading “a conspiracy fairy tale” and that there are more productive ways to protest fossil fuels.

Police searched the group’s belongings before disbanding and leaving CIS employees to deal with the wreckage

The CIS spokesperson said they were still trying to remove the graffiti when the office closed at 5.30pm and had no idea how to reach the egg bomb splatter plastered on the first floor office windows.

The Center for Independent Studies is a think tank located among prominent buildings including the NSW Parliament and the Opera House.

Founded in 1976, it is made up of academics who work together to produce research that influences public policy.

Ny Breaking Australia has contacted Extinction Rebellion for comment.