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Black Lives Matter activists plead guilty to trespass after City airport protest Black Lives Matter activists plead guilty to trespass after City airport protest
(about 1 hour later)
Nine Black Lives Matter activists have pleaded guilty to trespass charges following a protest at London City airport that disrupted the journeys of 9,000 passengers.Nine Black Lives Matter activists have pleaded guilty to trespass charges following a protest at London City airport that disrupted the journeys of 9,000 passengers.
The group has been sentenced to conditional discharges ranging from 18 months to two years.
The group has faced accusations of cultural appropriation after it emerged they were all white and many had links to environmental groups.The group has faced accusations of cultural appropriation after it emerged they were all white and many had links to environmental groups.
All nine pleaded guilty at Westminster magistrates court to trespassing airside. The prosecution dropped two other charges.All nine pleaded guilty at Westminster magistrates court to trespassing airside. The prosecution dropped two other charges.
William Pettifer, 27, of Radford; Esme Waldron, 23, from Brighton; Natalie Fiennes, 25, of Wandsworth, south London; Deborah Grayson, 31, from Slough; Richard Collet-White, 23, of Kempston and Ben Tippet, 24, from Wandsworth, sat side by side in the dock.William Pettifer, 27, of Radford; Esme Waldron, 23, from Brighton; Natalie Fiennes, 25, of Wandsworth, south London; Deborah Grayson, 31, from Slough; Richard Collet-White, 23, of Kempston and Ben Tippet, 24, from Wandsworth, sat side by side in the dock.
Same Baka, 27, Alex Etchart, 26, and Sam Lund-Harket, 32, who all live on a houseboat currently moored in Roydon, Essex, appeared with them.Same Baka, 27, Alex Etchart, 26, and Sam Lund-Harket, 32, who all live on a houseboat currently moored in Roydon, Essex, appeared with them.
Grayson was sentenced to conditional discharge of three years and Etchart was sentenced to a conditional discharge of two years. The remaining seven defendants were sentenced to a conditional discharge lasting 18 months.
They were ordered to pay £95 costs and the raft and life jackets will be confiscated under a deprivation order.
The court heard that the group had breached the perimeter of London City airport at 5.30am on 6 September by crossing the Thames in inflatable rafts from nearby Albert Island.The court heard that the group had breached the perimeter of London City airport at 5.30am on 6 September by crossing the Thames in inflatable rafts from nearby Albert Island.
The nine activists then put up a tripod made of three lengths of bamboo, the court heard.The nine activists then put up a tripod made of three lengths of bamboo, the court heard.
Pettifer secured himself to the top of the tripod and the remaining eight then secured themselves to the tripod and each other on the ground, using arm locks and a foam that expands and hardens to hold them in place.Pettifer secured himself to the top of the tripod and the remaining eight then secured themselves to the tripod and each other on the ground, using arm locks and a foam that expands and hardens to hold them in place.
Police arrived to hear the group chanting “black lives matter” and slogans about climate change.Police arrived to hear the group chanting “black lives matter” and slogans about climate change.
About 131 flights were cancelled or delayed, the court heard, affecting 9,000 passengers.About 131 flights were cancelled or delayed, the court heard, affecting 9,000 passengers.