[ad_1]
A British court has sentenced five climate activists from the Stop Oil movement to four years or more in prison for protesting on the M25 motorway in November 2022. According to Reuters, this is the highest sentence for non-violent protest in British history.
photo: SITA/AP, Zhang Jian
Activists from the Just Stop Oil group are arrested by police as they slow down traffic on a road in London, Monday, October 30, 2023.
The five, who also include Just Stop Oil co-founder Roger Hallam, face charges of conspiracy to cause a public disorder. According to prosecutor Jocelyn Ledward, the economic cost of the protests was at least £770,000 (€914,000) and caused delays for thousands of people.
“Not long ago, each of you went from being a concerned activist to a fanatic. You have appointed yourselves the sole arbiters of action on climate change,” Judge Christopher Hehir said in his conviction.
He sentenced Hallam, 58, to five years in prison and the remaining defendants, aged between 22 and 58, to four years. All five activists who were in court earlier said they felt innocent.
[ad_2]
Source link
