GREENPEACE Activists CLEARED: Judge Slams Charges in Sunak Protest
— Four Greenpeace activists were arrested for scaling former U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s estate and draping it in black fabric. They protested his plan to expand oil and gas drilling in the North Sea. Judge Adrian Lower dismissed the charges, citing insufficient evidence of criminal damage to Sunak’s slate roof.
One defendant, Michael Grant, praised the court’s decision but criticized the broader trend of jailing peaceful protesters. He stated, “We have become a country that regularly sends peaceful protesters to jail.” This sentiment echoes concerns about harsh penalties faced by other environmental activists in the U.K.
In contrast, five activists who blocked traffic on a major London highway received sentences of up to five years in prison for their actions last November. The disparity highlights ongoing debates over how to handle environmental protests legally and ethically.
