Tim DeChristopher

This morning, before the start of today's historic Delta 5 trial, Tim DeChristopher and defendant Abby Brockway spoke with Democracy Now! about the significance of the case.  This is the first time a U.S. court has heard a ‘necessity defense’ in a case relating to climate action.

For full trial coverage visit the Climate Disobedience Center and Delta 5 trial websites. For Tim's live tweeting on the trial follow @DeChristopher.

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Democracy Now!, is an independent global news hour that airs weekdays on 1,300+ TV and radio stations Monday through Friday. Watch our livestream 8-9am ET: http://democracynow.org

From the Climate Disobedience Center press release:

Lynnwood, WA - Five community members who blocked the path of an explosive oil train in Everett last year will finally go to trial in Snohomish County on Monday. In a surprise ruling Judge Anthony E. Howard has allowed the defendants to argue that their actions were justified by the threat of climate change. This is the first time a U.S. court has heard a ‘necessity defense’ in a case relating to climate action.

The defendants, known to supporters as the Delta 5, will call expert witnesses including a co-author of the UN’s intergovernmental panel on climate change report and a rail safety expert, to convince the jury that the threat posed by climate change justifies their acts of civil disobedience. “There came a point where I could no longer sit back and wait for the politicians to act. I had to put my body on the line to demand not talk, but action on a massive scale to rapidly replace fossil fuels,” said Patrick Mazza, a member of the Delta 5 who has worked for years as an advocate for climate action.

Next week's trial was moved to the Lynnwood courtroom to accommodate a documentary crew and dozens of supporters who are expected to pack the courthouse. Some supporters have traveled across the country to attend, including Tim DeChristopher who gained national attention as ‘bidder 70’ after disrupting a 2008 Bureau of Land Management auction in Utah. DeChristopher spent two years in federal prison for his action.

Read full press release

Historic #Delta5 Trial Lets Activists Who Blocked Oil Train Cite #ClimateChange Threat In Defense https://t.co/8d79tudfyA @democracynow

— Climate Disobedience (@ClimateDisobey) January 11, 2016

Related Events

Tuesday, Jan 12th 6:30pm - An evening with Tim DeChristopher
Discussion, dinner and fundraiser supporting the Delta 5
Bring your questions about civil disobedience, the necessity defense or the delta 5 trial for Tim. Donations support Delta 5 legal expenses.
Woodland Park Presbyterian Church
225 N 70th St, Seattle, Washington 98103
Facebook event

Saturday, Jan 16th 7pm - The Power of Civil Disobedience: Awakening Our Spirits to the Challenge of the Climate Crisis
University Unitarian Church
6556 35th Avenue NE
Seattle, WA 98115
Facebook Event
Event Details on Sustainable NE Seattle