GRETA THUNBERG and four other climate activists appeared in court today as protesters gathered outside in solidarity with the defendants facing charges under the Public Order Act.
The protesters from Fossil Free London (FFL) and Greenpeace attempted to disrupt a meeting by oil executives at the Energy Intelligence Forum at the InterContinental Hotel in Mayfair on October 17.
They all pledged not guilty to breaching Section 14 of the Act, an amendment introduced by former home secretary Suella Braverman and which will face judicial review later this month in a court case by human rights group Liberty.
Ms Thunberg, a 21-year-old activist from Sweden, and the others were given a “final warning” by police to move to a designated protest area during the demonstration in central London before they were arrested for staying put, the Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard.
The court heard that protesters started to gather near the hotel at around 7.30am and police engaged with them about improving access for members of the public, which had been made “impossible.”
Prosecutor Luke Staton said a couple of protesters gained access to the roof just before 10.30am and “were slowly abseiling down the side of the building.”
The Section 14 condition was imposed at around 12.30pm, which dictated that the protest could continue but on the pavement to the south of the hotel, the court heard.
It was said police found the move “necessary” to prevent disruption, as the “majority” of people inside the hotel could not leave and people could not get inside.
From 1pm, the court heard individual officers engaged with individual protesters and informed them of the Section 14 condition.
Mr Staton told the court that the defendants were warned by officers that their failure to comply would result in their arrest.
Ahead of the trial, FFL organiser Joanna Warrington said: “Super-rich oil bosses are corrupting our politics.
“They spend millions lobbying our politicians to double down on unaffordable and dirty fuels, locking us into a future of struggle.
“The UK criminalises peaceful climate activists like Greta while rolling out the red carpet for climate criminals in Mayfair hotels.
“Fossil fuel corporations are most responsible for the climate crisis, and we will continue to hold them to account no matter what the state throws at us.”
The trial, expected to last two days, continues.
