proceedings against environmental activist for disturbing public order in London dropped

The figure in the fight against global warming Greta Thunberg won her trial in London on Friday February 2, where she was on trial for disturbing public order during a demonstration against the hydrocarbon industry in October. The judge at Westminster Magistrates Court decided to drop the charges against the 21-year-old Swedish activist, criticizing the police for excessive repression.

In total, 26 activists were arrested on October 17 for disrupting access to the Energy Intelligence Forum, a conference which brought together the main oil and gas companies in a luxury hotel in London. Greta Thunberg was prosecuted for not having complied with the London police’s injunction not to block access to the hotel. Like four other activists who appeared with her, she risked a maximum fine of 2,500 pounds (nearly 3,000 euros).

The conditions imposed were “unreasonable”

The judge considered that the conditions for carrying out the demonstration had been “imposed unreasonably” by the police to the activists present at the scene, and that other measures “were available and could have been implemented”. Therefore, “anyone who has not respected these rules has not committed an offense”he added

The dropping of the charges was welcomed by around ten activists gathered in front of the court. He held up signs reading: “Protesting for the climate is not a crime”.