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Campaigners stage overnight walk and vigil to support 16 jailed climate protesters

  • Melanie Nazareth

Source: Christian Climate Action

A group of Christians of different denominations walked more than 20 miles through the night on Tuesday, from Bronzefield Prison in Kent to the Royal Courts of Justice, to protest at the disproportionately long prison sentences meted out to 16 climate campaigners.

MP Carla Denya and Baroness Jenny Jones addressed the walkers when they paused in Parliament Square, before their final two miles. Together with more supporters, they are now holding a silent vigil outside the Royal Courts of Justice where a two-day appeal hearing has begun.

The appeal, arising from four separate cases, is against the combined prison sentences of more than 41 years for nonviolent protest. Those taking part are echoing the call of the many UK and global organisations and commentators who have criticised the repressive use of anti-protest legislation including Michel Forst, the former UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, who has stated the sentence handed down to one of the defendants "should shock the conscience of any member of the public"

In advance of the walk many people across the country have showed their support for the 16 prisoners by carrying out something 16 times, and sharing this on social media, coined '16 for 16'. A 16 minute period of silent prayer was held by members of Christian Climate Action. Other Christians who took part in the initiative include a London poet who wrote and read 16 poems during a poetry walk, a retired social worker from Shropshire who walked 16 laps of her local river meadow, a Kent piano teacher who emailed her MP with 16 reasons to support climate and nature legislation, and a grandmother from Newcastle who planted 16 sunflower seeds.

CoE Vicar Rev Helen Burnett, who led a period of reflection outside HMP Bronzefield before the overnight walk said: "Incarcerating the people who refuse to accept the apathy of the governments and the corporations, who callously continue business as usual in a climate emergency when they are the ones with the power to bring about change, is for me morally insupportable."

She said: I shall be hoping and praying for fundamental change in the hearts of those who currently use our prison system to silence truth tellers."

Another walker, Ruth Jarman, 61, Church of England, a charity worker from Hampshire, said: "The world is careering towards climate breakdown and unimaginable suffering. A few people have willingly sacrificed their liberty to peacefully raise the alarm for the benefit of all of us. The least I can do is to walk a few miles in solidarity with them, to say thank you for their courage and to call for their release.

"Those responsible for continuing the burning of fossil fuels should be the ones behind bars. Whatever happens with the appeal, God and history will be the final arbiter and those defending God's creation will be found innocent."

Cathy Chapman, a Masters student from Manchester, who is Methodist/URC, said: "We desperately need to protect the earth's beautiful biodiversity and all its people. I believe this is our calling for the times we are living through. Some people have been handed longer prison sentences for protest than serious offenders. We are walking for justice for the 16 in their appeal, for our needs and our rights to speak the truth of what is happening to our earth, and why; for the rights of juries to hear the reasons for climate protest and make decisions according to their own conscience."

Gill Slater, 57, a Catholic town planner from London, said: "I am walking for 16 caring, truth tellers and will be keeping them in my prayers. The science is undeniable, as is the reality of what the climate and nature emergency means, not only for the future but also for our global family now, and particularly the most vulnerable. The 16 prisoners understand the science with their heads and their hearts and have responded with both. We will all need to account for what we did or didn't do at this time, to our children, grandchildren, future generations and to our God.

The Court Appeal is scheduled to end on Thursday, 30 January.

LINK

Christian Climate Action: https://christianclimateaction.org/

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