Climate activist Greta Thunberg and her four co-defendants were acquitted on Friday of charges of refusing to follow a police order to leave a protest blocking the entrance to a major oil and gas industry conference in London last year. Judge John Law cleared them of the criminal charge of breaching the Public Order Act, citing significant deficiencies in the evidence presented by the prosecutor.
During the trial at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, Judge Law criticized the police for their handling of the situation, stating that they could have applied less restrictive measures and that their order to disperse was unclear and therefore unlawful. He also noted that the demonstration attended by Thunberg was peaceful, civilized, and nonviolent.
Thunberg and more than two dozen protesters were arrested on October 17 for preventing access to a hotel during the Energy Intelligence Forum, which was attended by top executives from the fossil fuel industry. The protest was one of many in the UK against fossil fuel producers, some of which have led to criminal charges.
Defense lawyer Raj Chada successfully requested that the government cover Thunberg's legal fees and travel costs, and the judge granted this request. Thunberg had faced a potential fine of up to £2,500 ($3,190) if convicted.
Chada and Thunberg expressed their concerns about the government's prosecution of peaceful protesters and called for more action to tackle the climate crisis. Thunberg, who has inspired a global youth movement demanding stronger efforts to combat climate change, has accused fossil fuel companies of intentionally impeding the transition to renewable energy for the sake of profit. She has also criticized the UK government's approval of oil drilling in the North Sea.
Outside the courtroom, Chada stated, 'The conditions imposed on the protest were unclear, uncertain, and unlawful. The government should stop prosecuting peaceful protesters, and instead find ways to tackle the climate crisis.'
Metropolitan Police Superintendent Matthew Cox testified that he had worked with the protesters for several hours before issuing an order for them to move to an adjacent street due to safety concerns for those in the hotel. He described the protest as a deliberate attempt to prevent access to the hotel by delegates and guests. Demonstrators had lit colorful flares and created a loud noise outside the hotel, while some sat on the ground and others rappelled from the roof.
The judge noted that there were no witness statements taken from anyone in the hotel or from anyone trying to enter. He found no evidence of any vehicles being impeded or any interference with emergency services, concluding that there was no risk to life.
Thunberg, known for her weekly protests outside the Swedish Parliament since 2018, has faced legal consequences for her activism before. Last summer, she was fined by a Swedish court for disobeying police and blocking traffic during an environmental protest at an oil facility. She had previously been fined for the same offense in Sweden.
After the trial, Thunberg left the courthouse without speaking to journalists, sprinting away with her friends past a crowd of cameras.
The acquittal of Thunberg and her co-defendants is seen as a victory for climate activists who argue for the right to peaceful protest against industries contributing to the worsening climate crisis. The case has also brought attention to the need for clear guidelines and a balanced approach when it comes to controlling public assemblies and addressing the urgent issue of climate change.
