A MEMBER of Christian Climate Action, Ruth Jarman, arrested during the climate strike in April, has been found guilty of public order offences.

Ms Jarman was arrested for refusing to move from Oxford Circus on 18 April, during the Extinction Rebellion protests. On Monday, in Hendon Magistrates’ Court, north London, she was found guilty of knowingly failing to comply with Section 14 of the Public Order Act 1986. She was given a conditional discharge, but ordered to pay £640 costs.

She had argued that she was a “conscientious protector” trying to prevent a crime against humanity and creation by drawing attention to the climate emergency. She was one of more than 1100 people arrested during the Extinction Rebellion protests.

After the trial, Ms Jarman said: “For two decades, my campaigning on climate has been ignored. Two weeks on the streets of London in April could not be ignored.

“The leniency of my sentence shows the level of sympathy for our cause. The Rebellion is working.”

Christian Climate Action, besides encouraging people to take part in today's demonstrations, is planning another bridge occupation in central London during the second Extinction Rebellion protest next month. Together with other religious organisations, it intends to create a “Bridge of Faith”, where prayer for the planet’s future will be offered round the clock. People of all faiths and none are invited to take part. Interested parties have been offered training in non-violent resistance.

christianclimateaction.org/join-us-on-the-faith-bridge-this-October.