2024-02-01 12:50:00
“The trial today in London of climate activist Greta Thunberg is part of an alarming crackdown on climate protesters in the United Kingdom”, declared Amnesty International.
Thunberg is charged along with four other people, also protesters, with an alleged public order offense at a climate protest outside an oil and gas conference in London on October 17.
The five activists were charged with “failing to comply with a condition imposed under section 14 of the Public Order Act” of leaving the road and onto the pavement.
Police powers to impose conditions under Article 14 have been significantly expanded by recent anti-protest legislation to the extent that they can now be used in relation to almost any protest.
Sacha Deshmukh, Executive Director of Amnesty International UK, said:
“Greta Thunberg Should Be Applauded for Her Peaceful Climate Protests, Not Jailed”.
“The charges against Thunberg and all those engaged in activism highlight everything that is wrong with the policing of protests in the UK today. “Police are increasingly using their expanded powers to silence legitimate protests.”
“Thunberg is one of dozens of activists caught up in the UK’s alarming crackdown on climate protesters. Our rights to peaceful protest and freedom of expression are under sustained attack as authorities attempt to muzzle non-violent protests.”
“From the anti-slavery movement to the suffragettes, the UK has a long and proud tradition of protest which this government must protect.”
“The draconian anti-protest powers of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act and the Public Order Act must be repealed; and our basic right to peacefully protest must be fully restored.”
Last week, the UN special rapporteur on environmental defenders, Michel Forst, published a tough exam which documents attacks suffered by environmental activists in the United Kingdom.
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