Judge acquits Greta Thunberg of public order offense during London protest

Activist Greta Thunberg was acquitted Friday of violating a public order issued by London police during a protest last year.

Judge John Law of the Westminster Magistrates’ Court cleared Thunberg, 21, along with four others, of violating a public order during the Oily Money Out protest outside the InterContinental Hotel last October. Police at the scene notified the group that the demonstration was outside of the designated area and subsequently arrested the protesters.

Environmental activist Greta Thunberg is taken away by police officers during the Oily Money Out protest outside the Intercontinental Hostel in London on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023.

However, Law said in his ruling that the protesters were not “given anything like a reasonable time to comply” with the public order, so police were unlawfully restricting conditions more than what Law deemed reasonable.

“The government should stop prosecuting peaceful protesters and instead find ways to tackle the climate crisis,” the protesters’ lawyer Raj Chada told Reuters outside of court.

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Thunberg and others were protesting a meeting of oil CEOs at the hotel. In the days following, Thunberg shifted focus to the war between Israel and Hamas, advocating Palestinians in an Instagram post.

This was one of several times police have arrested Thunberg during a variety of protests she has participated in. Thunberg has traveled across Europe to advocate the environment.