Violet Coco

Deanna Maree “Violet” Coco,[1] (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 conviction 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.

Violet Coco
Coco in 2019
Born
Deanna Maree Coco

1989 or 1990
Known forSydney Harbour Bridge protest in 2022
FamilyAlister Henskens (uncle)

Activism

Coco is affiliated with Fireproof Australia and Extinction Rebellion.[1][2] The 2019–20 Australian bushfire season motivated Coco to shift focus from her events management business and towards climate change activism.[3]

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.[2][4] Her arrest for the protest was her 21st arrest.[1]

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.[4][5] The severity of the sentence was criticised by Clément Nyaletsossi Voule, the United Nations special rapporteur on peaceful assembly, and by Human Rights Watch.[4][6] 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”.[7] Coco alleges New South Wales Police mistreatment during her arrest and detention.[8]

Coco was held at Silverwater Correctional Centre, New South Wales, Australia.[9] On 13 December 2022, over 100 protestors gathered outside the District Court of New South Wales anticipating Coco's appeal hearing.[10] That same day, she was released from jail on bail as she prepared to appeal her sentencing.[11] Bail conditions prohibit her from being within one kilometre of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.[10] 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[12] by New South Wales Police.[13] The two charges for resisting arrest and using a flare as an unauthorised explosive remained on her record.[12]

Coco featured in a painting by Lesley Fitzpatrick selected for the satirical Bald Archy Prize Exhibition in 2023, titled This is Coal – Don't be Afraid, Don't be Scared'.[14] Fitzpatrick's painting satirises the Australian government's inaction on climate change while depicting the 2019–20 Australian bushfire season and a 2021 climate protest during which Coco set fire to an empty pram outside Parliament House.[15] A First Dog on the Moon cartoon depicted Violet Coco's 2022 imprisonment.[16]

Personal life

In 2019, Coco was the owner-operator of an events management company.[3] She is the niece of New South Wales state minister Alister Henskens, who recently voted in support of the anti‑protest legislation used to convict Coco.[17] Coco was aged 32 years in 2022.[2]

References
  1. Gladstone, Nigel (2 December 2022). "Climate activist jailed under new laws for blocking Sydney Harbour Bridge". The Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney, Australia. Retrieved 9 December 2022. May need to scroll down.
  2. Morton, Adam (4 December 2022). "Wherever you stand on Violet Coco, her jailing raises the stakes for climate protest". The Guardian. London, United Kingdom. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  3. McGowan, Michael (14 December 2022). "Climate activist Deanna 'Violet' Coco reveals why she was prepared to risk jail time". The Guardian. London, United Kingdom. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  4. Turnbull, Tiffanie (8 December 2022). "Violet Coco: climate activist's jailing ignites row in Australia". BBC News. London, United Kingdom. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  5. Bucci, Nino (9 December 2022). "How does the 15-month jail term for environmental protester Violet Coco compare to other sentences?". The Guardian. London, United Kingdom. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  6. The Guardian (3 December 2022). "UN official 'alarmed' by jailing of climate activist who blocked traffic on Sydney Harbour Bridge". The Guardian. London, United Kingdom. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  7. Taylor, Josh; Wind, Emily; May, Natasha (7 December 2022). "Violet Coco jailing condemned by Greenpeace". The Guardian. London, United Kingdom. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 9 December 2022. May need to scroll.
  8. Mahony, Jack (6 December 2022). "Jailed climate protester alleges NSW police threatened her with 'sexual violence'". Sky News Australia. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  9. Fireproof Australia (2022). "#FreeViolet – Fireproof Australia". Fireproof Australia. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  10. Ferri, Lauren (13 December 2022). "Climate activist Deanna "Violet" Coco appeal hearing, protesters outside court". news.com.au. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  11. McGowan, Michael (13 December 2022). "Climate activist Deanna 'Violet' Coco freed from prison while she appeals 15-month jail sentence". The Guardian. London, United Kingdom. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  12. "Climate activist Deanna 'Violet' Coco's 15-month jail sentence quashed on appeal". The Guardian. 15 March 2023. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  13. "Violet Coco: Activist's jail term overturned in Australia protest row". BBC News. 15 March 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  14. Burnside, Niki (10 February 2023). "Satirical Bald Archy Prize returns to paint political leaders, artists and notable Australians in a colourful light". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Australia. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  15. Burnside, Niki (10 February 2023). "Satirical Bald Archy Prize returns to paint political leaders, artists and notable Australians in a colourful light". Australian Broadcasting Company. Australia. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  16. First Dog on the Moon (7 December 2022). "Violet Coco is in prison meanwhile the fossil fuel people are really getting value for money". The Guardian. Australia. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  17. McGowan, Michael (6 December 2022). "Violet Coco: NSW minister voted for laws used to jail his niece for 15 months over climate protest". The Guardian. London, United Kingdom. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
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