Violet CoCo
{{Short description|Australian climate activist}}
{{use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Violet Coco
| image = Violet Coco 2023.jpg
| caption = Coco in 2023
| birth_name = Deanna Maree Henskens
| birth_date = 11 November 1990
| known_for = Sydney Harbour Bridge protest in 2022
| family = Alister Henskens (uncle)
}}
Deanna Maree "Violet" Coco,{{cite web
| last1 = Gladstone
| first1 = Nigel
| title = Climate activist jailed under new laws for blocking Sydney Harbour Bridge
| date = 2 December 2022
| language = en
| work = The Sydney Morning Herald
| location = Sydney, Australia
| url = https://www.smh.com.au/national/australia-news-live-labor-s-industrial-relations-reforms-pass-the-senate-liberals-to-finalise-voice-to-parliament-position-next-year-20221201-p5c2xs.html
| access-date = 2022-12-09
| archive-date = 9 December 2022
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221209064858/https://www.smh.com.au/national/australia-news-live-labor-s-industrial-relations-reforms-pass-the-senate-liberals-to-finalise-voice-to-parliament-position-next-year-20221201-p5c2xs.html
| url-status = live
}} May need to scroll down. (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 sentence, with the convictions remaining, 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. She was instead put on a 12 month conditional release order.
In March 2024, Coco plead guilty to charges of public nuisance
intentionally obstructing police for blocking the Melbourne West Gate Bridge during peak hour. She was sentenced to 21 days jail. On appeal this was subsequently increased to two months incarceration.{{Cite news |date=2024-03-19 |title=West Gate Bridge protesters who caused traffic chaos in Melbourne jailed for two months |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-19/westgate-bridge-climate-protest-sentencing-appeal/103604764 |access-date=2024-04-12 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}{{Cite news |date=2024-03-05 |title=Extinction Rebellion members jailed for blocking Melbourne's West Gate Bridge in climate protest |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-05/extinction-rebellion-jailed-west-gate-bridge-melbourne-traffic/103551058 |access-date=2024-03-06 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}
Activism
Coco is a high-profile activist{{Cite web |date=2023-05-03 |title=Climate activist Violet CoCo spray-paints ‘Woodside’ on police station |url=https://www.afr.com/companies/energy/climate-activist-violet-coco-spray-paints-woodside-on-police-station-20230504-p5d5gl |access-date=2023-05-25 |website=Australian Financial Review |language=en |archive-date=25 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230525230702/https://www.afr.com/companies/energy/climate-activist-violet-coco-spray-paints-woodside-on-police-station-20230504-p5d5gl |url-status=live }} affiliated with Fireproof Australia and Extinction Rebellion.{{cite news
| last1 = Morton
| first1 = Adam
| title = Wherever you stand on Violet Coco, her jailing raises the stakes for climate protest
| date = 4 December 2022
| work = The Guardian
| location = London, United Kingdom
| language = en
| issn = 0261-3077
| url = https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/dec/05/wherever-you-stand-on-violet-coco-her-jailing-raises-the-stakes-for-climate-protest
| access-date = 2022-12-10
| archive-date = 9 December 2022
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221209064855/https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/dec/05/wherever-you-stand-on-violet-coco-her-jailing-raises-the-stakes-for-climate-protest
| url-status = live
}} The 2019–20 Australian bushfire season motivated Coco to shift focus from her events management business and towards climate change activism.
File:JMP 4925 XR (48940737592).jpg
In August 2021, CoCo burned a pram outside Australian Parliament House and then glued her hand to the pavement to protest Environment Minister Sussan Ley's legal defence that the Australian Government does not have a duty of care towards younger Australians.{{Cite web|url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7413608/protester-who-burnt-pram-at-parliament-told-to-follow-gandhis-lead/ |title=Canberra Extinction Rebellion members Deanna 'Violet' Coco and Catherine Anne Adams convicted for crimes from protests}}
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.{{cite news
| last1 = Turnbull
| first1 = Tiffanie
| title = Violet Coco: climate activist's jailing ignites row in Australia
| date = 8 December 2022
| language = en
| work = BBC News
| location = London, United Kingdom
| url = https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-63883430
| access-date = 2022-12-09
| archive-date = 9 December 2022
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221209063708/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-63883430
| url-status = live
}} Her arrest for the protest was her 21st arrest.
