Environmental activists imprisoned for protesting M25 shutdown
After the sentencing of JSO and Extinction Rebellion co-founder Roger Hallam to five years in prison for conspiracy to block the motorway in November 2022, five JSO protesters have also been jailed for their involvement in protests on the M25.
During the protests on Nov. 9, 2022, activists climbed the gantries of the motorway, causing significant delays for drivers. The protests were aimed at creating mass disruption to gain media attention, according to Judge Shane Collery.
Collery sentenced five of the defendants to prison terms between one year and eight months and two years, stating that their actions were disproportionate to their aims. He noted that the defendants, despite not being organizers, were willing volunteers.
The protests involved activists climbing the gantries supporting overhead motorway signs on the third consecutive day of JSO protests. One officer was injured during the protests.
George Simonson, Theresa Higginson, Paul Bell, Gaie Delap, and Paul Sousek were among those sentenced to prison terms ranging from one year and eight months to two years. Daniel Johnson was given a suspended sentence, with requirements to pay fines and complete unpaid work.
All six defendants had pleaded guilty to causing a public nuisance. These sentences come shortly after the incarceration of five JSO protesters, including Roger Hallam.
In a separate incident, two JSO activists face jail for throwing soup over Vincent Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers,” causing damage to the painting’s frame. The activists, Holland and Plummer, were released on bail pending sentencing.
Overall, these incidents highlight the consequences faced by activists involved in disruptive protests and the subsequent legal actions taken against them.
