Trial set for climate crisis protester

A 36-year-old woman who was removed from P.E.I.’s legislature in October has pleaded not guilty to causing a disturbance.

Daphnee Azoulay appeared before Judge John Douglas in provincial court in Charlottetown Thursday where she initially sought to have her trial heard in French.

Azoulay is a member of Extinction Rebellion P.E.I. – Affinity Group, which has been holding protests pushing governments to act on the climate crisis.

She arrived at the courthouse dressed in black, wearing an arm band and carrying a backpack that held what appeared to be protest signs.

The charge stems from an incident in October when Azoulay showed up at the legislature with a copper drum while she was wearing a clown nose and a backpack with the words “kids want a future”.

After the incident, The Guardian reported Azoulay refused to leave the legislative assembly gallery.

The police removed her from the building.

On Thursday, the court dealt with more than 90 people on a docket Douglas said was one of the busiest he had ever seen.

During a break in the proceedings, Azoulay began to walk to the front of the courtroom, saying she had been there waiting for two hours and hadn’t seen her lawyer yet.

As she did, a sheriff stopped her and told Azoulay her name had yet to be called.

After a brief exchange with her lawyer, Azoulay sat in the public gallery without incident.

When her case was eventually called, Azoulay chose to proceed without a lawyer, she pleaded not guilty and said she wanted a trial held as soon as possible.

Azoulay also chose to have her trial in French, but after Douglas said a judge from New Brunswick would need to be brought in to hear the case, which would take longer, she changed her mind.

She told the court she preferred to have the trial in English if that meant it would be sooner.

Douglas adjourned the matter until Jan. 17.

The incident at the legislature wasn’t the first time Azoulay was removed from a building this year.

In March, Charlottetown police removed Azoulay from city hall after she refused to leave the area in the council chamber where councillors sit.

A second Extinction Rebellion – Affinity Group member was also removed from the council chamber earlier this month.