Violet Coco

Deanna Maree "Violet" Coco,[1] (born 1989 or 1990) usually known as Violet Coco, is an Australian climate activist who was briefly jailed on remand for blocking the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 2022. She successfully appealed her 15-month jail conviction in March 2023, after the judge found that her conviction was based on false information from the police about an ambulance being blocked by her protest.

Violet Coco
Coco in 2023
Born
Deanna Maree Coco

1989 or 1990
Known forSydney Harbour Bridge protest in 2022
FamilyAlister Henskens (uncle)

Activism

Coco is a high-profile activist[2] affiliated with Fireproof Australia and Extinction Rebellion.[1][3] The 2019–20 Australian bushfire season motivated Coco to shift focus from her events management business and towards climate change activism.[4]

Coco being arrested as part of a climate protest in 2019.

On 13 April 2022, she blocked one lane of traffic on the Sydney Harbour Bridge as part of a protest drawing attention to climate change.[3][5] Her arrest for the protest was her 21st arrest.[1]

In December 2022, Coco was found guilty of breaking traffic laws and misusing a safety flare and sentenced by Magistrate Allison Hawkins to 15 months in jail.[5][6] The severity of the sentence was criticised by United Nations special rapporteur on peaceful assembly Clément Nyaletsossi Voule, and by Human Rights Watch.[5][7] David Ritter, chief executive of Greenpeace Australia Pacific, also condemned the penalty and the new legislation that enabled it, which he described as "rushed through in a chilling and knee-jerk response to ongoing peaceful protests".[8] Coco alleges mistreatment by New South Wales Police during her arrest and detention.[9]

Coco was held for 11 days at Silverwater Correctional Centre, New South Wales, Australia.[10] On 13 December 2022, over 100 protestors gathered outside the District Court of New South Wales anticipating Coco's appeal hearing.[11] That same day, she was released from jail on bail as she prepared to appeal her sentencing.[12] Bail conditions prohibited her from being within one kilometre of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.[11] Her appeal of the 15-month jail sentence was successful in mid-March 2023, after the judge concluded evidence of an ambulance being blocked at the protest was falsely presented by New South Wales Police.[13] [14] The two charges for resisting arrest and using a flare as an unauthorised explosive remained on her record.[13]

In March 2023 Coco was fined $200 after spray painting a police station with the logo of Woodside Energy.[2][15] The sentencing judge credited Coco: "It is noble and commendable people have strong personal views" but also stated that she had gone "too far" in her actions.[15]

A First Dog on the Moon cartoon depicted Violet Coco's 2022 imprisonment.[16]

Personal life

In 2019, Coco was the owner-operator of an events management company.[4] She is the niece of New South Wales state minister Alister Henskens, who had voted in support of the anti‑protest legislation used to convict Coco.[17] Coco was aged 32 years in 2022.[3]

References
  1. Gladstone, Nigel (2 December 2022). "Climate activist jailed under new laws for blocking Sydney Harbour Bridge". The Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney, Australia. Archived from the original on 9 December 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2022. May need to scroll down.
  2. "Climate activist Violet CoCo spray-paints 'Woodside' on police station". Australian Financial Review. 3 May 2023. Archived from the original on 25 May 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  3. Morton, Adam (4 December 2022). "Wherever you stand on Violet Coco, her jailing raises the stakes for climate protest". The Guardian. London, United Kingdom. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 9 December 2022. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  4. McGowan, Michael (14 December 2022). "Climate activist Deanna 'Violet' Coco reveals why she was prepared to risk jail time". The Guardian. London, United Kingdom. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 14 December 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  5. Turnbull, Tiffanie (8 December 2022). "Violet Coco: climate activist's jailing ignites row in Australia". BBC News. London, United Kingdom. Archived from the original on 9 December 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  6. Bucci, Nino (9 December 2022). "How does the 15-month jail term for environmental protester Violet Coco compare to other sentences?". The Guardian. London, United Kingdom. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 9 December 2022. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  7. The Guardian (3 December 2022). "UN official 'alarmed' by jailing of climate activist who blocked traffic on Sydney Harbour Bridge". The Guardian. London, United Kingdom. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 10 December 2022. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  8. Taylor, Josh; Wind, Emily; May, Natasha (7 December 2022). "Violet Coco jailing condemned by Greenpeace". The Guardian. London, United Kingdom. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 11 December 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2022. May need to scroll.
  9. Mahony, Jack (6 December 2022). "Jailed climate protester alleges NSW police threatened her with 'sexual violence'". Sky News Australia. Archived from the original on 11 December 2022. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  10. Fireproof Australia (2022). "#FreeViolet – Fireproof Australia". Fireproof Australia. Archived from the original on 11 December 2022. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  11. Ferri, Lauren (13 December 2022). "Climate activist Deanna "Violet" Coco appeal hearing, protesters outside court". news.com.au. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  12. McGowan, Michael (13 December 2022). "Climate activist Deanna 'Violet' Coco freed from prison while she appeals 15-month jail sentence". The Guardian. London, United Kingdom. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 13 December 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  13. "Climate activist Deanna 'Violet' Coco's 15-month jail sentence quashed on appeal". The Guardian. 15 March 2023. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 15 March 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  14. "Violet Coco: Activist's jail term overturned in Australia protest row". BBC News. 15 March 2023. Archived from the original on 15 March 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  15. Bucci, Nino (4 May 2023). "Magistrate commends activist Deanna 'Violet' Coco for 'noble' beliefs but says she went too far". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 25 May 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  16. First Dog on the Moon (7 December 2022). "Violet Coco is in prison meanwhile the fossil fuel people are really getting value for money". The Guardian. Australia. Archived from the original on 10 February 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  17. McGowan, Michael (6 December 2022). "Violet Coco: NSW minister voted for laws used to jail his niece for 15 months over climate protest". The Guardian. London, United Kingdom. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 10 December 2022. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
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