On Wednesday 17th November nine ordinary people were sentenced to prison for demanding that the government fulfil its election pledges by insulating Britain’s homes. [1]
The nine, including Emma Smart 44, a scientist and Louis McKechnie 21 both from Weymouth, were convicted of contempt of court for breaking the National Highways’ M25 injunction and were sentenced to between three and six months in prison. After the sentencing, Emma Smart, 44, announced her intention to go on hunger strike.
Over the last three months, 174 ordinary people, including many more from Dorset, have held the government to account, asking that they deliver on their most basic of duties, to protect the British people, the economy and all we hold dear in our society.
On the 14th December another 9 will be sentenced.
The Police and Government chose not to detain the protesters ahead of COP26 using their existing powers, despite declaring they would commit the crime again and again, the police chose to release them to continue disrupting the public. Instead an over-reaching High Court injunction was placed on nearly all roads completely outlawing protest so that the protesters could be imprisoned after COP with the maximum sentence.
“COP26 was widely recognised as a failure. It’s apparent that the government is failing to act, it has played its hand and in doing so shown its cowardice. They would rather lock up scientists than take practical steps to reduce emissions. They would rather push new laws to imprison anyone calling out their failings than introduce new laws and policy to reduce Co2.”
Andy Smith, 45, Emma Smart’s Husband
In the past, when governments have failed to protect their people the right thing to do is to highlight this injustice, breaking the law if needed, this is what the suffragettes did and this is what the Tolpuddle Martyrs did.
Almost 200 years ago, The Tolpuddle Martyrs, six agricultural labourers from the village of Tolpuddle in Dorset, were convicted at Dorchester Crown Court for forming a trade union. They were arrested on charges under an obscure act during a labour dispute before being convicted and sentenced to penal transportation to Australia. They were pardoned and returned to England several years later after mass public protests.
On Monday Dec 13th we meet in the same Dorchester courtroom to support the Highway 9 prisoners, jailed for highlighting the truth about the climate crisis that threatens us all: we meet in solidarity and to defend the right to protest, under threat more than ever from the government’s repressive Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.
The event will be live streamed globally. Speakers will include Claire Farrell, one of the founders of Extinction Rebellion, Tony Stauton from Plymouth Trades Council, Rev Jonathan Herbert from Churches Network for Gypsies, Travellers and Roma and Tracey Mallaghan from Insulate Britain who notoriously clashed with Richard Madeley on Good Morning Britain recently. Other speakers include family members of those imprisoned as well as Emma De-Saram a youth activist and Paul Stephens, an ex-MET police detective who now works with Extinction Rebellion who will talk about the impacts of the draconian Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.
“We knew Louis would potentially face prison when he took this action, but he said he could not stand by while the government fails the general public and destroys the future of our planet. He was not expecting the state to manipulate the law in such a way that he’d be sent to prison on his 21st birthday for sitting in a road for 12 minutes. The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill that is currently being pushed through extends this attack on democracy further and basically outlaws ALL protest.”
Claire Sutton, Louis McKechnie’s Mother
Upcoming event details:-
Monday 13th December, 7:30pm – 10:00pm
The Historic Courtroom, Shire Hall, Dorchester
Search “Jailed For Telling The Truth” on Facebook to watch online
The event will be livestreamed on the following pages…
https://www.facebook.com/XRSWB
https://www.facebook.com/cop26dorsethub
More info:
[1] The nine are Dr Ben Buse 36, Ana Heyatawin 58, Louis McKechnie 20, Roman Paluch 28, Oliver Roc 41, Emma Smart 44, Tim Speers 36, James Thomas 47, Ben Taylor 27.
https://www.facebook.com/xrdorchesterweymouthportland
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