In an era marked by escalating climate crises and polarized public discourse, acts of unlawful activism that protesters defend as necessary acts of civil disobedience have
become a regularly deployed but controversial form of engagement within democracies in Europe. This roundtable organised by the University of Amsterdam, brings together an activist, a legal practitioner, a philosopher, and a legal scholar to explore the complex interplay between law, moral justification, and democratic legitimacy in the context of climate dissent. How should we understand the role of civil disobedience when conventional political channels appear inadequate or unresponsive? What are the legal and ethical boundaries of protest in democratic societies? And how do courts and institutions respond to, or reshape, these acts of resistance?

Speakers:
• Willem Jebbink, an experienced lawyer representing (climate) activists before court.
• Jelle de Graaf, an activist who has engaged in lawful but also unlawful activism and has recently published a book on his motivations.
• Colin Hickey, philosopher, and Jerfi Uzman, professor of public law, who have both engaged with civil disobedience in their work.