Quaker found ‘not guilty’ for DLR action
Extinction Rebellion (XR) co-founder Ian Bray from Huddersfield Meeting said ‘I am trying to do what love requires of me.’
A Quaker was among five people on trial this month for action on the DLR railway in April 2019.
Extinction Rebellion (XR) co-founder Ian Bray from Huddersfield Meeting (pictured) was found not guilty along with Ruth Jarman, an Anglican; Phil Kingston, a Catholic; Nick Cooper, another Christian; and Richard Barnard. The five were joined by a sixth defendant, Diana Warner, at Inner Court in London where they faced charges of obstructing trains or carriages on the railway by an unlawful act.
Ian Bray told the Friend that the jury took less than an hour to reach a unanimous decision. ‘They had to decide whether our action was proportional or not. It was in the agreed facts of the case that millions will be displaced [because of climate breakdown]. Is it proportional to block a train for two hours? That was the proposal in front of the jury.’
The five stood on the roof of a DLR train in 2019 while Diana glued herself to the side of the train. The peaceful protest was aimed at challenging the financial district to take responsibility for its role in the climate emergency. After two hours they voluntarily got down from the roof and were arrested.
Ian Bray said before the trial, which started on 6 December: ‘I am trying to do what love requires of me.’
Huddersfield Friends tweeted that they were holding them all in the Light as the trial began.
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