XR rebel who stopped a planet-wrecking train walks free from court
July 22, 2024 by Extinction Rebellion
Link to images and videos: https://tinyurl.com/mbmp8hbz
A courageous Extinction Rebellion activist who stopped a freight train carrying 2,500 tonnes of wood pellets to the DRAX power station in Selby, Yorkshire, walked free from court today despite being found guilty of a criminal charge with a maximum two-year jail term.
English teacher and grandmother Karen Wildin climbed on a carriage roof of the train heading for DRAX in November 2021. Her brave protest – filmed and shared online around the world – was designed to highlight a shocking greenwash campaign that portrays the power station as a source of renewable energy.
In fact, DRAX burns through 14 million tonnes of wood every year and is one of the UK’s biggest carbon emitters.
A jury at Leeds Crown Court found Karen, from Leicester, guilty of obstructing the train after the Judge Guy Kearl told them that they could not acquit her if their conscience told them she was not guilty – despite that being a principle so deeply ingrained in British legal tradition that it appears on a plaque outside the country’s most famous court, the Old Bailey in London.
Today, the judge announced he was not going to jail Karen. Instead, he sentenced her to a conditional discharge for two years and a £3000 fine.
Outside of the court building, Karen said:
“I stand by my actions because what I did wasn’t about stopping a train – it was about stopping the destruction of our planet.
“The true crime lies in the environmental carnage caused by DRAX’s operations, not in my peaceful protest.
“The carbon emissions and deforestation caused by this power station are hidden by greenwashing and subsidised by our government and I felt it was my duty to expose all of it to the public gaze. I’m proud that I’ve done so despite it coming at the cost of a criminal conviction.
“We must hold corporations accountable and demand a sustainable, honest approach to energy production. The fines and sentences won’t deter our commitment to this cause because fighting for our planet’s health is not a crime – it’s a necessity.
“Now I urge the governments of the world to do their duty and stop climate breakdown and these environmental injustices so that thousands of activists like me don’t have to put our lives and liberty on the line to make them do their jobs.”
Supporting Karen’s actions, leading climate scientist Dr. Emily Turner said:
“Karen’s actions bring much-needed attention to the urgent crisis we face. The environmental impact of corporations like Drax cannot be ignored if we are to have any chance of mitigating climate change. Halting the destruction of our forests is critical for our planet’s future.”
Amelia Roberts, a prominent human rights expert, described the trial judge’s decision to deny Karen any legal defence and to tell the jury that they could not act on their conscience to find her not guilty as “deeply troubling.”
She added:
“The right to protest and to defend oneself in court are fundamental human rights. Karen’s case highlights the challenges faced by environmental activists in their fight for justice and the protection of our planet.”
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