Should PROTESTERS who disrupt AIRPORTS be jailed?

[AviatorTom]

Protesters at Heathrow

Recently, protesters at several European airports have disrupted airport operations.

The picture shows protesters at Heathrow Airport outside London being stopped. Protesters at Frankfort Germany cut through security fences and glued themselves to teh runway, forcing a 2-hour shutdown of the airport. Other similar protests were made in Norway, Austria, Switzerland, Spain and Finland.

The current law in most countries results in a fine for these actions, though several countries are now (thinking of) passing laws involving jail time for such protests that interfere with public safety.

A Financial Times article about this (may require subscription) can be found at:

Climate activists step up direct action at European airports

What do you think?

Please vote in the poll below and add an opinion if you want.

YES - such protesters should be JAILED

NO - such protesters should be FINED

NO - such protesters should receive NO PUNISHMENT

Something ELSE - please tell

[DJB72]

Domestic terrorists. Not every aeroplane can be diverted so every shutdown endangers at least 100 lives plus their own. Per flight. Make that 100 attempted murder charges, sentences to be served consecutively.

Then there's the additional costs ensuring every aeroplane they got within 10 metres of wasn't damaged by their antics, meaning structural engineers inspection and confirmation that any substance they sprayed onto the fuselage did not, in fact, damage the bonding holding the aircraft together.

The idiots who shut down the M25 in the UK just got 4 years inside - which should have been longer. It's time these people were treated as the terrorists they actually are. 25 years prison without parole. Per charge.

[BetaBucks]

Anyone disrupting anyone else's freedom of movement, without a lawful reason, should be jailed. And while protesting is lawful, restricting people's movement isn't, and it's not part of what constitutes a protest.

Even if there was a "threesomes and money for BetaBucks" protest, if they're messing with innocent people's lives, they deserve to be locked up.

[CrazyGirl2]

They couldn’t pass a law like that in the US because we have the first amendment right of freedom of speech! But they have already passed along like that in the UK, I was just reading in the paper about the "just stop oil" protesters who were jailed for four years, and the leader was jailed for five years! Personally, I just think the people of Britain are sick and tired of the just stop oil morons, and their tactics, and that this was just a law passed to shut down "just stop oil”, and any other organization that wants to adopt its' tactics!

[AviatorTom]

@CrazyGirl2 The first amendment doesn't allow breaking into an airport. That's a federal crime, and often treated as terrorism.

[CrazyGirl2]

I don’t think it's “terrorism” just to break into a building to protest. They would just be arrested for the breaking and entering. Also, you didn't say anything about “breaking in” in your question, you just asked if PROTESTERS who disrupt AIRPORTS should be jailed. Now, they could definitely be arrested for disturbing the peace, they could also be arrested for trespassing, but you cannot be arrested in the United States for merely protesting. If you have a legal right to be somewhere, then you de facto have a legal right to protest there also. Google who owns Miami international airport international (and yes, I'm aware of the "time and place" doctrine that provides certain extremely narrow temporary exemptions within the first amendment). I’ve seen strikes at airports, and a strike is a labor protest, so you CAN protest at an airport, you just need to do it the right way. (permits etc…) although I’ve neither organized, nor been a part of a real protest, let alone organized one, so… ¯\_(ッ)_/¯

[AviatorTom]

@CrazyGirl2 Some of these protesters cut through the security fence and did their protest on the tarmac. That's considered a terrorist act, and free speech doesn't cover that.

