Deanna ‘Violet’ Maree Coco, a 32-year-old climate protester who was jailed for 15 months in December 2022 for obstructing traffic on the Sydney Harbour Bridge during a protest, has had her sentence overturned by a judge.
The protest aimed to raise awareness about climate change, and her conviction came after the New South Wales government passed laws to punish disruptive climate protests earlier that year.
During her successful appeal, District Court Judge Mark Williams rejected the Crown’s argument that Ms. Coco was a ‘danger to the community’ due to her record of protest actions.
Judge’s verdict
Judge Williams placed Ms. Coco on a 12-month conditional release order while maintaining convictions for two of her charges.
The Crown had previously suggested fines of up to $22,000 and two years in prison for activists protesting against climate change. The judge’s ruling brings relief to activists who have been fighting against the new laws that criminalize climate protests.
Response to the ruling
Human Rights Watch researcher Sophie McNeill and former Bachelor host Osher Gunsberg have criticized the NSW government for its attempt to quell peaceful climate protests.
Ms. McNeill called the government’s comments on Ms. Coco’s sentence “unbelievable,” while Mr. Gunsberg warned the government that “protest is vital in a democracy,” and that the decision is “a slippery slope from here.”
The ruling is expected to embolden climate activists in Australia to continue their fight against climate change without fear of persecution or prosecution.
»Sydney climate change protester’s sentence overturned by judge«
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