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.{{cite news
| last1 = Bucci
| first1 = Nino
| title = How does the 15-month jail term for environmental protester Violet Coco compare to other sentences?
| date = 9 December 2022
| language = en
| work = The Guardian
| location = London, United Kingdom
| issn = 0261-3077
| url = https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/dec/09/violet-coco-how-does-the-15-month-sentence-for-environmental-protester-compare
| access-date = 2022-12-10
| archive-date = 9 December 2022
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221209063708/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/dec/09/violet-coco-how-does-the-15-month-sentence-for-environmental-protester-compare
| url-status = live
}} The severity of the sentence was criticised by United Nations special rapporteur on peaceful assembly Clément Nyaletsossi Voule, and by Human Rights Watch.{{cite news
| author = The Guardian
| title = UN official 'alarmed' by jailing of climate activist who blocked traffic on Sydney Harbour Bridge
| date = 3 December 2022
| language = en
| work = The Guardian
| location = London, United Kingdom
| issn = 0261-3077
| url = https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/dec/03/un-official-alarmed-by-jailing-of-climate-activist-who-blocked-traffic-on-sydney-harbour-bridge
| access-date = 2022-12-03
| archive-date = 10 December 2022
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221210155058/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/dec/03/un-official-alarmed-by-jailing-of-climate-activist-who-blocked-traffic-on-sydney-harbour-bridge
| url-status = live
}} 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".{{cite news
| last1 = Taylor
| first1 = Josh
| last2 = Wind
| first2 = Emily
| last3 = May
| first3 = Natasha
| title = Violet Coco jailing condemned by Greenpeace
| date = 7 December 2022
| work = The Guardian
| language = en
| location = London, United Kingdom
| issn = 0261-3077
| url = https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2022/dec/07/australia-news-live-richard-marles-and-penny-wong-in-washington-talks-ama-says-health-system-at-breaking-point?filterKeyEvents=false&page=with:block-639018d28f0819dada4ee155#block-639018d28f0819dada4ee155
| access-date = 2022-12-09
| archive-date = 11 December 2022
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221211101936/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2022/dec/07/australia-news-live-richard-marles-and-penny-wong-in-washington-talks-ama-says-health-system-at-breaking-point?filterKeyEvents=false&page=with:block-639018d28f0819dada4ee155#block-639018d28f0819dada4ee155
| url-status = live
}} May need to scroll. Coco alleges mistreatment by New South Wales Police during her arrest and detention.{{cite web
| last1 = Mahony
| first1 = Jack
| title = Jailed climate protester alleges NSW police threatened her with 'sexual violence'
| language = en
| date = 6 December 2022
| work = Sky News Australia
| url = https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/crime/jailed-climate-protester-deanna-violet-coco-alleges-nsw-police-threatened-her-with-sexual-violence-and-refused-to-feed-her/news-story/3cf9a033f040c04e5123adcf7faccb82
| access-date = 2022-12-11
| archive-date = 11 December 2022
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221211084930/https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/crime/jailed-climate-protester-deanna-violet-coco-alleges-nsw-police-threatened-her-with-sexual-violence-and-refused-to-feed-her/news-story/3cf9a033f040c04e5123adcf7faccb82
| url-status = live
}}
Coco was held for 11 days at Silverwater Correctional Centre, New South Wales, Australia.{{cite web
| author = Fireproof Australia
| title = #FreeViolet – Fireproof Australia
| date = 2022
| work = Fireproof Australia
| url = https://fireproof.news/freeviolet/
| access-date = 2022-12-11
| archive-date = 11 December 2022
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221211105354/https://fireproof.news/freeviolet/
| url-status = usurped
}} On 13 December 2022, over 100 protestors gathered outside the District Court of New South Wales anticipating Coco's appeal hearing.
