British Environmentalists Sentenced To Five Years In Prison Over Blocking Highway (image@JustStop_Oil)
Five environmental activists have been sentenced to prison over the charge of motorway disruption. The activists, including Roger Hallam and Daniel Shaw-have been convicted for their roles in the November 2022 M25 motorway disruption, said the BBC.
The protest, which was co-ordinated by Just Stop Oil, was intended to block the road and resulted in major traffic jams, accidents, and delays that lasted for almost four days. The financial costs of the event were estimated to be over 1.8 million pounds (Rs 19,47,28,935).
Hallam was sentenced to five years in prison, while the other three to four years each. The court highlighted the protestors’ “intricate planning and the level of sophistication involved” on climate change activism. This is the longest punishment, in regards to the new rules intended to quell disruptive protests.
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According to the media report, in the M25 protest case, Whittaker De Abreu and Gethin were arrested near the motorway dressed for climbing, while Lancaster rented a safe house and bought climbing gear for the activists. Calling the climate crisis a critical issue, Lancaster defended her actions as necessary due to the perceived failure of democratic methods.
Claiming the disruption was intended to be minimal, Gethin blamed those in power for failing to address climate change seriously. Hallam, who had previously rejected direct action for conventional campaigning, was disruptive in court, leading to three arrests and encouraging supporters to protest outside the court.
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This ended up in the arrest of 11 protesters for contempt. The charges were later dropped. Hallam claimed the judiciary was corrupt and manipulated, framing his actions as necessary for climate justice.
The new, under which the activists were sentenced was introduced in 2022. It criminalises direct action causing serious public harm. The judge emphasised the law’s intent to treat such actions severely, with sentences up to 10 years.
