Video: Sir David King supports five defendants on trial for London City Airport action

January 31, 2020 By Zoe Blackler

On Jan 28th, Sir David King, former chief scientific adviser to the UK government, attended the trial of five Extinction Rebellion protesters charged with aggravated trespass during the London City Airport action in October. Sir David, who offered written evidence in defence of the five, gave this interview outside court, in which he speaks of the important role of Extinction Rebellion in raising awareness of the climate crisis, his fear for his own grandchildren, and the need for urgent government action. “What we need is much more action, much more clarity on the action that is needed,…

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Defence statement by Sir David King in support of five Extinction Rebellion defendants

January 31, 2020 By Zoe Blackler

“A temperature rise of 4.0 degrees C would give rise to unmanageable risks, and yet this is the most likely outcome by 2100 unless appropriate global action is taken.” “Lives would be saved if the UK Government were to bring forward the net zero emissions target, based on a full risk analysis alongside a full procedural analysis to achieve the target, and to take a clear leadership role on the international scene leading to COP26 in Glasgow, November this year.” “Climate change represents the greatest threat that humanity, as a whole, has ever had to to…

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Three More Rebels Found Not Guilty as April Arrests Ruled Unlawful

December 11, 2019 By Zoe Blackler

Three more Extinction Rebellion protesters were acquitted yesterday after a second judge ruled that arrests made during the April rebellion were unlawful.  Caroline Vincent, 56, Clare Carlile, 24 and Jake Costello, 23, were on trial for breaching Section 14 of the Public Order Act while occupying Waterloo Bridge in April.  But the judge at City of London Magistrates Court found them not guilty because the police officer who imposed the Section 14 condition had a flawed understanding of human rights law.  Their acquittal follows that of four other Extinction Rebellion defendants last Tuesday (December 3rd), when Chief Inspector McMillan was…

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Legal crowdfunder tops £400,000: How to apply for financial help

December 09, 2019 By Zoe Blackler

Thanks to the amazing generosity of our supporters, we’ve now raised over £400,000 through our CrowdJustice campaign.    If you’re one of the many rebels facing financial challenges as a result of your prosecution, here’s how to apply for some potential support towards your costs.  Distribution of Central Legal Defence Fund The CrowdJustice Central Legal Defence Fund now stands at over £430,000. The XR community recognises the amazing generosity of the many people who have stood in solidarity with Rebels facing court proceedings by donating to this fund. Although the long-term fundraising target of £750,000 has not yet…

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Were You Arrested Under Section 14 during October Rebellion? Here’s what to do

December 02, 2019 By Zoe Blackler

Following legal action from Extinction Rebellion, the Metropolitan Police has now accepted that Section 14 arrests were unlawful during both weeks of the October Rebellion. If you were arrested for breach of a Section 14 during the October Rebellion please read this briefing carefully. It sets out the next steps available to you including guidance on how you might bring a claim for compensation against the Met. What has happened? The Metropolitan Police has admitted that its use of Section 14 was unlawful during both weeks of October’s International Rebellion. As a result, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has…

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Climate Striking in Russia – Experiences of an Environmental Activist

November 27, 2019 By Extinction Rebellion

In this issue of Exploring XR, we hear from Arshak, a young violinist who began making headlines with his solo protests in Moscow’s Pushkin Square back in the Spring of 2019.  Dubbed by some ‘Russia’s answer to Greta Thunberg’, the Fridays For Future (FFF) activist is currently awaiting his trial for his FFF strikes, scheduled for Thursday 28th November. Please take this moment to show your support for Arshack on his Twitter and Facebook – the more voices we have in his defence the better chance his trial will be positive. Here, he describes his motivation, his experiences and the…

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Zoe Jones: Our Legal System is Failing to Protect Us

November 26, 2019 By Zoe Blackler

Mitigation statement delivered by Zoe Jones, 23, a charity worker from Bristol, when she pleaded guilty in October to breaching Section 14 of the Public Order Act during the April Rebellion. “I come here today in the interest of transparency and truth. Truthfully, I was a complete nerd at school. I loved to learn, and I couldn’t bear to disappoint people, or to be in trouble. I believed the rules were there for a reason. I was sure that if you were kind and good, you would have the chance to live a good life.  It’s been 8 years…

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Rebel Who Glued On in Court Sent to Prison

November 18, 2019 By Zoe Blackler

Melanie Edwards, a carer from South Wales, has been sentenced to seven days in prison for glueing herself on in court during her own trial.  She was found guilty of contempt of court and is serving out her sentence at Bronzefield Prison in Ashford, becoming the first Extinction Rebellion protestor to receive a custodial sentence.  Melanie, 41, glued one of her hands to the witness stand during her trial at City of London Magistrates Court on Monday. She then read out a letter explaining her action, which was taken into evidence as part of her testimony. Witnesses said those present…

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XR & the Police – Extinction Rebellion Podcast Special 2.7

October 20, 2019 By Extinction Rebellion Podcast

Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify Listen on Podomatic Live on all platforms NOW Extinction Rebellion have always had a controversial relationship with the police. During the April Rebellion, there were chants of “we love you” and a practice of liaising with the police before actions. During the October rebellion, this relationship became much more conflictual. This episode tracks those changes and is a prelude to a more in depth podcast, coming this winter. Speakers include Sian Berry (Co-Leader of the Green Party), George Monbiot (The Guardian Columnist), Rupert Read (Extinction Rebellion Spokesperson), XR lawyers, and…

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Ursula Pethick, 83: I hope those lives lost in WWII were not in vain

October 15, 2019 By Zoe Blackler

Ursula Pethick, an 83-year old grandmother of five from Sussex, was arrested for the second time last week after gluing herself to the road on Whitehall. Until her first arrest in September she’d never been involved in a protest. Cell shocked… …Only it was not as bad as I had thought. I am an 83 year old grandmother who is profoundly concerned about Climate Change and the loss of eco-diversity. So on Sept 21st I went to Dover to be part of an Extinction Rebellion protest. I have never seen such a police presence and the press had turned out in…

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