A group of climate change activists have been found guilty of smashing the glass doors of JP Morgan’s European headquarters.
Five Extinction Rebellion activists used weapons including hammers and chisels to cause damage worth £350,000.
The judges were Amy Pritchard (38 years old), Stephanie Ilett (29 years old), Adelheid Russenberger (32 years old), Rosemary Webster (66 years old), and Pamela Bellinger. (66) said their beliefs were “indefensible.”
Custom-built revolving doors and large panels were vandalized during a protest at a branch of US bank Victoria Embankment in London.
Climate activist group convicted of smashing glass door at JPMorgan European headquarters
Reuters
Pritchard told the court that JPMorgan’s policies had led to the deaths of “hundreds of thousands of children.”
But Judge Silas Reid urged jurors to “put aside their sympathies and prejudices” as the trial began.
“You may have an opinion about those actions and organizations, and you may have an opinion about climate change,” he said.
“This is not a climate change trial. This is a criminal damage trial.
Nothing more, nothing less.
Latest developments:
The five protesters were found guilty of causing criminal damage after a two-week trial. They are scheduled to be sentenced on June 7th.
Judge Reid told the jury: “Thank you for your patience in this case. Because of the reasons behind their protest, there is no defense in this case.”
“None of these defendants did this for fun or because they were criminals.
“They did it because they truly believed it was what they needed. Well, that’s not allowed. It’s a crime.”
Prosecutor Brett Weaver previously said the activists headed to JPMorgan in the early morning hours of September 1, 2021.
One protester told the court that JPMorgan’s policies had led to the deaths of “hundreds of thousands of children.”
getty
The court heard: “Security officers tried to force them out, but after the glass was broken, the defendant and his companions climbed over the temporary railing and returned to the street.”
Police responded to the scene and found a group of protesters lying on the ground in a circle in front of the building.
Weaver said protesters left “damage to the revolving door, one of the swinging doors, and the large glass panel surrounding the swinging door.”
“Protests and direct action can and do lead to change,” Rassenberger told jurors. “Even if we don’t own property, through protest and direct action we can will have the right to vote.”
“Women’s right to vote led to civil rights in the UK, contributed to anti-apartheid South Africa and gave us LGBT rights and disability rights.
“So breaking windows as part of civil disobedience and direct action can bring about the change we need.”