Just Stop Oil group walk free: Oxford Uni worker among defendants

Charged alongside five other supporters, Donna Bennett who lives in Oxford, was among the 65 individuals arrested on October 30, 2023, during a demonstration in Parliament Square.

Westminster Magistrates Court held the trial on Friday, March 1.

Bennett, employed full-time at Oxford University, had her case dismissed mid-trial.

Bennett said: "Earlier in the week, four other Just Stop Oil supporters on the same march as us had already been found not guilty.  

"The Judge criticised the Prosecution, and seemed to be annoyed that more people from the same march were going through the courts.

"The Judge said that our actions were proportionate.  

"This gives me hope that the Judge can see how ridiculous it is to arrest peaceful Just Stop Oil supporters.  

"I am hoping that the real climate criminals in the oil industry will be investigated.

"In 2023, I decided that I wanted to get seriously involved in climate action.  

"I joined Just Stop Oil because I wanted to find out how I could make a difference."

Just Stop Oil supporters marching on October 30, 2023 in Parliament Square (Image: Just Stop Oil)

The other five on trial were also found not guilty that day, paralleling a separate trial's verdict involving four supporters on February 26.

Another activist acquitted was Victoria Lindsell, 68, a teacher from Leamington Spa.

Lindsell’s prior arrest in April 2023 involved a protest at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum in Coventry.

Lindsell said: "None of us want to cause ordinary people disruption, but we are utterly desperate to get the government to act and to get others to do the same.  

"They must stop issuing new licences for oil, gas and coal.  

"We need to dramatically speed up transitioning to renewables and reduce our energy consumption.  

"As we have seen with our recent floods, weather conditions are becoming more extreme, and our CO2 emissions are still rising – this is madness."

In a press release following the acquittal, Just Stop Oil accused world leaders of being in the thrall of oil companies, vowing to maintain their fight for systemic change.

Despite legal tribulations, the organisation pledges to continue its actions, urging individuals to support their cause.

Just Stop Oil describe their group as a "coalition of groups working together to demand that the government immediately halt all future licensing and consents for the exploration, development and production of fossil fuels in the UK."

The group have a 'Blue Lights' policy to ensure they make way for emergency vehicles with siren sounding and ‘blue lights’ on.