Extinction Rebellion activist in court over ‘racist’ daub on Churchill statue

AN Extinction Rebellion activist has been ordered to pay more than £1,500 after defacing a statue of

Sir Winston Churchill by painting “racist” on its plinth.

Benjamin Clark, 18, admitted causing £1,642.03 of damage to the statue in Parliament Square, central London, during the final day of recent climate protests on September 10.

During the demonstration, Clark daubed yellow graffiti on the base of the statue under the former prime minster’s name, adding: “racist”.

Matt Barrowcliffe, prosecuting, told Westminster Magistrates’ Court: “Police were present as part of dealing with that demonstration. They observed this defendant spray painting the word racist in yellow paint on the concrete base.”

Clark, of Hertford, Hertfordshire, appeared in person for the hearing yesterday wearing a navy suit and only spoke to confirm his details and plead guilty.

Laura O’brien, mitigating, said the teenager admitted spraying the word “racist” in chalk paint, but denied causing all the damage to the statue done on the day.

She also highlighted the use of chalk paint, adding: “We are not talking about paint that has the ability to cause lasting damage.”

Ms O’brien said Clark was attending the environmental protest as a demonstrator, and was given the paint during the event.

“He did not attend the scene with spray paint, he did not attend the scene with the intent to damage the statue,” she said.

Ms O’brien said the case was about the criminal damage to the listed statue, rather than any social motivations.

Ms O’brien said the maths and philosophy student had been subjected to abuse and death threats since his charge.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram handed down a £200 fine and ordered Clark to pay £1,200 in compensation.

He said: “You have caused great offence, it appears, to a lot of people, and I am told it has provoked a very strong reaction.”