Declare Emergency Trial Results in Seven Day Suspended Jail Time
(Washington DC) Today a supporter of the Declare Emergency campaign was sentenced to seven days in jail (suspended), a fine of $50 and six months unsupervised probation.
The defendant, 75 year old Bob Atchinson, participated in a nonviolent civil resistance action with other Declare Emergency supporters on October 7, 2022. The group blocked I-395 northbound in Washington DC during rush hour to raise the alarm to expose the truth about the climate crisis. He accuses the fossil fuel industry, the US government, and the media of covering up this truth.
“I risked arrest because I believe we have about three years left before our present Climate Crisis reaches an irreversible state, accompanied by untold starvation, migration, suffering, and economic collapse.” said Bob Atchinson, a retired Project Coordinator and Engineer from Vermont. “This is so very important to me that I am willing to put myself on the line for this. For our children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and all life.”
This morning Atchinson pled guilty under the condition that he be allowed to appeal the judge’s decision to deny his defence of necessity. Meanwhile his attorney, Mark Goldstone, pointed out that Atchinson already spent twenty-nine hours in jail for an offense that generally results in a post-and-forfeit, arguing that time served is more than adequate.
In his sentencing statement, Mr. Atchinson quoted UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres: “We are on the road to climate hell with our foot still on the accelerator. We are in the fight of our lives and we are losing”. He finished by saying, “We are at the end of the line here. It is time for action and I am deeply motivated. Judge - the fossil fuel companies are the real criminals here. What we do in the next few years will determine the fate of humanity.”
ABOUT DECLARE EMERGENCY
Declare Emergency is a member of the A22 Network for Civil Resistance, an eleven-country coalition formed following the 1.2 degree celsius increase in global average temperatures above pre-industrial levels. Each member has a distinct policy demand from their respective governments. In the United States of America, Declare Emergency demands that President Biden declare a national climate emergency, and cease all extraction on federal and indigenous lands (for starters).
MEDIA CONTACTS
Michelle Wehner (503) 686-3141
media@declareemergency.org
PHOTO CREDIT
Nora Swisher / Declare Emergency Supporter
media@declareemergency.org
A22 NETWORK FOR CIVIL RESISTANCE
A22 Media Contacts and Social Media Links (LINKS)