Climate activist has been arrested by police for blocking traffic at a protest near the port in Malmo, Sweden.
Climate activist Greta Thunberg was forcibly removed by police from a protest in the southern Swedish city of Malmo, hours after a local court fined her for flouting a police order at a similar protest last month.
Thunberg, 20, who became the face of young climate activists around the world after weekly protests outside Sweden’s parliament, admitted during Monday’s court hearing that she disobeyed the police order but pleaded not guilty and said she acted out of necessity.
When asked by reporters if she would be more cautious going forward after her fine, Thunberg said the climate protesters would “definitely not back down.”
“We know that we cannot save the world by playing by the rules, because the laws need to be changed,” the activist said.
“It is absurd that those who act in accordance with science should pay the price,” she told reporters at Malmö District Court.
Thunberg was swept away by a climate protest near the port of Malmo [Andreas Hillergren/TT News Agency via Reuters]Thunberg and other activists from the group Reclaim the Future blocked the road for oil trucks in the port of Malmö on June 19. She was accused of neglecting to leave the street despite police orders.
After Monday’s verdict, Thunberg and other activists made their way back to Malmö port, where they were again taken away by police for blocking traffic.
Thunberg had previously stated in court that her actions were justified. “I believe we are in an emergency situation that threatens life, health and property,” she said. “Countless people and communities are at risk, both in the short term and in the long term.”
The court ordered Thunberg to pay a fine of 1,500 kroner ($144) and an additional 1,000 kroner to the Swedish Crime Victims Fund.
The fine was imposed in proportion to their reported income. Failure to comply with a police order carries a maximum penalty of six months in prison.