Tim DeChristopher pleaded not guilty because he, his lawyers, and millions of other people recognize that he was preventing a greater crime from occurring–he was preventing climate catastrophe. However, federal prosecutors filed a motion to keep him from using the threat of climate change in his defense, and after a contentious battle, granted the prosecution the right to limit his defense. They silenced his defense team, because they feared the potential for the jury to agree with the urgent need to allay climate change, and acquit him; this is where much of the outrage surrounding the trial arises.

Check back here soon to read “The Silenced Defense.”