Jailed for Telling The Truth
Roger was imprisoned this week for telling the truth in a British court. He refused to leave the witness box after the judge ordered him to stop giving evidence of climate breakdown. The following is his statement.
I have been imprisoned, along with three of my co-defendants, by Judge Christopher Hehir.
As you may know, I have been in court charged with ‘conspiring to cause a public nuisance’ for making a speech on civil disobedience before Just Stop Oil blocked the M25. During the trial, I stuck to my oath to tell the jury “the whole truth”. It is their fundamental right to hear all the evidence.
In response, the judge stated that “whether or not we are facing the end of the world is neither here nor there" and that humanity “coming to a fiery end” was irrelevant. He then ordered me to be forcibly dragged out of the court by the police and remanded to prison. This is the indignity of a British courtroom.
The corruption of our judges by the carbon state has crossed a line in the sand. This is an opportunity, and an obligation, to act. We only have a limited amount of time to halt the unimaginable horrors of climate and social collapse - and to save our democracy.
I call on people - you reading this - to come to the court with placards to make clear the jury has a right to the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Come to Southwark Crown Court, London at 4.00pm, Thursday 18th for the sentencing with your sign that says “Juries have a right to hear the whole truth” and “Stop Jailing Truth Tellers”. My friend Robin has made a Telegram/Whatsapp channel for me, which you can join for updates.
If you can’t make it, please donate towards the substantial court costs and share this message to promote truth tellers everywhere.
Act in solidarity not just with us, but with the billions of people whose lives and livelihoods will be destroyed unless we stop this greatest of all crimes.
In truth, there is simply nothing more important than to stop this. Is there?
Thanks,
Roger
Roger and his co-defendants were arrested 9 times and remanded to prison 7 times during the hearing for defying the judge. After this ordeal, the five were found guilty by the jury and the judge has promised they will be in a prison "for a long, long time". Read Damien Gayle's excellent article in the Guardian for a blow by blow account of the sham trial.
Damien Gayle
Listen to co-defendant Lou break down the case in a minute.
This a distressing and heartwrenching time for all of us who support and work with Roger. Whilst we must honour those feelings, he would want us to press forth, to act and organise. This is our duty to our friend. Thank you for reading. - Robin
If you'd like to send Roger a message of support, you can email a note through to him in prison by sending it to rogerremanded@gmail.com.
As always, you can sign up for nonviolent civil resistance with Just Stop Oil in the UK or via the A22 Network internationally.
