Protesters have called out Barclays’ sportswashing – and asked Wimbledon why it’s batting for the fossil fuel and arms financier.
Because, far from the “strawberries and cream” image Wimbledon projects to the world, this year’s sponsor is drenched in complicity for Israel’s genocide in Gaza and the devastating impacts of the climate crisis.
Barclays brandalism action at Wimbledon
Activists started Monday 1 July with a series of brand vandalism ads across London:
.@Wimbledon clean up your act: DROP @Barclays
Your top sponsor is a top financier of deadly arms companies and fossil fuel expansion – a double fault 🍓🎾🤝☠️ https://t.co/HFUa3bqdAV pic.twitter.com/z8k3iGo9vN
— Brandalism (@BrandalismUK) July 1, 2024
Campaign group Brandalism UK engaged in a mass subvertising action. They installed hundreds of posters and billboards in ad spaces near the major Tennis stadium:
🎾 SLAMMED 🎾 300+ ad spaces near @Wimbledon hacked with artworks exposing dodgy sponsor @Barclays‘ dirty money – bankrolling arms companies and fossil fuel expansion.
Artwork by Lindsay Grime, installed in Wimbledon. 1/ pic.twitter.com/jnh1IrMVeL
— Brandalism (@BrandalismUK) July 1, 2024
Billboard outside first day of @Wimbledon (sponsored by that bank #Barclays).#StopArmingIsrael 🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/JE1G9hMUBf
— Brighton PSC (@BrightonPSC) July 1, 2024
And we’ve been decorating the area in preparation pic.twitter.com/1buPY1xH2d
— Brandalism (@BrandalismUK) July 1, 2024
Commuters on London’s Underground and at nearby bus-stops were also met with the powerful ads:
And an action shot from the District Line: pic.twitter.com/YGc8iEpWRv
— Brandalism (@BrandalismUK) July 1, 2024
.@Wimbledon sponsor Barclays is balls deep in climate chaos… Art by Matt Bonner. #DropBarclays pic.twitter.com/vBevrCp4V5
— Brandalism (@BrandalismUK) July 1, 2024
Protest against Barclays sportswashing
Following the ad action, protesters from multiple pro-Palestine and anti-fossil fuel groups turned up to take Wimbledon to task:
We’re outside @Wimbledon to tell their sponsor @barclays that they cannot sportswash their brand. Barclays has £billions invested in 9 arms companies supplying Israel’s genocide in Gaza. Wimbledon needs to drop this toxic brand. #BoycottBarclays pic.twitter.com/YvjiSHcREr
— PSC (@PSCupdates) July 1, 2024
We’re with a great crowd opposite Centre Court at @Wimbledon, demanding that it ❌drops @Barclays as a sponsor❌
Barclays is bankrolling Israel’s apartheid and plausible genocide of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip – as well as funding fossil fuels. pic.twitter.com/nYey9ZCSfN
— War on Want (@WarOnWant) July 1, 2024
They stood outside the stadium sporting Palestinian flags:
Barclays Barclays you can’t hide (including at Wimbledon), You’re supporting genocide pic.twitter.com/8ZAeLiAxkm
— Neil Sammonds نيل سامنز (@neilsai) July 1, 2024
Demonstrators carried placards and banners calling for a boycott on Barclays:
Great protests against @Wimbledon sponsorship by @Barclays, bankroller of genocide, from Southfields Tube down to opposite Centre Court pic.twitter.com/98O3jodj2E
— Neil Sammonds نيل سامنز (@neilsai) July 1, 2024
Alongside its artistic ad action, activists staged further creative protest:
Protesters set up a giant tennis ball with the words “Barclays sponsors Wimbledon and genocide” written on it, along with plates of strawberries covered in red sauce.https://t.co/u1t5Q6VlCR
— The London Economic (@LondonEconomic) July 1, 2024
Barclays Barclays you can’t hide (including at Wimbledon), You’re supporting genocide pic.twitter.com/8ZAeLiAxkm
— Neil Sammonds نيل سامنز (@neilsai) July 1, 2024
Barclays bankrolling genocide and the climate crisis
As the Canary has consistently reported, campaign groups like Palestine Action and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) have repeatedly targeted UK-based multinational bank Barclays. The groups have done so since Barclays has infamously maintained gargantuan investments in the arms companies facilitating Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
In particular, the Canary previously noted that:
According to a recent report by War on Want, the bank holds £1,300,688,880 in shares of companies whose weapons, components, and military technology have been used in unlawful violence against Palestinians. This includes investments in BAE Systems, Boeing and Elbit Systems,
Moreover, it provides over £3bn in loans and underwriting to nine companies whose weapons, components, and military technology have been used in Israel’s armed violence against Palestinians.
What’s more, Barclays has an ill-reputed record on everything from financing fracking and the climate-wrecking East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), to propping up union-busting corporations.
Between 2016 and the end of 2023, Barclays has poured US $235.2bn into fossil fuels. This is according to the latest ‘Banking on Climate Chaos’ report, which placed Barclays among its ‘Dirty Dozen’ – the top twelve worst banks for financing the polluting sector.
In July 2023, Just Stop Oil disrupted Wimbledon. Then too, they did so to draw attention to the Tennis stadiums sponsorship deal with the bank.
Now, climate campaigners have rallied together with Palestine protesters to serve up the truth on Barclays’ blood money. Together, they’re calling game, set, and match on Barclays’ shameless sportswashing, as Israel continues its brutal massacre, and the climate crisis rages on with the banks financial backing.
Feature image via Brandalism UK – X
