Greta Thunberg, the Swedish climate activist known for sparking the “Fridays for Future” movement, was fined 6,000 Swedish crowns ($550, €512) by a Stockholm court on Wednesday for her involvement in two protests outside Sweden’s Parliament in March, where she defied police orders to leave.
Thunberg faced charges of civil disobedience and appeared in court to deny them, stating, “there was a (climate) emergency and there still is. And in an emergency, we all have a duty to act.” She criticized existing laws for prioritizing extractive industries over the well-being of people and the planet.
During the March protests, Thunberg participated in a series of demonstrations that blocked the main entrance to the parliament building, leading to her forcible removal by police on March 12 and 14. Despite these actions, politicians could still access the building through side entrances.
This isn’t the first time Thunberg has faced legal consequences for her activism. She has previously been fined twice by Swedish courts for civil disobedience at climate protests.
The “Fridays for Future” movement began after Thunberg, then 15 years old, started skipping school on Fridays in August 2018 to protest outside the Swedish Parliament, advocating for urgent action to address climate change. Her actions have inspired millions of students worldwide to join her cause, highlighting the urgent need for climate action.