Greta Thunberg, Climate activist charged with disobeying police during Sweden climate protest

Stockholm/IBNS: Climate activist Greta Thunberg has been charged with disobeying police orders during a climate protest that took place in southern Sweden in June.

The charge, known as “disobeying police order,” was filed against the 20-year-old activist after she refused to comply with instructions to leave the protest site in the city of Malmo, rephrase AFP.

The protest was organized by the environmental activist group “Ta tillbaka framtiden” (Reclaim the Future) with the aim of blocking the entrance and exit to Malmo harbor, as a means of drawing attention to the use of fossil fuels.

Thunberg, known for her tireless efforts in raising awareness about climate change, took to Instagram during the protest to state, “We choose to not be bystanders and instead physically stop the fossil fuel infrastructure.We are reclaiming the future.”

However, her refusal to follow police directives has led to the charge of disobeying police order, which typically results in a fine, although a maximum sentence of six months in jail is possible.

The case will now proceed to a hearing at the Malmo district court, scheduled for the end of July, according to reports from the Sydsvenskan newspaper.

Greta Thunberg first gained international recognition at the age of 15 when she initiated the “School Strike for the Climate” in front of Sweden’s parliament in Stockholm.

Since then, she has played a pivotal role in founding the global phenomenon known as the Fridays for Future movement, inspiring countless youths to join her in demanding action on climate change.

In addition to her strikes, Thunberg consistently criticizes governments and politicians for their inadequate response to climate issues.

Recently, she expressed her dismay over what she termed an “unprecedented betrayal” by leaders following the publication of the latest report by the United Nations’ climate advisory panel, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

With her upcoming court hearing, Greta Thunberg’s ongoing activism remains in the spotlight, continuing to shape the global conversation on climate change.