6. A satanic ritual taking place near G7 in England. Fake or not?
Images of people dressed as mimes and black birds depict a satanic ritual on the margins of the G7 summit in England, online posts claim. “Part of the entertainment and opening for the G7 summit,” reads the caption of a June 13, 2021 Instagram video. It showed about a dozen people solemnly walking on a sidewalk in single file with their arms extended outwards, wearing white face paint and red veils. “I believe these creatures are there to represent satan’s bride,” the author says. “These people are demonic and they are clearly showing you who and what they serve.”
Similar posts appeared on Facebook and also showed photos of another group of people dressed as birds, spreading their wings widely on a beach.
“Satanic rituals going on here in Cornwall Carbis Bay where the G7 is being held,” one Facebook user wrote, before the post was shared as a screenshot on Instagram. In a similar version of the claim posted to Instagram on June 13, one user shared images of protesters dressed as black birds and compared the red clothing to garb from “The Handmaid’s Tale,” a dystopian novel and TV show. Other users called the protest a “Satanic Freak Show Outside the G7.”
HOW CAN WE VERIFY THIS?
However, it is not true to say the images show people carrying out satanic rituals; rather, they are pictures of protesters demanding climate action during the G7 summit. Leaders of the G7 (Group of Seven) nations met for face-to-face talks in Carbis Bay, Cornwall, between June 11-13. They discussed a range of issues at the top of their agendas, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and trade.
G7 summits often attract protests for numerous causes, and Cornwall 2021 was no different. Reuters captured images of the red-cloaked individuals – identified as the Red Brigade – at a protest organised by the Extinction Rebellion (XR) climate activist group on June 12.
Mat Osmond, a member of Extinction Rebellion (XR), an environmental movement that often uses creative means to promote its message, confirmed that the social media footage was taken on June 11 during a demonstration by the group. “The Red Rebels, pictured here, are mime, are street theatre… About as far as you can get from what QAnon hyperbole even means when it waffles about Satanic ritual,” he added. Osmond confirmed that the people dressed as black birds were members of Extinction Rebellion. “I can wholeheartedly reject the idea that XR has any connection with Satanism. It is an utterly absurd idea!” Osmond told AFP. A member of Extinction Rebellion in Cornwall, Osmond guided some of the red-clad protesters through the streets of St Ives to the town’s beach on that day.
It was one of several protests that drew thousands during the June 11-13 summit while world leaders including US President Joe Biden discussed the global Covid-19 vaccination effort, China, and other topics. The demonstrators affiliated with Extinction Rebellion called on governments to uphold their climate commitments under the 2015 Paris accord.
WHAT ARE OTHER SOURCES SAYING?
Many other fact-checking sources, such as USA Today, AP, Reuters and other report that the satanic claim is absolutely unfounded. More info can be found here:
Purported satanic ritual at G7 summit was climate protest
G7 summit photos do not show satanic rituals; they show protesters demanding climate action
Fact check: Videos show G-7 climate demonstrators, not satanic ritual
KEYWORD SEARCH
Keyword search leads us to Extinction Rebellion website and their mission explained in details:
FAKE OR NOT?
Fake! The videos were captured near the G-7 summit, but they show a climate change protest, not a satanic ritual.
