Suffragette Heir Helen Pankhurst Slams “Heavy-Handed” Sentences for Climate Protesters Ahead of Appeal
Helen Pankhurst, the great-granddaughter of suffragette leader Emmeline Pankhurst, has criticized the prison sentences given to several climate activists as “heavy-handed and disproportionate.” Her comments come as 16 protesters prepare to challenge their jail terms at the Court of Appeal in London.
The activists, who were sentenced to up to five years in prison, participated in high-profile protests, including blocking the M25 motorway, throwing soup at Vincent van Gogh’s Sunflowers painting, and occupying tunnels near the Navigator Oil Terminal in Thurrock, Essex.
Pankhurst Draws Parallels to Suffragette Movement
Speaking in support of the protesters, Pankhurst compared their campaigns to those of the suffragettes, who fought for women’s voting rights in the early 20th century. “Environmental activists today stand in the same tradition,” she said. “I have no doubt future generations around the world will thank them for their campaigns.”
Pankhurst’s great-grandmother, Emmeline Pankhurst, founded the British suffragette movement in 1903, which played a pivotal role in securing women’s right to vote. Helen Pankhurst, a prominent campaigner for gender equality, has continued her family’s legacy of activism.
The Case of the “Whole Truth Five”
Among those appealing their sentences are five activists referred to by Friends of the Earth (FoE) as the “Whole Truth Five.” They were jailed in July 2023 for disrupting traffic on the M25 by climbing onto gantries over the motorway for four consecutive days in November 2022.
Roger Hallam, co-founder of Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion, received a five-year sentence, while Daniel Shaw, Louise Lancaster, Lucia Whittaker De Abreu, and Cressida Gethin were each sentenced to four years. All five were convicted under a 2022 law that criminalizes actions causing “serious harm” to the public, including property damage, injury, or significant inconvenience.
During their trial, prosecutors highlighted the economic impact of the protests, including 50,000 hours of vehicle delays, an estimated £765,000 in economic losses, and over £1.1 million in policing costs. Judge Christopher Hehir described the protesters as having “crossed the line from concerned campaigner to fanatic” and emphasized that Parliament had authorized harsh sentences for such actions, including up to 10 years in prison.
Human Rights Concerns and Calls for Justice
FoE and Greenpeace UK have been granted permission to intervene in the case, arguing that the sentences are excessive and violate human rights legislation. They warn that such punitive measures pose a “serious threat to our democracy.”
Katie de Kauwe, a senior lawyer at FoE, said, “Instead of further burdening our overcrowded prison system by criminalising those trying to push the climate and nature emergencies up the political agenda out of sheer desperation, the government should be accelerating efforts to deliver fair and meaningful action on the environment.”
Other High-Profile Appeals
Also appealing their sentences are Phoebe Plummer and Anna Holland, who were jailed for two years and 20 months, respectively, after throwing soup at the protective glass covering van Gogh’s Sunflowers at London’s National Gallery.
A Broader Debate on Protest and Punishment
The case has sparked a wider debate about the balance between the right to protest and the need to maintain public order. Pankhurst and environmental groups argue that the harsh sentences are an overreach, stifling legitimate activism and discouraging public engagement on critical issues like climate change.
As the Court of Appeal prepares to hear the cases, the outcome could set a significant precedent for how the UK legal system handles environmental protests in the future.