An earlier trial of the same charge was abandoned in July [1B]. The trial comes amid mounting concerns that, following intense lobbying on behalf of the fossil fuel industry [1], the right to trial by jury is under threat for those taking direct action to expose Government lies and corporate greed. Contradicting the media narrative that the public rejects the tactics of Extinction Rebellion and other such groups, out of 38 members of the movement to face jury trial to date, the majority, 20, have been acquitted. Once normalised in the context of the trials of political activists, such measures may be extended to undermine the right to trial by jury more generally. If urgent and radical action isn’t taken, we’re heading towards 4˚C warming, leading to societal collapse and mass loss of life.

Source: The Guardian October 29, 2023 11:06 UTC