[CrazyGirl2]

Yes, and that would endanger the lives of everyone in the planes that were diverted. Also, this happened in Germany, where they don't have a right of free speech. I AGREED WITH YOU, that some protests are not legal even in the US due to the "time, place, and manner" doctrine, and I specifically stated that "If you have a LEGAL RIGHT to be somewhere, then you have a legal right to protest there”. So given the fact that NOBODY other than authorized airport personnel have a right to be on an airport runway, their presence there would de facto be trespassing, and they would (and should) be arrested in any country, even the US, regardless of whether they were there to protest or not! So even in the US, if anyone ever entered any “sterile area” within an airport property, without proper authorization, they would be subject to immediate arrest! Trespassing to “protest” is not protected under the 1st amendment! As it would fall outside of the "time, place, and manner” doctrine. Again, to be very clear, I absolutely agree with you. I also celebrate the arrest of these people, as well as the arrest, conviction, and multi-year imprisonment of those involved in the British “M-25 shutdown” protest by “Just Stop Oil”.

In the US, terrorism is defined as “The unlawful use of violence especially against civilians in the pursuit of political aims”. While I am not a legal expert, I don't believe gluing one's self to a road or runway is per se an act of violence.” But given that planes would have to be rerouted, which could endanger the lives of everyone on those planes… THAT could be terrorism! But for the third time, I AGREE with you. We are on the same side on this issue. I'm simply stating that I have personally seen protests in airports, and they were allowed to protest there. If they were on the runway I would fully support their arrest and imprisonment! That is not an activity which is protected by the first amendment!

I hope this helps clear up any misunderstanding.
Laura.

[purplepoppy]

It's not just disruption they're entering restricted areas and so should be treated as if they were terrorist not protesters. I wouldn't be happy getting on a plane they'd been near

[Skinhead-1979]

This is a difficult one.

Protests are only effective when they are disruptive; that's the whole idea of them.

If you go stand in a remote forest with your little banners and flags because you worry you might upset people you won't get anywhere with your protest.

I don't see an issue with protestors gluing themselves to roads for example either... but I most certainly draw a line somewhere. I find it absolutely pointless when protestors resort to destroying art specifically, and vandalism in general. What do you want to achieve with that?

And they dare to call themselves Anarchists 😡 Anarchism doesn't equate Chaos and Destruction; they have given the Anarchist ideology a bad reputation.

[Skinhead-1979]

Oh, I feel a strong need to add something to "I don't see an issue with protestors gluing themselves to roads for example either"

A line can be, and has been, crossed too: There are reports of protestors who refused to let Emergency Services through while they were blocking roads and even became hostile towards the Emergency Staff.

Also wrong... Block that road, but do not obstruct Emergency services; and to some extend that also includes the police.

[BoopBoopBeep]

Problem is, you block that road, now the emergency vehicle can't make it through the miles of traffic for you to let it through anyway, so you're still obstructing emergency services. All emergencies don't happen in ambulances. After my heart attack, when I had a cardiac event a month later I was transported in a private vehicle to the hospital, because based on my medical history I didn't have time to wait for an ambulance to get here (it took 30 minutes the time before for the ambulance to arrive and nearly 20 minutes for them to get back to the hospital after taking a wrong turn... it took 9 minutes for my ex girlfriend to drive me there).

[Skinhead-1979]

@BoopBoopBeep I am sorry to hear you've had a heart attack...

You are of course absolutely correct... It's not just for Emergency services, but for anyone who has an emergency.

[gorydetails]

A protestor blocks my path and I'm running them over. Plain and simple.

[BoopBoopBeep]

@gorydetails Yep... when it's life or death... my life, their death.

[DeeDeeDeVour]

They have to get arrested first in order to get processed into system.

After being processed, they get slapped with a fine too.

Maybe protesters will think twice next time.

[MisterWack]

An example ‘Just Stop Oil’ protestors have blocked airports and should definitely face penalties. We should also hold accountable in public view that an oil heiress is donating millions of dollars to spread an agenda that is in support of Big Oil NOT climate activism. It is pseudo protesting all for profit, not for the planet. These people are sick!

[Phoenix98]

Yes if for anything for their safety unless they wanna be accidently killed because that's what is gonna happen if they keep this stupid behavior up.

Just morons with to much time on their hands.

[jennifer_bloom]

They should be given these choices - Either a $2,000 fine, or 3 weeks in a jail or 2 weeks in jail and 8 hours a day of free unpaid labour to the government.

