Phil Kingston

Phil Kingston (born 1936)[1] is a climate activist and protester with the climate groups Christian Climate Action and Extinction Rebellion.[2]

For the British-Australian entrepreneur, see Phillip Kingston.

Biography

Prior to getting involved in activism, Kingston was a lecturer at Bristol University.[3]

Activism

In November 2018, Kingston was arrested after he obstructed traffic by blocking the road outside the Houses of Parliament. It was reported that when police moved him out of the way of traffic, he repeatedly attempted to lie back in the road.[3]

In April 2019, he was arrested again for his part in a protest that disrupted the Docklands Light Railway when he and other activists climbed on the roof of a train while another protester glued themselves to one of the doors.[1][4][5] He was granted bail on the conditions that he would respect a curfew and not travel to London.[2][6]

During Extinction Rebellion's October Rebellion in 2019, Kingston was arrested several times after he graffitied and sprayed fake blood on the Treasury building, blocked access to London City Airport, and glued his hand to a DLR train at Shadwell station.[7][8][9][10] He later said he regretted gluing himself to the train because he became aware of the impact it was having on commuters and because he "want[s] to target the corporations and government departments".[11]

In December 2021, Kingston was acquitted for gluing himself to the train in April 2019, alongside the five other protesters involved.[12]

His trial for gluing himself to the train in October 2019, along with the two other protesters who climbed on top of one of the carriages, began at Inner London Crown Court in January 2022.[13] All three denied one charge of obstructing an engine or carriage on the railway,[14][15] and were subsequently unanimously acquitted.[16]

Personal life

Kingston has four grandchildren.[17] He is a Christian.[18][19]

References
  1. "Veteran climate activist among protesters to be removed from train". ITV News. 25 April 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  2. Burgess, Kaya (27 April 2019). "Judge in awe of climate activist Phil Kingston, 83, who climbed on DLR train roof". The Times. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  3. Cork, Tristan (4 November 2018). "Why 'little to lose' Phil, 82, tried five times to get arrested outside Parliament". Bristol Post. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  4. "Extinction Rebellion: the arrestables – a photo essay". The Guardian. 7 October 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  5. Hartley-Parkinson, Richard (17 April 2019). "Climate change protesters bring DLR to halt by targeting train at Canary Wharf". The Metro. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  6. Hornall, Thomas (26 April 2019). "Bristol climate change activist grandfather, 83, bailed after court hearing". Bristol Post. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  7. Busby, Mattha (3 October 2019). "Extinction Rebellion protesters spray fake blood on to Treasury". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  8. Bawden, Tom (10 October 2019). "Extinction Rebellion: 83-year-old man and Paralympian join arrests after airport shutdown is attempted". i News. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  9. "Extinction Rebellion protester, 83, arrested at London City airport – video". The Guardian. 10 October 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  10. Tristan Cork (17 October 2019). "Bristol grandad, 83, glues himself to Tube train in London over 'suffering and death on enormous scale'". Bristol Live. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  11. Alex Ross (24 October 2019). "Veteran Extinction Rebellion supporter Phil Kingston, 83, admits regret over DLR protest". Bristol Live. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  12. Kevin Rawlinson (10 December 2021). "Jury clears Extinction Rebellion activists who targeted commuters". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  13. "XR protesters went 'too far' when they stopped DLR train, court told". ITV News. 11 January 2022. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  14. "XR protester, 85, tells court he glued himself to London DLR train 'for grandchildren'". ITV News. 13 January 2022. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  15. Samuel Webb (12 January 2022). "Climate protester priest who climbed on rush hour train tells court 'we tried everything else'". The Independent. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  16. Matthew Taylor (14 January 2022). "Extinction Rebellion activists cleared over London rush hour disruption". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  17. "Extinction Rebellion spray fake blood on Treasury using fire engine". Extinction Rebellion. 3 October 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  18. "'Swarming' – Stories from Christian Climate Action Affinity Group -Part Two of Three". XR Blog. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  19. Robinson, Sadie (10 October 2019). "Extinction Rebellion protesters take on aviation industry with occupation at London City Airport". Socialist Worker. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
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