On Tuesday (October 17), Greta Thunberg joined activists from Fossil Free London and Extinction Rebellion outside the Energy Intelligence Forum in London, to demand that oil companies stop using their money to influence politics and highlight their role in the climate crisis. During the demonstration, she was arrested alongside 26 other protesters.

Now, Thunberg has been charged with a public order offence. She’s accused of breaching a Section 14 order that police put in place outside the InterContinental Hotel on Park Lane, where oil executives – including bosses from Shell and Total – were gathering for the event. Released on bail, the 20-year-old activist now awaits a trial set for November 15.

According to the Met police, it gave conditions to the protesters under Section 14 of the Public Order Act to “prevent serious disruption to the community, hotel and guests”. 21 of the activists were charged with failing to comply with orders to move off the road, while five were charged with obstructing the highway.

During the demonstration, protesters called for the cancellation of the conference and chanted “oily money out”, in reference to the Energy Intelligence Forum’s previous name, the Oil and Money Conference. 

“Behind these closed doors at the Oil and Money conference, spineless politicians are making deals and compromises with lobbyists from destructive industries – the fossil fuel industry,” said Thunberg, speaking at the rally. “People all over the world are suffering and dying from the consequences of the climate crisis caused by these industries who we allow to meet with our politicians and have privileged access to.”

The protests are ongoing, with the Energy Intelligence Forum running from October 17 to 19.