{{cite web
| last1 = Ferri | first1 = Lauren
| title = Climate activist Deanna "Violet" Coco appeal hearing, protesters outside court
| date = 13 December 2022
| language = en
| work = news.com.au
| url = https://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/climate-change/protesters-gather-outside-court-for-climate-activist-deanna-violet-coco/news-story/e41cffb056eaeb1c7435593d8b9dc383
| access-date = 2022-12-13
}}
That same day, she was released from jail on bail as she prepared to appeal her sentencing.{{cite news
| last1 = McGowan
| first1 = Michael
| title = Climate activist Deanna 'Violet' Coco freed from prison while she appeals 15-month jail sentence
| date = 13 December 2022
| language = en
| work = The Guardian
| location = London, United Kingdom
| issn = 0261-3077
| url = https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/dec/13/climate-activist-deanna-violet-coco-freed-from-prison-while-she-appeals-15-month-jail-sentence
| access-date = 2022-12-13
| archive-date = 13 December 2022
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221213125433/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/dec/13/climate-activist-deanna-violet-coco-freed-from-prison-while-she-appeals-15-month-jail-sentence
| url-status = live
}} Bail conditions prohibited her from being within one kilometre of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. 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.{{Cite news |date=2023-03-15 |title=Climate activist Deanna 'Violet' Coco's 15-month jail sentence quashed on appeal |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/mar/15/climate-activist-deanna-violet-cocos-15-month-jail-sentence-overturned-on-appeal |access-date=2023-03-15 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=15 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315045835/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/mar/15/climate-activist-deanna-violet-cocos-15-month-jail-sentence-overturned-on-appeal |url-status=live }} {{Cite news |date=2023-03-15 |title=Violet Coco: Activist's jail term overturned in Australia protest row |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-64898508 |access-date=2023-03-15 |archive-date=15 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315050315/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-64898508 |url-status=live }} The two charges for resisting arrest and using a flare as an unauthorised explosive remained on her record.
In March 2023 Coco was fined $200 after spray painting a police station with the logo of Woodside Energy.{{Cite news |last=Bucci |first=Nino |last2= |first2= |date=2023-05-04 |title=Magistrate commends activist Deanna 'Violet' Coco for 'noble' beliefs but says she went too far |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/may/04/deanna-violet-coco-to-face-court-after-allegedly-spray-painting-woodside-logo-on-perth-police-station |access-date=2023-05-25 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=25 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230525203122/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/may/04/deanna-violet-coco-to-face-court-after-allegedly-spray-painting-woodside-logo-on-perth-police-station |url-status=live }} 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.
In popular culture
A First Dog on the Moon cartoon depicted Violet Coco's 2022 imprisonment.{{cite news |author=First Dog on the Moon |date=7 December 2022 |title=Violet Coco is in prison meanwhile the fossil fuel people are really getting value for money |language=en |work=The Guardian |location=Australia |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/dec/07/violet-coco-is-in-prison-meanwhile-the-fossil-fuel-people-are-really-getting-value-for-money |access-date=2023-02-10 |archive-date=10 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230210105030/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/dec/07/violet-coco-is-in-prison-meanwhile-the-fossil-fuel-people-are-really-getting-value-for-money |url-status=live }}
Personal life
In 2019, Coco was the owner-operator of an events management company.{{cite news
| last1 = McGowan
| first1 = Michael
| title = Climate activist Deanna 'Violet' Coco reveals why she was prepared to risk jail time
| date = 14 December 2022
| work = The Guardian
| language = en
| location = London, United Kingdom
| issn = 0261-3077
| url = https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/dec/14/climate-activist-deanna-violet-coco-reveals-why-she-was-prepared-to-risk-jail-time
| access-date = 2022-12-14
| archive-date = 14 December 2022
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221214225520/https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/dec/14/climate-activist-deanna-violet-coco-reveals-why-she-was-prepared-to-risk-jail-time
| url-status = live
}} She is the niece of New South Wales state minister Alister Henskens, who had voted in support of the anti{{nbhyph}}protest legislation used to convict Coco.{{cite news
| last1 = McGowan
| first1 = Michael
| title = Violet Coco: NSW minister voted for laws used to jail his niece for 15 months over climate protest
| date = 6 December 2022
| language = en
| work = The Guardian
| location = London, United Kingdom
| issn = 0261-3077
| url = https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/dec/06/violet-coco-nsw-minister-voted-for-laws-used-to-jail-his-niece-for-15-months-over-climate-protest
| access-date = 2022-12-10
| archive-date = 10 December 2022
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221210163515/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/dec/06/violet-coco-nsw-minister-voted-for-laws-used-to-jail-his-niece-for-15-months-over-climate-protest
| url-status = live
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{authority control}}
External links
- [https://www.instagram.com/circacoco/?hl=en Violet Coco] – Instagram
{{DEFAULTSORT:Coco, Violet}}
Category:Australian climate activists