Just Stop Oil’s Noah Crane on group’s ‘strong Norfolk presence’
Noah Crane, 18 and from Buxton, near Aylsham, was arrested in London when police intercepted a planned JSO protest on the day of King Charles III’s coronation in May.
Mr Crane has just finished his studies at Norwich’s Notre Dame Sixth Form and is employed as a JSO recruiter, while he takes a gap year.
He said: “I’ve always cared about the environment and Just Stop Oil’s solution sounded incredibly reasonable given the gravity of the current situation.
“Throughout history disruption is what is needed to bring about change. The crisis is so dire we need to do whatever’s necessary.”
Just Stop Oil protestor Noah Crane from Norfolk demonstrating in London (Image: Just Stop Oil)
JSO has staged a series of increasingly visible protests over the past 12 months including throwing tomato soup over Van Gogh’s Sunflowers at the National Gallery and interrupting play at Wimbledon, the Ashes and the World Snooker Championship.
Its supporters have also blocked fuel stations and roads including the M25 and staged ‘slow marches’ through London, which the Metropolitan Police said cost them more than £4.5m over six weeks.
Just Stop Oil protesters who threw tinned soup at Vincent Van Gogh’s work Sunflowers at the National Gallery in London. (Image: PA)
Although their tactics have sparked widespread public anger and frustration, JSO’s supporters claim they are needed to draw attention to the climate crisis.
After his arrest, Mr Crane said he was charged with ‘conspiracy to cause a public nuisance’.
England’s Jonny Bairstow removing a Just Stop Oil protester from the pitch during day one of the second Ashes test match at Lord’s, London. (Image: Mike Egerton/PA)
He said he and a group of around a dozen other protesters were arrested in a crowd before revealing their Just Stop Oil t-shirts and banners.
He said officers took his phone and banner, and he is due to attend a hearing on August 3.
Just Stop Oil protesters staging a march in London (Image: PA)
Mr Crane said his bail conditions banned him from being in the company of certain JSO members, and from protesting in the streets of Westminster.
Just Stop Oil protestor Noah Crane from Norfolk demonstrating in London (Image: Just Stop Oil)
But he said he planned to defy this by taking part in a ‘slow march’ protest next week, as the conditions had limited his “democratic right to protest”.
Mr Crane added: “Just Stop Oil is popular in Norfolk.
“There is a strong presence here and people are active because it’s a progressive place.
“Next week final is our final week of marching before taking a break to mobilise.”
References
- ^ Louis Vuitton takes family-run business to court in trademark row (www.northnorfolknews.co.uk)
- ^ Barclays bank’s Hoveton branch to close in north Norfolk (www.northnorfolknews.co.uk)