CAMPAIGNERS will gather in Dorchester to protest the Government’s ‘lack of action’ on climate change and support the nine jailed Insulate Britain members - as their cause is likened to being similar to the Tolpuddle Martyrs.

Nine supporters of the group were jailed at the High Court in London in November after they admitted breaching an injunction by taking part in a blockade at junction 25 of the motorway during the morning rush hour on October 8.

Some of the group glued themselves to each other and two glued themselves to the road, causing disruption for over an hour and a half on the busy motorway.

Ana Heyatawin, 58, and Louis McKechnie, 20, were jailed for three months, while Ben Buse, 36, Roman Paluch-Machnik, 28, Oliver Rock, 41, Emma Smart, 44, Tim Speers, 36, and James Thomas, 47, received four-month sentences.

Ben Taylor, 37, was given a longer sentence of six months “to deter (him) from committing further breaches” after his submissions to the court on Tuesday were described by Dame Victoria Sharp as “inflammatory” and a “call to arms”.

Ms Smart, of Weymouth, announced her intention to go on hunger strike in prison and was taken to hospital on day 13 of her protest.

Following the group’s imprisonment, Extinction Rebellion will gather at The Historic Courtroom in Dorchester between 7.30pm and 10pm on Monday, December 13 to support the Highway 9 prisoners ‘jailed for highlighting the truth about the climate crisis that threatens us all’.

The group is also meeting in solidarity and to defend the right to protest amid the Government’s Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.

Extinction Rebellion want to meet at the former Dorchester Crown Court as they liken the jailed Insulate Britain protestors to the Tolpuddle Martyrs.

The martyrs were a group of six agricultural workers who were exiled to Australia in 1834 after forming a union.

Their sentence sparked massive protests across the country – eventually earning them a pardon and is seen as the start of the trade union movement.

It comes after Andy Smart, Emma’s husband, criticised the police and Government for filing the injunctions to prevent their protests and the Government is not doing enough to tackle climate change and effectively insulate peoples’ homes.

He said: “COP26 was widely recognised as a failure. It’s apparent that the government is failing to act, it has played its hand and in doing so shown its cowardice.

“They would rather lock up scientists than take practical steps to reduce emissions.

“They would rather push new laws to imprison anyone calling out their failings than introduce new laws and policy to reduce Co2.”

The event will be live streamed, with speakers including one of the Extinction Rebellion founders Claire Farrell, Tony Stauton from Plymouth Trades Council, Rev Jonathan Herbert from Churches Network for Gypsies, Travellers and Roma.

Other speakers include family members of those imprisoned as well as Emma De-Saram a youth activist and Paul Stephens, an ex-MET police detective who now works with Extinction Rebellion.

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