NEWS AND COMMENT: Greta Thunberg was arrested at a climate change protest near the Intercontinental Hotel in Mayfair on 17th October, as were other protesters. She’s brave like that.
Today she attended the Westminster Magistrates’ Court where she pleaded not guilty to breaching section 14 of the Public Order Act 1986 which in this instance was failing to leave the highway and continue the protest on the pavement where she was ordered to go by the police.
Comment: She clearly believes that she is not guilty because I don’t think she is pleading not guilty to simply have a trial to seek more publicity. Sometimes that happens but I don’t think so in this case.
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There might be some facts about the protest which we are unaware.
If she is found guilty, however, she could face a fine of up to £2500.
She appeared in court alongside 4 other activists, some of which were from Greenpeace who were all charged with the same offence. They also pleaded not guilty, which indicates that there may be a group policy here.
They were granted unconditional bail before a trial at the City of London Magistrates’ Court in February next year. This means that she is able to live a normal life until she has to attend the court for trial.
Thunberg sat on the floor outside the court with supporters before the hearing. She was mobbed by photographers as she entered the court building and she spent 20 minutes getting through security. She laughed a lot with other activists while they waited for the judge to arrive. She was clearly relaxed. As she left the building she was surrounded by a mob of photographers and video journalists.
She walked along the pavement leaving the courthouse and failed to break free from the mob but then suddenly and sharply changed direction and sprinted away down Marylebone Road.
