Greta Thunberg was arrested during a London protest on October 17
Activist Greta Thunberg ignored police orders to move during a climate demonstration, prosecutors told a London court on Thursday on the first day of a two-day public order offenses trial.
Westminster Magistrates’ Court in central London heard that police gave the 21-year-old Swedish activist a “final warning” to leave the door of a London hotel hosting an Energy Intelligence Forum in October.
Prosecutor Luke Staton told the court: “She said she stayed where she was and that’s why she was arrested.”
Greta Thunberg, who faces a fine of up to 2,500 pounds ($3,177), was taken away by two police officers and stuffed into the back of a van outside after taking part in a mass protest.
She was one of dozens of climate activists arrested for disrupting access to the conference, which was held at a luxury hotel in the British capital on October 17 and brought together major oil and gas companies.
Demonstrators chanted “Shame on you” as they greeted forum participants. while holding a placard reading “Stop Rosebank”, referring to a controversial new North Sea oil field approved by the government in September.
Police arrested Greta Thunberg after she failed to comply with an order not to block the street where the rally was taking place, and Staton told the court that people were unable to enter the hotel.
She was released on bail but joined hundreds of others at another demonstration in front of a five-star hotel the next day.
Greta Thunberg, a global figure in the fight against climate change, pleaded not guilty to the charges at her first hearing in November, as did four other co-accused activists.
They were among dozens of activists arrested for disrupting access to the meeting.
“Mixed message”
Supporters had gathered outside the court on Thursday when Greta Thunberg arrived about an hour before her 10:00 am (1000 GMT) trial.
Holding huge yellow signs that read “Fossil-free London” and “Climate protest is not a crime”, Greta Thunberg, wearing a gray coat, and her fellow defendants made their way through the crowd.
Maya Darlington, a campaigner with Greenpeace UK, said activists were being tried for “peaceful protest” while oil executives “celebrated making billions selling climate-destroying fossil fuels”.
She added: “The prosecution of Greta and other peaceful protesters reflects a government more concerned with increasing the profits of oil bosses than securing a liveable future for us all.”
The Conservative government’s reversal of pledges to tackle climate change has angered campaigners.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak delayed a ban on petrol and diesel car sales and announced plans to issue new North Sea oil and gas drilling licenses.
British voters voting in this year’s general election are facing a cost-of-living crisis fueled by inflation.
Britain’s independent advisory body on climate strategy expressed concern on Monday about “mixed messages” from the government that were damaging its international influence on the issue.
Greta Thunberg came to worldwide attention at the age of 15 when she staged school strikes in her native Sweden, a demonstration she often took part in.
In October, she was fined for blocking the Swedish port of Malmö, months after she was forcibly ejected by police during demonstrations against the use of coal in Germany.
She also took part in marches in southern England last weekend to protest against the expansion of Farnborough Airport, which is mainly used by private jets.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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