Climate Activist Greta Thunberg Arrested in The Hague Protest
THE HAGUE — Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has been taken into custody by Dutch authorities during a protest in The Hague.
The 21-year-old joined a large group of demonstrators marching against fossil fuel subsidies on Saturday.
Tensions escalated as police, including officers on horseback, tried to prevent protesters from blocking a major road, leading to Thunberg’s arrest.
Thunberg was escorted onto a bus with other protesters and driven away from the scene by local police.
The protest aimed to disrupt The Hague’s A12 highway for the 37th time, organized by Extinction Rebellion (XR) activists who oppose the Dutch government’s tax breaks for companies in the fossil fuel industry like Shell and KLM.
Activists hoped to influence an upcoming debate on fossil fuel subsidies in June by increasing pressure on the government through the protest.
Thunberg, alongside fellow activists, marched towards the protest area holding a banner with the words, STOP FOSSIL SUBSIDIES.
Despite attempting to blend in with the crowd, Thunberg’s presence drew significant attention to the demonstration, which featured a brass band playing traditional Dutch songs with climate-conscious lyrics.
Some local residents expressed frustration that the protest was taking place on the hottest day of the year, potentially disrupting beach access in The Hague.
As the activists moved from the city center to a field near the highway, they encountered a line of police officers blocking their path. While some protesters managed to bypass the police, they were swiftly detained.
Thunberg emphasized the urgency of the climate crisis, stating, “It’s important to demonstrate today because we are living in a state of planetary emergency. We must do everything to avoid that crisis and to save human lives.”
When asked about her concerns regarding police action, Thunberg responded, “Why should I be?”
Thunberg and a group of activists broke away from the main demonstration and reached the highway before being detained and transported by police buses. Despite her peaceful arrest, reports later surfaced that Thunberg had been arrested for a second time at the protest.
Authorities confirmed that all individuals picked up by police and placed on minibuses were officially arrested for blocking the highway, which is prohibited by law.
Thunberg, a prominent climate advocate since the age of 15, has faced legal consequences for her activism before, including a recent acquittal in London for refusing to follow police instructions during a climate demonstration. — BBC
