Media release – Extinction Rebellion Tasmania, 18 June 2021
XRTAS ACTIVISTS FINED $60 NO CONVICTION
On the 18th of June 2021, 15 conscientious earth protectors faced the Magistrates Court in Hobart and pleaded guilty to two charges of obstructing traffic and failing to comply with a police direction. Rebels were sentenced with a fine of $68 for each charge, with no convictions recorded.
The Magistrate considered common law precedents in his decision by referring to the important role of civil disobedience in bringing about social change. He stated that he was required to sentence in a way that was proportionate to the minimal harm caused by the protesting in the community in addition to acknowledging the integrity of this method of political civic engagement. He also referred to the significant role of nonviolent direct action in building the Tasmania that we enjoy today.
Extinction Rebellion Tasmania respects the Magistrates decision and applauds his references to the important role of civil disobedience in creating a better world.
The Extinction Rebellion activists had put their bodies on the line to demand that governments listen to the science regarding ecological and climate breakdown. The citizens’ ages range from 8 – 81, and sought to be recognised in their sentencing for the community work that they do.
“I am an 81 year old grandmother. For many years I had my own 2nd hand and antiquarian bookshop near Sydney. Now retired.
I follow the science of the climate crisis and it terrifies me. Our governments are not acting on the scientific evidence, and they are not listening to us. I have marched in the streets. I have rung politicians, written letters to the media and to politicians. I now feel all I have left to try and make my voice heard is non-violent civil disobedience.
I am guilty of deliberately and knowingly getting myself arrested in the hope I will be heard.” – Elizabeth Perey, Retired Grandmother.
“My acute discomfort caused by participation in a public protest is outweighed by the guilt I feel for not doing enough toward preventing a climate and ecological collapse, with its catastrophic consequences” – Robert Cooper.
Extinction Rebellion is a global and politically non-partisan movement where we use civil disobedience and nonviolent direct action to persuade governments to act justly on the climate and ecological crisis.
