The 15-month jail term for a climate activist who blocked the Sydney Harbour Bridge is “pleasing to see”, says New South Wales (NSW) Premier Dominic Perrottet, as activists rallied around the country in support of the protester.
Deanna “Violet” Maree Coco was sentenced in the Downing Centre Local Court on Friday for blocking peak-hour traffic on the Sydney Harbour Bridge in April.
The 32-year-old member of the activist group Fireproof Australia was part of a two-car convoy that parked on the bridge to raise awareness of climate change.
She was also fined $2,500 (US$1704) for lighting a flare while standing on top of a truck parked on the bridge.
She was sentenced to a non-parole period of eight months, expiring in July, for breaching traffic laws by blocking traffic, possessing an orange flare in a public place and resisting police after being asked to move on.
Her full prison sentence stretches to February 24, 2024.
Perrottet dismissed comments from international rights defender Human Rights Watch, which called Coco’s sentence vindictive.
“If protesters want to put our way of life at risk, they should have the book thrown at them, and that’s pleasing to see,” he told reporters.
“We want people to be able to protest, but you should do it in a way that doesn’t inconvenience people right across NSW.
“Those protests literally started to grind our city to a halt.
“Everyone has the right to protest. Do so in a way that doesn’t inconvenience people around you.”
Dozens of protesters rallied outside the NSW parliament in support of Coco on Monday afternoon, including members of climate action groups Fireproof Australia, Extinction Rebellion and the Knitting Nannas.
Coco’s co-accused Jay Larbalestier spoke at the protest, saying the young woman had put her life and studies on hold to focus on activism and was motivated by a desire to “protect the community”.
The magistrate described Violet’s actions as selfish, Larbalestier told the crowd.
“Violet’s actions were anything but selfish. That deep desire to protect the community was motivating Violet that day,” he said.
“This is someone who, since 2018, has put their studies and their life on hold in order to fight for a safe future for everyone.”
Her conviction comes after the NSW government passed tough new laws to crack down on disruptive climate protests earlier this year, with activists facing fines of up to $22,000 and two years in prison.
Coco intends to appeal the decision and apply for bail next week.
“Clearly, we firmly believe Violet should have been given bail,” Coco’s lawyer Mark Davis told AAP.
“She’s a non-violent offender. She has committed no offences in the seven months that she’s been on bail,” the Xenophon Davis lawyer said.
He said his client had been asked to comply with stringent bail conditions, many of which had taken a toll on her mental health.
He said it was “beyond his comprehension” that the court might refuse her bail on appeal.
Simultaneous protests were held in Canberra, Perth, Brisbane and Hobart.
