HUNDREDS of people rallied near the Gandhi statue in Parliament Square on Saturday in solidarity with 21 activists now imprisoned for demanding action on climate change.

Activists from Just Stop Oil, Extinction Rebellion, Defend our Juries and Fossil Free London were among those who joined the demonstration.

Speaking at the rally, Raj Chada, a lawyer who has represented many of the political prisoners said: “I have been doing this job now for 20 years and until three years ago, I hadn’t had one client imprisoned. 

“Something has changed in the Establishment. In the shadow of this [Gandhi] statue, it shows the importance of non-violent action and what it can achieve and why it should be so important.”

Attendees held signs reading “You can’t lock up the truth” and “No justice when juries are denied the truth,” highlighting how several judges have barred activists from talking about climate change when giving evidence in court.

In one such case last month, campaigners received the longest ever sentences for non-violent protest. Five activists received four and five-year sentences after being convicted of conspiracy to cause public nuisance by organising November 2022 actions halting the M25 London orbital motorway via Zoom calls.

A Just Stop Oil spokesperson said: “The state will always find space to imprison those who threaten the interests of fossil capital while releasing violent offenders to make room. This demonstrates where their priorities lie. 

“However, in doing so, those who are incarcerating the people raising the alarm about the catastrophic threats humanity faces are demonstrating their ignorance of the mechanics of social change.” 

After the rally in Westminster, many of the activists joined a Palestine solidarity march protesting against Israel’s genocidal attacks in Gaza.