Violet was involved in a 'disruptive' climate protest. She's been sentenced to 15 months in prison.

Back in April, there were a few hundred drivers crossing the Sydney Harbour Bridge, when traffic suddenly came to a standstill. It was all to do with a certain protest taking place, which blocked one of the bridge's five city-bound lanes during the morning peak. 

The protest itself went for exactly 25 minutes, although it did have long-term effects on traffic for the rest of the day.

Now the woman behind the protest – 32-year-old Deanna "Violet" Coco has been sentenced to 15 months prison.

Coco was protesting against the wider climate plight and the government's action on the issue – protesting under the banner of climate activist group, Fireproof Australia. It's similar to Extinction Rebellion but designed to be "more disruptive".

Explaining her motive behind the protest, Coco said to The Guardian at the time: "We tried protesting to the politicians. We've tried one-day marches. Nothing happened. And so now we need to escalate these disruptive tactics."

So she parked a truck across one lane of the Harbour Bridge, stood on the truck's roof and held a lit flare in her hand. On board the truck with her was her friend, who is a trained and qualified firefighter.

She was then arrested by police, who removed the truck, and traffic resumed its normal morning pace. 

Watch one climate protestor explain why they choose to protest disruptively. Post continues below.

This week, Coco was fined $2,500 for her protest, along with being sentenced to 15 months prison with a non-parole period of eight months for breaching traffic laws by blocking traffic, possessing an orange flare in a public place and resisting police after being asked to move on. Coco will appeal against the sentence, but she was refused bail this week and will remain in custody until her appeal hearing in March.

Coco is the first person to be sentenced to jail time under laws introduced by Premier Dominic Perrottet's NSW Government in April that carry fines of up to $22,000 and jail terms of up to two years for protests on roads, rail lines, tunnels, bridges and industrial estates. They were passed with the support of the Labor party.

Coco's sentencing has been met with confusion from some when considering the outcomes for other legal cases. Namely, when lesser sentences for arguably more serious crimes have been given.

Just recently, a creek running through Sydney's Royal National Park was hit by a coal wastewater spill – it's the third coal pollution incident investigated by the New South Wales Environment Protection Authority this year involving Peabody Energy's Metropolitan mine at Helensburg. So far, little action has been taken.

From a separate perspective, disgraced former football player Ben Cousins was sentenced to seven months for stalking the mother of his two children. He had breached a Family Violence Restraining Order more than 20 times. 

And despite over 430 Indigenous deaths in custody since 1991, no one has ever been convicted. 

The examples could go on and on.

Am I going to ask you to consider the *15 month gaol sentence* for #VioletCoco against the lack of action taken against those who polluted the Royal National Park?

You bet I am.

The Premier is dead wrong.

Political bastardry.#nswpol #auspolhttps://t.co/dkrR15wrtZ

— Scott Phillips (@TMFScottP) December 5, 2022

Outrageous decision just now in a Sydney court

Climate activist Violet Coco given 15 month sentence, 8 months no parole after she blocked 1 lane of the Harbour Bridge for 25 mins in April

It's clear climate protesters are being targeted for disproportionate punishment @hrw pic.twitter.com/NMpJvEB3Dt

— Sophie McNeill (@Sophiemcneill) December 2, 2022

On the imprisonment of Sydney protester Violet Coco:

- The sentence seems very disproportionate; I've seen serious violent assaults get less time.

- Labor & Chris Minns supported this draconian law.

- Labor stans on twitter attacking Perrottet, see prev point. #auspol #auslaw

— @martinpike@theblower.au (@armagny) December 6, 2022

As the United Nations secretary-general António Guterres said back in April: "Climate activists are sometimes depicted as dangerous radicals. But the truly dangerous radicals are the countries that are increasing the production of fossil fuels. Investing in new fossil fuels infrastructure is moral and economic madness."

For several years now, there has been a rise in the number of citizens protesting for greater action on climate change. 

At the heart of Australia's democracy is the right to freedom of assembly and association. What this means is that Aussies have the right to meet, assemble and engage in peaceful protest. 

Examples of peaceful and lawful protest include authorised protests, many of which often have an organised permit to peacefully protest and provide notice to the government, in order to avoid potential legal ramifications. 

But when we hear stories of people gluing themselves to roads, others staging sit-in protests in busy CBD streets, and some stopping freight trains by sitting on them and refusing to get down – these are considered "disruptive". And it's people who engage in these sorts of protests, that might find themselves at risk of facing serious penalties.

In early April this year, climate change activists, Max Curmi – who climbed a crane in Port Botany – was sentenced to four months in prison. 

Late last year Eric Herbert was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment with a non-parole period of six months after he climbed atop a train in a bid to obstruct the coal industry.

Image: AAP/Instagram @blockade.australia.

In a statement this week following Coco's imprisonment, Fireproof Australia said it was "a sad day for democracy, the planet and humanity".

Shannan Langford Salisbury, a friend of Coco's, said to The Guardian as well: "Yes she blocked traffic, but she blocked one lane of five with a firefighter. It doesn't matter if you disagree with the tactics. This young person was defending her future. Protest is a vital part of democratic society for everyday people to engage with their political system."

It comes after NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet commented on Coco's sentencing, saying he was "pleased to see" how harsh it was. He then went on to warn other protestors from doing similar, saying: "If protestors want to put our way of life at risk, then they should have the book thrown at them."

Fellow Liberal party member, NSW government minister Alister Henskens also provided a comment on the matter, saying at the press conference, that individuals "must take responsibility for their actions".

"We are all equal before the law. I strongly believe in the right to freedom of speech, including in the form of lawful, peaceful protests. Nobody is above the law."

Interestingly, Henskens has a personal connection to this case, as Coco happens to be his niece.

Earlier this year Henskens voted in favour of legislation which dramatically increased the penalty for protests in NSW. 

Premier Perrottet backs sentencing of Deanna “Violet” Coco. He says it is “pleasing to see” and warns others against taking part in protests that “inconvenience people”. “If protesters want to put our way of life at risk then they should have the book thrown at them.” pic.twitter.com/KlrC3Wxhi1

— Tamsin Rose (@tamsinroses) December 4, 2022

Coco's supporters have since begun a campaign calling for donations to fund her legal costs and appeal, with additional donations being directed to climate emergency activist legal funds.

Attached to the online campaign, Coco then released a personal statement from prison, explaining why she chose to protest.

"In light of the urgency of the situation, I feel I have to do the most effective thing in bringing about political change. History has shown that at times of great crisis, when regular political procedure has proven incapable of enacting justice, it falls to ordinary people to take a stand to bring about change through civil disobedience," she said.

"Civil disobedience in the form of strikes, blockades, marches, and occupations has played a crucial role in the development of democracy, and helped to secure precious rights here and around the world – including women’s suffrage, eight-hour working days, racial legal equality, and environmental protection."

She then noted that she doesn't want to be protesting nor breaking the law – she just wishes there was another way "to address this issue with the gravitas that it deserves".

"Now I am in prison, for engaging in democracy. These unjust laws need to be fought for all of us. Climate action will mean more people peacefully taking to the streets, not fewer, and the authorities should accept that."

Feature Image: Getty/Chuffed.