The activists are part of an informal non-violent anti-capitalist Christian group called Christianity Uncut, and include a student Methodist minister. If found guilty, the five could face fines or up to three months in prison.
Symon Hill, a freelance writer and tutor, and one of the protesters, told Christianity that the protest was ‘about witnessing to the fact that God’s power is greater than the idols of money and markets and military might’.
The activists have received public support from former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams.