Climate campaigners gathering at Shire Hall tonight
They're gathering there in defence of public rights to protest.
Climate campaigners are gathering at Shire Hall tonight in defence of public rights to protest.
It comes after nine people were sentenced to prison for demanding the government fulfil it's promise to insulate Britain's homes by blocking the M25.
The nine, including Emma Smart 44, a scientist and Louis McKechnie 21 both from Weymouth, were convicted of contempt of court for breaking the National Highways’ M25 injunction and were sentenced to between three and six months in prison. After the sentencing, Emma Smart, 44, announced her intention to go on hunger strike.
A spokesperson for Extinction Rebellion, who is hosting the event, said:
"Over the last three months, 174 ordinary people, including many more from Dorset, have held the government to account, asking that they deliver on their most basic of duties, to protect the British people, the economy and all we hold dear in our society.
"On the 14th December another 9 will be sentenced.
"The Police and Government chose not to detain the protesters ahead of COP26 using their existing powers, despite declaring they would commit the crime again and again, the police chose to release them to continue disrupting the public. Instead an over-reaching High Court injunction was placed on nearly all roads completely outlawing protest so that the protesters could be imprisoned after COP with the maximum sentence."
Andy Smith, husband of Emma Smart added:
“COP26 was widely recognised as a failure. It’s apparent that the government is failing to act, it has played its hand and in doing so shown its cowardice. They would rather lock up scientists than take practical steps to reduce emissions. They would rather push new laws to imprison anyone calling out their failings than introduce new laws and policy to reduce Co2.”
Shire Hall is a place of great significance for the campaigners who compare their issues today with those of the Tolpuddle Martyrs.
Almost 200 years ago, The Tolpuddle Martyrs, six agricultural labourers from the village of Tolpuddle in Dorset, were convicted at Dorchester Crown Court for forming a trade union. They were arrested on charges under an obscure act during a labour dispute before being convicted and sentenced to penal transportation to Australia. They were pardoned and returned to England several years later after mass public protests.
Tonight, they group meet in the same Dorchester courtroom to support the Highway 9 prisoners, jailed for highlighting the truth about the climate crisis.
The event will be live streamed globally. Speakers will include Claire Farrell, one of the founders of Extinction Rebellion, Tony Stauton from Plymouth Trades Council, Rev Jonathan Herbert from Churches Network for Gypsies, Travellers and Roma and Tracey Mallaghan from Insulate Britain who notoriously clashed with Richard Madeley on Good Morning Britain recently.
Other speakers include family members of those imprisoned as well as Emma De-Saram a youth activist and Paul Stephens, an ex-MET police detective who now works with Extinction Rebellion who will talk about the impacts of the draconian Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.
Claire Sutton, Louis McKechnie’s Mother, said:
“We knew Louis would potentially face prison when he took this action, but he said he could not stand by while the government fails the general public and destroys the future of our planet. He was not expecting the state to manipulate the law in such a way that he’d be sent to prison on his 21st birthday for sitting in a road for 12 minutes. The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill that is currently being pushed through extends this attack on democracy further and basically outlaws ALL protest.”