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The trial of three Extinction Rebellion protesters who disrupted the Docklands Light Railway during the April Rebellion begins on Monday (16th December) at Inner London Crown Court.

Cathy Eastburn, Mark Ovland and Luke Watson are the first members of Extinction Rebellion to have their cases heard before a jury of fellow citizens, rather than in a Magistrate’s court where judges sit alone. 

During the action at Canary Wharf station on April 17th , Cathy and Luke climbed on top of the train and held a banner that read ‘Climate Emergency’, while Mark glued himself to the outside. All three are charged with obstructing an engine or carriage by an unlawful act, contrary to Section 36 of the Malicious Damage Act 1861.

The trial is scheduled to last a week with the verdict expected on Friday. 

Cathy Eastburn, 52, a musician and mother from London said: “As things stand, my children face an unimaginably bleak future, and that goes for all children alive today. I acted out of terror, desperation, and fierce love for my children and for all children – to sound a powerful alarm, to draw attention to the climate emergency and to try and inspire action from our government. 

“While I’m very nervous about being in the Crown Court, I welcome the opportunity to be tried by my fellow citizens and hope they will understand why I needed to act as I did.”

The other two defendants are Mark Ovland, 36, a full time activist from Somerset and Luke Watson, 29, a philosophy student from Essex.

For further information and to arrange interviews contact Zoe on 07918 165 046.

Inner London Crown Court, Sessions House, Newington Causeway, London, SE1 6AZ, Monday 16th December, 9.30 for 10am.

About Extinction Rebellion

Time has almost entirely run out to address the ecological crisis which is upon us, including the 6th mass species extinction, global pollution, and abrupt, runaway climate change. Societal collapse and mass death are seen as inevitable by scientists and other credible voices, with human extinction also a possibility, if rapid action is not taken.

Extinction Rebellion believes it is a citizen’s duty to rebel, using peaceful civil disobedience, when faced with criminal inactivity by their Government.

Extinction Rebellion’s key demands are:

1. Government must tell the truth by declaring a climate and ecological emergency, working with other institutions to communicate the urgency for change.
2. Government must act now to halt biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025.
3. Government must create and be led by the decisions of a Citizens’ Assembly on climate and ecological justice.

What Emergency? | Extinction Rebellion in Numbers |This Is Not A Drill: An Extinction Rebellion Handbook 

Get involved

• In the UK, come to one of our events, join the Rebellion Network and let us know how you can help out.
• Start a group where you are: in the UK or around the world.
• Find your local group.
• Check out the International XR website, with links to the French, German, Italian and UK websites.
• And while your time and energy are of most importance, if you are financially able to donate money, see our crowdfunder.

About Rising Up!

Extinction Rebellion emerged from the Rising Up! network, which promotes a fundamental change of our political and economic system to one which maximises well-being and minimises harm. Change needs to be nurtured in a culture of reverence, gratitude and inclusion while the tools of civil disobedience and direct action are used to express our collective power.