ACTIVISTS arrested after they staged a “people’s assembly” protest at an oil dinner in Edinburgh have had their cases dropped.
Extinction Rebellion (XR) Scotland said the 14 “non-violent” protesters were arrested under Section 38 of the Criminal Justice Act, which typically refers to an allegation of threatening or abusive behaviour.
However, the group says the procurator fiscal service has marked all of their cases for “no further proceedings” .
The protest took place in March when the group “peacefully” occupied the main atrium of the National Museum of Scotland ahead of the Scottish Oil Club Dinner – an annual networking event for the fossil fuel industry in Scotland – which was attended by nearly 900 oil and gas executives.
READ MORE: Nearly a million species risk extinction as 'direct result of human activity'
XR said the aim was to see the dinner delayed or cancelled. It added: “The activists held a People’s Assembly focusing on the damage done to the world by the fossil fuel industry and paths to transition away from it immediately.
“Some activists left when threatened with arrest. Thirteen stayed until they were arrested, including some who were chained together with bicycle D locks.
“The dinner was majorly delayed. Later that night, an activist who had been working at the event as a waiter dropped and held a banner from the balcony during the dinner speeches reading ‘Thank You For Our Suicide’. He was also arrested.”
One of those who was arrested, artist Naomi Scott, said: “The companies that sent people to sit at expensive dinner tables that night are responsible for the crisis that we are facing. It’s amazing news that the procurator fiscal has decided to not take this any further.”
A Crown Office spokesman said: “The procurator fiscal deals with every case on its individual facts and circumstances and will take appropriate prosecutorial action where there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest to do so.”
XR Scotland said 29 activists are due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court next week after being arrested at a roadblock on North Bridge on April 16 which formed part of a global protest. It said 26 were charged with breach of the peace, and three with Section 38 offences.
XR Scotland has local groups in Aberdeenshire, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Highlands and Islands, St Andrews, Fort William and Stirling.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here