Greta Thunberg and four other activists have been aquitted of public order offences by a judge at Westminster Magistrates Court today. The five were on trial following arrests at a protest against a major oil and gas industry conference held at the five-star Intercontinental Hotel in Mayfair last year.
The defendants, Greenpeace activists Jeff Rice, 57, of Nottinghamshire, Pete Barker, 59, of Powys, Fossil Free London activists Christofer Kebbon and Joshua James Unwin, and Ms Thunberg, were among dozens of protesters arrested by Metropolitan Police officers while peacefully protesting at the 2023 Energy Intelligence Forum.
All were charged with failing to comply with a condition imposed under Section 14 of the Public Order Act. District Judge Laws ruled that the prosecution could not prove that the Section 14 conditions imposed on the protest were clear and reasonable.
Maja Darlington, Campaigner at Greenpeace UK, said: “Today’s verdict is a victory for the right to protest. It is ridiculous that more and more climate activists are finding themselves in court for peacefully exercising their right to protest, while fossil fuel giants like Shell are allowed to reap billions in profits from selling climate-wrecking fossil fuels.
“The prosecution of Greta and other peaceful protesters reflects a government that cares more about bolstering the profits of oil bosses than fighting for a livable future for all of us. Instead of cracking down on climate activists, the UK government should force the oil industry to stop drilling and start paying for the damage they are causing to our planet and everyone who lives on it.”
Mike Schwarz, solicitor for Greenpeace activists Jeff Rice and Pete Barker, of Hodge Jones and Allen, said: “This is a small but important step in rebalancing the right to protest against the power of those bent on destroying our planet. Public order law continues to be tightened up. In contrast, legislation and policies to protect the environment and limit those who profit from its destruction are not matching the rhetoric about the importance of protecting our environment.”
Joanna Warrington, an organiser with Fossil Free London, said: “Despite the acquittal, justice has not been serviced because the wrong people are in the dock. And whilst Judge Laws recognised this, we are outraged that our increasingly draconian ‘justice system’ and Government chooses to punish more and more of those fighting against climate breakdown by dragging them through the court system when it’s clear who the real criminals are. The reckless super-rich oil bosses, keeping us hooked on their unaffordable, deadly fossil fuels; prioritising their profit over the lives of billions of people around the world.”
Greenpeace UK and Fossil Free London members are waiting to meet the defendants outside Westminster Magistrates Court. Yesterday morning, the two groups demonstrated in solidarity outside the court, with activists holding banners reading ‘Make Polluters Pay’ and placards of top bosses at fossil fuel corporations, including Shell’s CEO Wael Sawan, that read ‘the real climate criminals’.
During the mass demonstration at the Energy Intelligence Forum in October, two Greenpeace climbers abseiled from the roof of the hotel and unfurled a 30m long banner bearing the phrase ‘Make Big Oil Pay’. They then hung above demonstrators with hand banners bearing the slogans ‘People Before Profit’ and ‘Make Big Oil Pay’.
A further 21 people who took part in the same demonstration, including supporters of Extinction Rebellion, are due to appear in court on later dates.
