26th April 2022, 12pm –
Three Insulate Britain supporters have disrupted a sitting courtroom at Stratford Magistrates’ Court as Insulate Britain’s campaign of nonviolent civil resistance continues. [1]
Ana Heyatawin, 59, from Wells, Dr Diana Warner, 63 a retired GP from Bristol and Liam Norton, 37, an electrician and spokesperson for the campaign disrupted a hearing, in which they were defendants, causing the sitting magistrates to leave and the session to stop.
The three supporters read a statement to the court whilst glueing their hands to court furniture, unfurling Insulate Britain banners and livestreaming from inside the courtroom. The statement they read aloud highlighted the complicity of the judiciary in the genocidal crimes that our government is committing against humanity. [2]
Speaking from court today Liam Norton said:
“We charge the Government with the murder of thousands and forcing millions into fuel poverty.
We charge the Government with the destruction of the conditions that make human life possible.
The social contract is broken and therefore it is our duty to be in resistance to protect life.
We are not criminals. We have not broken the law. We are upholding the right to life, of ourselves, of others and of future generations. We are upholding the law.
Furthermore, we charge the judiciary with complicity in the treason of the Government.
The law has been decoupled from the most basic morality and has instead been bent to the will of a tyrannical government intent on protecting the short term interests of a tiny elite, at the expense of the lives of all.
Under these circumstances it is not good enough for the judiciary to say “I am just doing my job”. It is incorrect to claim “I am upholding the law” perhaps you are “Just following orders”?
By rubber-stamping projects such as road building, new fossil fuel extraction, airport expansion which are inconsistent with a liveable future.
By issuing fines and imprisoning ordinary people fighting for a future for their communities and children, the legal system is making a mockery of the rule of law.”
20 Insulate Britain supporters were due in court today, but only 18 have appeared. They are facing various charges including public nuisance.
Today’s disruption at Stratford Magistrates’ Court follows an open letter sent by Insulate Britain last week to the UK judiciary which declared the courts are now a site of nonviolent civil resistance. [3]
As part of the Just Stop Oil Coalition, Insulate Britain supports the ordinary people risking prison for taking nonviolent direct action this morning at Kingsbury to demand that our government halts new oil and gas projects in the UK [4]
ENDS
Press contact: 07737 457105
Email: insulatebritainpress@protonmail.com
High quality photos and video footage available here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Kucq-NfhnZLGJWwLx1HX03cWR7M9Y2-m
Website: https://www.insulatebritain.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/insulatebritain
Twitter: https://twitter.com/insulatelove
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8N5mAeeCLbD-AFUqtPaF0g
Notes to Editors
Journalists are warmly invited to join us in court on the dates below. Please contact 07737 457105 in advance to arrange an interview.
Stratford Magistrates
9:30 & 14:00 on 29th April
Crawley Magistrates
10:00 & 14:00 on 28th April
14.00 29th on April
St Albans Magistrates
10:00 on 29th April 2022
Stratford Magistrates
9:30 on 3rd May
9:30 & 13:30 on 6th May
9:30 on 10th May
9:30 & 13:30 on 13th May
9:30 on 17th May
10:00 & 14:00 on 20th May
10:00 on 27th May
9:30 on 31st May
Chelmsford Magistrates
9:30 & 13:30 on 26th May
9:30 & 13.30 on 27th May
[1] So far 129 supporters of Insulate Britain have been charged with 510 offences relating to our campaign of roadblocks on the M25 last year. This includes; 268 charges of ‘Wilful Obstruction of a Highway’, 218 charges of ‘Caused a Public Nuisance; and 20 charges of ‘Criminal Damage’ under £5000.
[2] A recording of the livestream from court today will shortly be available to view on Insulate Britain’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/insulatebritain
[3] https://www.insulatebritain.com/open-letter-to-the-uk-judiciary
[4] https://juststopoil.org/press/
[5] About Insulate Britain
Insulate Britain is a campaign group that is calling on the UK government to put in place policy and funding for a national home insulation programme starting with all social housing.
We demand the Prime Minister and the government to #getonwiththejob, face up to their responsibility and lead our country through the cost of living crisis and the climate crisis.
We are ordinary people with simple and achievable demands to #INSULATEBRITAIN
The UK government must immediately promise to fully fund and take responsibility for the insulation and retrofit of all social housing in Britain.
We demand a national home insulation strategy that gives British people the justice they deserve: a future for our loved ones, lower energy bills and safer living conditions.
We are scared: our livelihoods are at risk and the futures of our children are uncertain
The Climate Crisis is a threat to all: we demand the government to act now.
Our Demands
1. That the UK government immediately promises to fully fund and take responsibility for the insulation of all social housing in Britain by 2025;
2. That the UK government immediately promises to produce within four months a legally binding national plan to fully fund and take responsibility for the full low-energy and low-carbon whole-house retrofit , with no externalised costs, of all homes in Britain by 2030 as part of a just transition to full decarbonisation of all parts of society and the economy.
Further information about Insulate Britain and our demands here: https://www.insulatebritain.com/
Technical Report on home energy efficiency here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jt5FI-kinEXoqZtPDrCvnAVQ2EFn8Aea/view
Insulate Britain ‘Blue Lights’ policy: our policy is, and has always been to move out of the way for emergency vehicles with ‘blue lights’ on.