In London earlier this year, hundreds of protesters gathered outside the high court in solidarity with members of the “Just Stop Oil” advocacy group. Defendants were collectively given over forty-one years’ worth of sentences for a series of nonviolent protests in support of stopping large oil companies. The sixteen environmental activists appeared in court to attempt to change their unduly harsh sentences. Their appearance in court attracted many supporters and celebrities who gathered in solidarity.
Protesters and supporters have made a similar argument regarding the sixteen activists: nonviolent protests should never receive harsh punishments, let alone multiple years in jail. This was viewed as an attack on free speech and could prevent future climate activists from joining the fight towards a sustainable future.
Advocates of the climate movement have struggled to spread awareness about the severity of the issue. A growing number of civilians do not believe the earth is experiencing any climate disruptions. For climate activists, protesting has been the leading way to spread awareness. The imprisonment of the sixteen protesters has shown that even nonviolent protesting can be seen as a threat.
Tim Crosland helped lead the campaign from a group called Defend Our Juries. After reaching out to lead the protest, he initially expected around 1000 people to meet outside the high court that morning. But, he revealed that there was a significantly larger turnout. The large group held photos of other protesters who had been incarcerated in light of their support. Although the message of the protest was to prove the importance of speaking out, police showed up on the scene, threatening to arrest them if they continued to gather. The police were persistent, and eventually, protesters began to leave. Later, the police report revealed no blockade in the street and no harm caused by the protesters.
The irony of the situation proves how difficult it has been for protesters to raise awareness about climate change. Not only were sixteen climate advocates arrested for nonviolent protesting, but the thousands who stood in solidarity were sent home. As we move into a period of worsening climate change, awareness is an extremely high priority.
It is rare for the court to appeal multiple long sentences. However, there has been one instance where the high court appealed two “Just Stop Oil” protesters’ sentences after blocking a bridge during their protest. Nevertheless, there is little hope in shortening the sentences of all 16 climate protesters. The group standing in solidarity is not just a message to the “Just Stop Oil” protesters but a radical message to allow freedom of speech. It is a democratic right to have nonviolent protest. If a movement gets out of hand, law enforcement is always needed, but the government shutting down small nonviolent protests is not productive. Minor disturbances from protesters are the only way to bring attention.
The London protesters are a prime example of a lack of appreciation for climate movements. The only way to stop the irreversible effects of climate change is to make people enthusiastic about joining the movement. Even though there is an obvious risk to protesting, it truly shows how large of an issue the destruction of our environment is. Becoming collaborative to express our voices is incredibly necessary to move closer to slowly working towards making a better world.
Sources
Curators, E. (2025, February 3). Activists protest in London as climate demonstrators fight prison sentences. EHN. Retrieved February 21, 2025, from https://www.ehn.org/activists-protest-in-london-as-climate-demonstrators-fight-prison-sentences-2671075108.html
Gayle, D. (2025, January 29). Sixteen jailed UK climate activists to appeal against ‘unduly harsh’ sentences. The Guardian. Retrieved February 20, 2025, from https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jan/29/sixteen-jailed-uk-climate-activists-to-appeal-against-sentences
Gayle, D. (2025, January 30). Hundreds protest in London as jailed climate activists’ appeals are heard. The Guardian. Retrieved February 20, 2025, from https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jan/30/protest-london-high-court-jailed-climate-activists-appeal-just-stop-oil
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