But in documenting the extent of the coronavirus pandemic among children in the U.S., Mandavilli missed the mark by a wide margin.
Insulate Britain this morning targeted Old Street roundabout - in the heart of London's hipster haven Shoreditch - and again the M25.
Scores of the protesters - who have been widely savaged for their actions - sat down in the roundabout holding banners.
They were flanked by as many 'official observers' dressed in high-vis vests after a series of confrontations from furious motorists in recent days.
After heavy criticism, the unpopular campaigners were also seen moving for ambulances getting out.
Among the rabble was Joshua Smith, who was seen being taken away by police in what is believed to be his seventh arrest after police repeatedly released him without conditions.
He who was branded a hypocrite after it emerged he owned a multi-million pound property empire - but the homes had poor insulation, an issue at the heart of the group's agenda.
The 28-year-old is heir to a £2million property portfolio and also has a seven-figure estate of his own. However, at least six homes owned by his Oldham-based company have efficiency ratings of E or F, according to the Sun.
This means the properties boast little or no insulation and also produce large quantities of extra carbon dioxide. Smith was pictured being held by police by the side of the M25 today before being led off in a police van.
The eco-mob were also back at the M25 breaking a court injunction designed to stop them.
Two of the motorway bandits were lambasted by a furious mother whose daughter was late for classes due to their actions.
She was caught on LBC film chastising them: 'It's backing up, all because all you care about is insulating houses.
'My daughter is late to school, you are messing with children'seducation because you are selfish.
'I hope you got that on camera, I think they are a disgrace.'
Millionaire eco hypocrite Joshua Smith was seen being arrested today. This is believed to be his seventh arrest after police repeatedly released him without conditions 
Three police officers carry away an activist from hated campaign group Insulate Britain from the Old Street roundabout today
Several protesters glued themselves onto the road - a familiar tactic - forcing officers to use a chemical solution to release them
Today's disruption at the Old Street roundabout is the latest of a series of protests that has seen the group draw the ire of the public
An elderly Insulate Britain protester - wearing a suit and tie - is arrested and taken into a waiting police car by officers
This man wore large plastic safety glasses to today's protest at Old Street. Officers are seen carrying him away along with a bag of his belongings
An elderly woman is kept in handcuffs on the pavement by Old Street - one of London's busiest junctions
These two activists appeared to have glued themselves together. An officer is seen trying to release them
An officer trying to release an activist from near the Old Street roundabout today. The activists wear glasses to prevent the glue getting in their eyes
A woman is led away by a police officer, who is carrying her backpack, after Insulate Britain blocked the Old Street roundabout today
Insulate Britain activists at Old Street today. They also blocked part of the M25 motorway today in defiance of an injunction
Police officers speaking with protesters who had glued themselves onto the road by Old Street roundabout this morning
The protesters could be seen cross legged on the ground holding up the now-infamous Insulate Britain logo banners
Scores of the protesters - who have been widely savaged for their actions - sat at Old Street, in the heart of hippy London
Police appeared to swiftly leap into action at the M25, racing into the road to drag out the protesters by their high-vis vests
It came after more than 100 activists were served with an injunction against road-blocking earlier in the week at court
Today they were flanked by as many 'official observers' dressed in high-vis vests after confrontations at other locationsBut the cause was utterly unrepentant about the damage they were doing.
Liam Norton from Insulate Britain said: 'This isn't a cause, this is about the deaths of our children before they get to grow old. This isn't protesting, this is about doing whatever it takes to protect the future generations. And we want to be clear, this campaign will continue until the government gives us a meaningful statement we can trust, if that happens we will get off the roads like a shot
It came after more than 100 activists were served with an injunction against road-blocking protests at the High Court.
The Met Police said: 'We are responding to two protests this morning which are blocking roads. Activists are disrupting traffic around Old Street roundabout.
'They're also disrupting motorists at Junction 25 of the M25. We're on scene and working quickly to get traffic moving.'We know that some activists have used super glue to frustrate our efforts and to delay Londoner's even further.
'We train for these scenarios and have specialist teams on hand to help remove people and make arrests. We will share more information shortly.
Protesters from the Extinction Rebellion offshoot have blocked major roads including the M25, M1 and M4 over the past three weeks, and three court injunctions have now been put in place but demonstrations have continued.
The original injunction, granted to National Highways on September 21, banned the demonstrations on the M25 and was followed by a second approved on September 24 which restricted protests around the Port of Dover. 
The campaigners were seen in the way of an ambulance but now move out of the way as part of a new policy from him
Insulate Britain defended action saying 'This isn't a cause, this is about deaths of our children'A third injunction was granted on Saturday, banning them from obstructing traffic and access to motorways and major A roads in and around London – but this has not stopped the protests which again caused chaos yesterday.
The group, which is calling on the Government to insulate all homes across the UK by 2030 to help cut carbon emissions, has mostly focused on blockading the M25 but has sat down on other London roads since last Friday.
Until now, they had not yet carried out any road protests for a few days day, but their campaign of roadblocks caused fresh misery yesterday, as activists targeted three major sites of the Blackwall Tunnel, Wandsworth Bridge and Hanger Lane.
At the Conservative Party conference the Prime Minister said the Insulate Britain protesters had been 'doing considerable damage to the economy'.
His comments came ahead of Home Secretary Priti Patel's speech, where she laid out new measures to deal with demonstrators deemed to be disruptive.
Boris Johnson told LBC: 'There are some people who call those individuals legitimate protesters.
'They are not. I think they are irresponsible crusties who are basically trying to stop people going about their day's work and doing considerable damage to the economy.
'That is why we have taken the powers and why Priti Patel is doing the right thing to bring in powers so they can get six months or an unlimited fine.'
The Home Secretary announced plans for eco-fanatics to be hit with a new type of Asbo in a fresh attempt to bring their chaotic road protests to an end.
The Criminal Disruption Prevention Orders – dubbed 'Asbos for crusties' – are intended to be quicker to enforce than the Government's current approach, which has been based on High Court injunctions.
It will be made a crime to 'interfere with critical national infrastructure', including major roads, railways, seaports, power stations and newspaper printing presses.
The new crime will carry up to six months' imprisonment and will be dealt with at magistrates' courts only – after sympathetic juries acquitted a series of XR activists in the Crown courts.
It will give police new options when arresting offenders who block motorways or other sites, and make it more likely that protesters will face jail.
A Conservative source said police would 'now have no excuse' for not arresting and charging Insulate Britain troublemakers.
No comments: