Climate Activists Jailed for Historic Non-Violent Protest

Five climate activists from Just Stop Oil were sentenced to at least four years in prison for conspiring to block London's M25 motorway. The sentences are the longest ever for a non-violent protest in Britain. They were convicted of causing public nuisance despite pleading not guilty.

In a landmark ruling, five climate activists from the Just Stop Oil protest group received sentences of at least four years each for conspiring to block London's M25 motorway. This marks the longest sentences ever imposed for a non-violent protest in Britain.

The activists, including Just Stop Oil co-founder Roger Hallam, were charged with conspiracy to cause a public nuisance after disrupting traffic by climbing gantries above the motorway in November 2022. The ruling comes amid a broader crackdown on protest movements across Britain and Europe.

Despite pleading not guilty, the defendants were convicted last week following a chaotic trial marked by courtroom defiance. Judge Christopher Hehir described the protest as involving "an unprecedented level of deliberate disruption," and criticized Hallam for attempting to turn the trial into a platform for activism.

Outside the court, additional demonstrators were arrested for contempt, although charges were later dropped. The economic impact of the protests was estimated at 770,000 pounds ($1 million), causing significant delays for thousands of commuters.

Judge Hehir rebuked the activists, stating they had crossed the line from concerned campaigners to fanatics, and sentenced Hallam to five years in prison, with the other four activists receiving four-year sentences each.

(With inputs from agencies.)