12 May 2021

Extinction Rebellion protester sentenced after chaining himself to Comcar vehicle

| Albert McKnight
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Eric Serge Herbert

Extinction Rebellion protester Eric Serge Herbert leaves the ACT Courts on Tuesday. Photo: Albert McKnight.

An Extinction Rebellion (XR) protester said the federal government has “betrayed” Australians over its inaction on climate change before he was sentenced over his role in disrupting politicians’ commute to Parliament.

Early yesterday morning (11 May), 35 members of the non-violent movement that focuses on calling for action on climate change held a Budget Day blockade outside the Comcar depot in Fyshwick.

In court documents, police said a crowd of people blocked the depot’s exit gate and prevented cars from transporting politicians to Parliament House.

During the protest, Eric Serge Herbert entered the depot and chained himself to a Comcar vehicle, where he remained for about two hours. He told police he wanted to go to court to see a magistrate but refused to provide them with his name or address.

Eric Herbert chained to a Comcar

Eric Herbert chained himself to a Comcar vehicle at the Extinction Rebellion protest. Photo: Extinction Rebellion.

Herbert was arrested and appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court on Tuesday afternoon (11 May), where he entered guilty pleas to charges of trespass and not giving his details to police. He asked the prosecution to publicly read the facts describing the case against him into court records.

The 21-year-old from Queensland, who represented himself, then had his moment in court to say why he had chained himself to the car.

“Today, politicians are talking about the budget where they will be sentencing more of my generation to a horrible death by refusing to omit fossil fuels and rejecting the basic climate science,” he said.

“My intention with this protest was to disrupt the proceedings and air my disgust at their betrayal of their citizens.

“My actions were an attempt to prevent the total annihilation of my species.”

He asked Chief Magistrate Lorraine Walker “to exercise the powers she has to send a message to the Australian Government” by dismissing his charges.

He also suggested she “do the right thing” and write a letter to the government to “let them know you won’t be involved in the criminalisation of climate protesters”.

READ ALSO ‘No one can hear you’: man chokes woman unconscious, bites and punches ‘good Samaritans’

Chief Magistrate Walker said while Herbert had cost the community time and money, he did so to address climate change, and he wanted to bring his offending to public attention.

She said she hoped Australians could “avoid annihilation”, but it was not her job to send a message to politicians.

“It’s not for me to write policy,” she told him.

“My job is to enforce the law.”

She recorded convictions and fined him $200 before telling him he was “free to go”.

Extinction Rebellion protesters

Extinction Rebellion protesters gather in Fyshwick on Tuesday. Photo: Extinction Rebellion.

An XR spokesperson said three other protesters, who also attached themselves to the entrance with chains or glue, were also removed by the police.

One was Jane Morton, who said she was a clinical psychologist and had locked herself onto a gate for her children.

READ ALSO Father who allegedly punched daughter in the face granted bail

“I am fearful that unless we take the strongest possible emergency action, that they will live to see collapse,” she said.

“Our disruptive action aims to sound the alarm and pressure our political representatives to act.”

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The same Marxists with the same ideology and rhetoric hiding behind a new name to achieve the same old objectives of disrupting the lives and destroying the lifestyles of everyone else. They were chased off before and will be chased off again. Go occupy Wall Street.

Capital Retro10:20 pm 18 May 21

Some illegal parking fines are more than $200 but I wouldn’t expect a magistrate to know about that.

Get a haircut, have shave, have a wash, get a job, save some money, and invest those savings into the growing renewable energy industry.

Jessica Ledgerwood8:38 pm 18 May 21

Says a capitalist

Extinction Rebellion are hypocrites. I noticed the pests arrived today in petrol and diesel vehicles whilst holding and waving signs and placards made from plastic. And our hero, Eric Herbert, chained himself to a vehicle using a chain made from steel heated with coal.

If you want people to respect your cause then walk the walk.

Jessica Ledgerwood8:37 pm 18 May 21

being perfect role models is not going to get us where we need to be

Enlighten us please

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