From the US to Uganda, Climate Activism Faces Criminalization in 2024
Climate activists worldwide are increasingly facing legal repercussions for their protests in 2024
Climate Activism, New York, Uganda, Citibank, Human Rights, Protests
New York: Back in early August, two climate activists were arrested outside Citibank’s headquarters. They were part of a campaign called Summer of Heat, targeting major fossil fuel financiers.
John Mark Rozendaal, a former music teacher, and Alec Connon, who leads a climate nonprofit, were detained for a day. They faced serious charges for simply trying to protest peacefully. Rozendaal was playing Bach on his cello while Connon held an umbrella over him. The police claimed this violated a restraining order related to a dropped assault charge.
Mary Lawlor, a UN expert on human rights defenders, got involved. She and other UN officials expressed concern that the charges seemed baseless and were likely retaliation for their peaceful protests about climate change.
After the UN’s letter went public, Lawlor pointed out that authorities should be listening to activists, not criminalizing them. She emphasized that the climate crisis is also a human rights issue, but governments aren’t responding appropriately.
Rozendaal and Connon eventually pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct. They were among many activists who protested Citibank’s funding of fossil fuels. While many were arrested, most cases were dismissed, with only a few making it to court.
As fossil fuel projects continue to expand, activists are resorting to protests and civil disobedience to raise awareness and push for urgent climate action. Unfortunately, many are facing false charges, showing a troubling trend of collusion between corporations and state forces against peaceful protesters.
Lawlor’s team found that about a third of climate activists they assisted faced legal action for their work. This year, the trend has only worsened, with both democratic and autocratic governments using the justice system against environmental defenders.
In Uganda, 15 student activists were recently granted bail after a month in jail for trying to deliver a petition against a major oil pipeline. Meanwhile, in the UK, five activists received harsh sentences for causing traffic disruptions. The UK has the highest rate of arrests for environmental protests globally.
In the US, Energy Transfer Partners is suing Greenpeace for $300 million over protests against the Dakota Access pipeline. This case could set a dangerous precedent for environmental groups. In Atlanta, activists opposing a police training facility have been charged with racketeering, a serious crime typically reserved for organized crime.
With the new US president-elect, who has a cabinet filled with climate skeptics, promising to crack down on protests, the situation looks grim. The global crackdown on climate activists is a trend to watch closely in the coming year, as it seems to be part of a larger strategy by the fossil fuel industry to silence dissent.
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