LONDON (AFP) – Climate protesters sang songs and held up banners yesterday as Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg arrived at a London court after being arrested during a demonstration against the energy industry.
The 20-year-old activist – a key face of the movement to fight climate change – was among 26 people charged with a public order offence at the October 17 demonstration in London.
She was released on bail and ordered to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in central London.
Thunberg was mobbed by photographers and film crews as she arrived, with Greenpeace and Fossil Free London campaigners holding banners proclaiming “Oily money out” and “Make polluters pay”.
A 28-year-old charity worker from Fossil Free London who gave her name only as Josie told AFP she was there to show solidarity with those arrested.
Last month’s meeting involved oil executives and others for discussions about making “lots of money out of destroying our future”, she added.
The demonstration saw several hundred rally outside a major London hotel, blocking all entrances to the venue. A campaigner at Greenpeace United Kingdom Maja Darlington said the group’s activists joined the demonstration to send “a clear and peaceful message” to the oil bosses.
Before her arrest, Thunberg had criticised “closed door” agreements struck between politicians and representatives of the oil and gas industry.
