On August 5 last year, a group of Just Stop Oil activists attempted to break into Manchester Airport as part of a protest aimed at raising awareness about climate change. The individuals involved—Daniel Knorr, 22; Leonorah Ward, 22; Indigo Rumbelow, 30; Margaret Reid, 54; and Noah Crane, 19—deny conspiring to intentionally cause a public nuisance.

The group was stopped in Gatley, Stockport, while on their way to the airport in the early hours of the morning. They were found in possession of angle grinders, bolt cutters, superglue, sand, and banners. In the ongoing trial at Minshull Street Crown Court, Margaret Reid, representing herself, took the witness stand to defend her actions.

Reid recounted her upbringing on an estate in Kent and shared that her grandfather worked for BP Oil after his service in the Royal Navy. She expressed that his death from lung cancer was a significant influence on her activism, stating, “Those big corporations had an impact on those lives, and that’s what led me to standing here today.”

She criticized the oil industry for covering up the harmful effects of its products, comparing it to the tobacco industry. Reid became motivated to act after witnessing the Extinction Rebellion protests at the Natural History Museum in 2019, which led to the government declaring a climate emergency.

Continuing her testimony, Reid mentioned her direct action in 2022 at an oil terminal and highlighted a protest she conducted at the World Snooker Championship in April 2023. She recalled the extreme weather conditions of that year, emphasizing, “During that year we had 40 degree heat, the motorways were melting, and I remember the birds were falling out of the sky due to dehydration.”

She explained that seeing ‘business as usual in the face of a climate emergency’ motivated her and others to plan their demonstration at Manchester Airport, aiming for maximum impact without disrupting air traffic. “It wasn't about the people using the airports; it’s about where would be the most appropriate for our demonstration,” she asserted.

A chatroom was created to organize their actions, and Reid got a lift to Manchester from a friend. She stressed her intentions, saying, “I wasn’t setting out to be a public nuisance. I was setting out to try and prevent the devastation of nature, the devastation of human lives and massive economic loss.”

The group planned their actions meticulously, checking flight schedules to minimize inconvenience. Reid, who was recovering from a broken arm, was supposed to take photographs of the protest, intending to capture images of the sparks from the angle grinders while making their statement to the press.

Reid expressed her commitment to awareness, saying, “It was an audacious plan, but we felt we had to do it. It would bring massive awareness if it got into the press. I didn’t want to be a nuisance; I wanted to save lives.”

Jurors learned that except for Mr. Crane, all defendants were arrested after being spotted near a Nissan Micra registered to an associate, where they allegedly discarded a key. A concerned resident reported the situation, leading to their detention.

During cross-examination, Reid reaffirmed, “We didn’t want to compromise the safety of the people in the airport.” The defendants, including Ms. Reid of Low Fellside, Kendal; Mr. Knorr, Ms. Ward, and Mr. Crane from Birmingham; and Ms. Rumbelow from Haringey, continue to deny the charges of conspiracy to intentionally cause a public nuisance.

Proceeding