Jason Scott-Warren: It was ‘morally right and politically necessary’ to take part in the Extinction Rebellion protests

Jason Scott-Warren, English fellow at Gonville and Caius college, was charged an £800 fine at the London Magistrates’ Court yesterday for participating in Extinction Rebellion protests last April. His was one of 1,130 arrests were made over the 11 day protests, under Section 14 of the Public Order Act.

Approached for comment by The Tab Cambridge, Scott-Warren said: "I took part in the April Extinction Rebellion protests because it seemed to me morally right and politically necessary. The world has now changed, partly as a result of those protests, and I remain proud of my involvement in them. It is unfortunate that the government prefers to prosecute the protestors rather than the real criminals.

"The anomalous fine I received in this ruling shows that the government is increasing its crackdown on protest, and is preparing to defend business-as-usual to the very end. In this they are following the model adopted in broken democracies around the world, most notably in America and Australia."

The Gonville and Caius fellow has said that he is "proud" to pay the £800 fine for the cause of fighting climate change.

Scott-Warren has been an avid campaigner in Cambridge, too, where he protested solo outside his local BP petrol station non-continuously for three months.

Cover image credit: Twitter