Readers respond to a judge’s decision to stop activists explaining their motivation for disruptive climate demonstrations
Judge Silas Reid prevented Insulate Britain defendants at the Inner London crown court from mentioning their motivation to commit non-violent “nuisance” (Insulate Britain activists found guilty over London roadblock, 13 February). How ironic and worrying that a court normally requiring “the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth” is happy to forgo that luxury in certain cases.
Rev Steve Smith
Truro, Cornwall
• As someone arrested for sitting in Whitehall with Extinction Rebellion in October 2019, motivated by George Monbiot’s speech, I am outraged that, in the trial of Insulate Britain activists, Judge Silas Reid did not allow the jury to hear about their motivation because it wasn’t “relevant”. The climate crisis is relevant to all of us everywhere.
Laura Conyngham
Crediton, Devon
