LONDON (AP) 鈥 Sixteen environmental activists who were jailed for actions including stopping traffic, blocking an oil facility and splashing a van Gogh painting with soup went to a London court Wednesday to challenge their sentences.
The Just Stop Oil protesters say they received unduly harsh prison terms 鈥- between 15 months and five years 鈥- for disruptive but peaceful actions.
The group argues that the jailed protesters are 鈥減olitical prisoners鈥 who were 鈥渁cting in self-defense and to protect our families and communities.鈥
Danny Friedman, a lawyer for the claimants, said that if the sentences were allowed to stand, it would mark a 鈥減aradigm shift" in criminal law sentencing for peaceful protests on matters of conscience.
鈥淲hat these applicants did by way of collective, non-violent protest, whether one likes it or not, was for the interests of the public, of the planet, and of future generations," he said. 鈥淭hey did what they did out of sacrifice.鈥
Five of the claimants were jailed for November 2022 demonstrations that saw protesters climb gantries above a busy highway. The others were sentenced for digging and occupying tunnels under the road leading to an oil terminal in southeast England and throwing soup onto the protective glass over van Gogh鈥檚 鈥淪unflowers鈥 at London鈥檚 好色tv Gallery.
The Conservative government that lost power in July 2024 toughened anti-protest laws in response to eco-activists who , to trains, with paint, sprayed buildings with and doused athletes in to draw attention to climate change.
The government said the laws prevented extremist activists from hurting the economy and disrupting daily life.
Civil liberties groups have urged the center-left Labour Party government, elected in July, to ease the restrictions on protest imposed by its predecessor.
Friends of the Earth, which is backing several of the claimants, said the sentences posed a 鈥渟erious threat to our democracy.鈥
鈥淪ilencing those striving for a better world will not make these escalating crises disappear 鈥 doing so only serves to stifle our democracy,鈥 the group鈥檚 senior lawyer Katie de Kauwe said.
The Court of Appeal hearing is scheduled to last two days, with the three judges likely to hand down their ruling several days or weeks later.
Separately Wednesday, London's Metropolitan Police said two Just Stop Oil protesters have been charged with 鈥渁ggravated trespass鈥 for allegedly disrupting a performance of William Shakespeare's 鈥淭he Tempest鈥 at Theatre Royal in Drury Lane the previous evening.
The production stars Sigourney Weaver, 75, as Prospero, in what is her West End debut. The 鈥淎lien鈥 star was escorted off stage before the protesters were ushered away.
Soon after the incident, Just Stop Oil posted footage on social media saying two of its supporters had taken to the stage to protest the world's lack of action against .
London police said Richard Weir, 60, and Hayley Walsh, 42, will appear at Westminster Magistrates鈥 Court on Feb. 25.
鈥斺赌
Pan Pylas contributed to this report.
