Ten days before the opening of the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC), five members of the local Greenpeace group were apprehended on Thursday, May 29th, in Nice. They were participating in an action aimed at raising awareness about the state of the oceans.
Activists were caught in the act during a chalk drawing and posting operation. The action was intended to be non-violent and was conducted openly. Its objective was to raise public awareness about the need for strict protection of marine protected areas.
Apprehended in the morning, the activists were held in custody for over 18 hours. Four of them also had their homes searched. According to Greenpeace, those involved were unable to contact their lawyers or inform their families during this time.
The Nice prosecutor’s office confirmed that the custody would be lifted in the evening. The activists are being prosecuted for “group vandalism,” related to graffiti on public structures and facades.
They are summoned before the prosecutor’s delegate. The procedure involves a conditional dismissal of the case. Each activist must pay a citizen contribution of 500 euros to avoid legal proceedings.
In a statement, Greenpeace France condemns the authorities’ reaction: “Even on the eve of a United Nations conference, nothing justifies such a disproportionate reaction by law enforcement for mere posters and chalk drawings.”
The association describes it as an attempt to deter any form of mobilization ahead of the UNOC, which will be held from June 9th to 13th in Nice. It also criticizes “an infringement on defense rights,” as the activists’ lawyer was not informed of their custody.
In the late afternoon, a support rally took place in front of the Auvare barracks, called by the local Greenpeace group.
The NGO maintains its commitment and announces more mobilizations to come around ocean protection.
