Protesters from the “Just Stop Oil” group raided the Silverstone F1 circuit during the opening round of the British Grand Prix last week. While these individuals were on the Wellington Straight, the fastest point of the track, their organization tweeted that “we demand that the government stop all new fossil fuel permits”.
Dan Wootton has criticized the activists for putting lives on the line and insisted that they be thrown in jail.
The GB News host wrote in the Mail that he was all for freedom of expression and the right to protest.
But the actions of those who represent “Just Stop Oil,” he argued, went beyond these rights and constituted an act of “eco-terrorism.”
Seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton said of the protesters: “I love that people are fighting for the planet and we need more people like them.”
Gary Lineker added in a Twitter post: “If it’s not too late [to prevent the world from being destroyed by climate change]history will look back on these people very positively.”
But former British motorsport driver Martin Brundle hit back at this support, claiming the protesters were endangering lives.
He wrote: “Gary, please do not encourage this reckless behaviour.
“They would have been cut into 100 pieces and fans, marshals and drivers were at full risk of injury and death…
READ MORE: Boris ‘ready’ as Brexiteer brands PM ‘terrible’ for populism
By risking the lives of others (and, indeed, themselves), the protesters are harming the cause they hope to defend, he added.
Mr Wootton argued: “Just Stop Oil is an evil force that does far more harm than good to the cause of climate change they claim to represent.
“The haters and destroyers should be imprisoned because they have become a terrorist organization based on extremism.”
In addition to running on racetracks, climate protesters around the world have been targeting famous and beloved works of art in recent weeks.
Protesters stuck their hands to the base of a 16th-century copy of Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper at London’s Royal Academy of Arts this week, sparking further outrage.
But despite – or perhaps because of – the resistance, Just Stop Oil has maintained that it will “continue to resist until our demand is met”.