[RavVid]

Just Stop Oil leaders got jail terms n the UK. The longest sentence was 5 years with 2.5 in the clink and 4 other got 4 years of which there will be 2 years of clinkie time.

Should quieten them & the streets down nicely.

Totally support.

[BCRanger10]

Yes, and major roads too. Here's why...

https://www.youtube.com/embed/scgn-QooIQ4

[RebelinSteel]

They have started jailing them, just stop oil lot are getting 4-5 years in prison, although it’s likely to be far less.

[RebelinSteel]

There does need to be a change to how protests and protestors are managed. The impact on the economy can be huge.
If a protestor is not from that country it should be an instant deportation, no delays, off they go,
If you join a March or demonstration and are not from that country, same thing you run the risk of instant deportation.
Also no face coverings, cover your face, you get arrested, see above for not your country.
A lot of these protestors such as stop oil have other agendas and often foreign backing.

[Miristheiss]

Yes. Anyone who breaks a law in the process of protesting should be jailed. This is basic common sense.

[StudyingAuthor]

My mom works at the airport and they can't do anything to help and people be tryna start fights and she said it causes extreme delays.

[dustybiker2]

Sounds like most of become criminals and no longer protesters so should be treated as such.

[OlderAndWiser]

The protesters who glued themselves to the runway should be covered in honey and then a horde of roaches should be released. Those protesters would get unstuck in a hurry!

[MrGSpotHer]

They should bring back groval and beg as a punishment publicly in London every few months people can turn up to throw mouldy veg and meat at them untill they have crawled a mile on the knees then beg to the king for forgiveness. If they do it good enough they don't get no more punishment unless they do it again 😆

[msc545]

I think we're doing this kind of thing is foolish and counterproductive. People who do this should be fined and perhaps jailed briefly. Initially. We need to discourage this kind of thing, but putting people in jail for long periods of time won't really solve the problem. I'm not sure I actually have a solution but I don't think it's jail as that has proven to be ineffective for the most part.

[Dargil]

Arrested, jailed, arraigned, convicted and sentenced to Community Service.

[Anonymous]

Jail/prison should also be given to "climate" wacko's who block roads and streets. Thank goodness there's a portion of people who have the good sense to drag these wacko's out of the way, so normal traffic can resume.

[CaptainSmartass]

They should all be shot.

Simples...

[Juxtapose]

If I miss a flight because of one of these motherfuckers I will get violent.

[RavVid]

The Just Stop Oil shut down of the UK M28 cause many to miss flights. One poor sod missed his cancer treatment appointment and he has an aggressive cancer. The next appointment he could get was 2 months later. Guess he made or it should have Criminal Negligence charges

[Juxtapose]

@RavVid if I was one of his family members I would be hunting those people down.

[RavVid]

I wouldn't be happy either. The UK has got a newly legislated crime of disrupting access to public infrastructure. The primary organizer got 5 years of which he serves 2.5 years in jail. The other 4 got 4 years each of which they serve 2 years in jail.

That would make me a little happier but only marginally.

[ShadesVow]

Jailing them costs taxpayers more money. And they'll just do it again. Far simpler to shoot them

[RetroReviews]

Protesting as a waste of time , go get a job! and if it goes to where you're disrupting the flow of things there should be consequences

[handsomelad70]

Unless they damage property or injure someone, a fine and community service should suffice for most airport protesters.

[DrPepper12]

Anyone who's civilly disobedient should EXPECT to be arrested, charged and adjudicated. So yes!

[Massageman]

Use glue remover- scrape them up- reglue them in a jail cell- then, glue their mouths shut.

[Kelly6]

These protestors are your governments own making.

Blame them rather then protestors

[OhLongJohnsoning]

Can you imagine what would have happened, if england had jailed us, for "protesting" them, 250+ years ago?

[NathanDavis]

they won't even jail people from Boeing...

[strateguy632]

Punish!

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

Yes.