Environmental campaign groups Friends of the Earth (FoE) and Greenpeace UK have been granted permission to participate in appeal bids challenging the sentences of five climate protesters involved in a demonstration that blocked the M25 motorway. Roger Hallam, Daniel Shaw, Louise Lancaster, Lucia Whittaker De Abreu, and Cressida Gethin were all jailed in July for their roles in the protest, where activists climbed onto gantries over the motorway for four consecutive days in November 2022. Hallam, a co-founder of Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion, received a five-year prison sentence, while the other four protesters were each sentenced to four years in jail.
Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace UK Join the Fight
On Monday, FoE announced that they, along with Greenpeace UK, will support the appeal bids of the convicted protesters. The appeal hearings are scheduled for January 29 and 30, 2025, and will also review four additional cases involving Just Stop Oil activists, resulting in 16 people being sentenced. FoE plans to argue that the sentences violate human rights legislation and advocate for more “proportionate” penalties for protesters.
Voices of Concern from the Legal Experts
Katie de Kauwe, senior lawyer at Friends of the Earth, expressed outrage over the severity of the sentences, highlighting the impact of anti-protest laws on democracy. She questioned the fairness of longer jail terms for climate protesters compared to individuals involved in racially motivated violence. Greenpeace UK’s legal counsel, Jack Robirosa, criticized the government’s laws, warning of the consequences on civil rights and free speech if such sentences were allowed to become precedents.
The Verdict and Its Fallout
The protesters, dubbed the Whole Truth Five by Just Stop Oil, were convicted of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance, leading to significant economic costs and disruptions. The sentencing judge characterized the activists as crossing the line from campaigners to fanatics. The severity of their sentences drew condemnation from over 1,200 prominent figures, raising concerns about the implications for peaceful protests and civil liberties.
