LONDON — A group of sixteen environmental activists, known for their disruptive yet non-violent protests, appeared in court on Wednesday in London to contest their prison sentences. Their actions included halting traffic, obstructing an oil facility, and throwing soup on a Van Gogh painting. These activists are challenging the length of their sentences, which range from 15 months to five years, arguing that these penalties are excessively harsh for what they describe as peaceful demonstrations.
The activists, part of the Just Stop Oil campaign, label themselves “political prisoners” who acted out of necessity to safeguard their families and communities against climate change. Their legal representative, Danny Friedman, emphasized that if these sentences are upheld, it would signify a significant change in how the law treats peaceful protests centered on moral issues. He asserted that their collective, non-violent actions were driven by a commitment to the public good, the planet, and future generations, emphasizing that the activists acted out of a sense of sacrifice for a larger cause.
Among those imprisoned, five participated in protests in November 2022, which involved climbing equipment over a busy highway. The remaining individuals were sentenced for tunneling beneath a road leading to an oil terminal in southeast England and for their actions at the National Gallery, where they targeted a protective glass case of Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” with soup.
In response to actions by eco-activists, the Conservative government, which lost its power in July 2024, had enacted stricter anti-protest laws aimed at curtailing protests that obstruct daily life and economic activities. Officials argued these measures were necessary to prevent extremist actions from causing wider disruptions. As the Labour Party assumed leadership in July, civil liberties organizations urged the new government to relax the stringent protest restrictions set by their predecessors.
Friends of the Earth, which supports several of the activists, was vocal in its criticism, labeling the sentences a “serious threat to our democracy.” Senior lawyer Katie de Kauwe stated, “Suppressing those who are advocating for a better world will not eliminate the pressing crises we face; instead, it suffocates democracy.”
The Court of Appeal is set to deliberate on this matter over a two-day hearing, with a ruling from the three judges expected to be delivered in the subsequent days or weeks. In a separate incident on the same day, two activists were charged with “aggravated trespass” after allegedly interrupting a performance of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, where Sigourney Weaver is making her West End debut as Prospero. The performance was disrupted, leading to the actors being escorted off stage. Following the event, Just Stop Oil shared a video on social media showcasing their supporters’ protest against inaction on climate change. The two individuals, Richard Weir and Hayley Walsh, are scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on February 25.
