Two years ago Dr. Sarah Benn held a sign outside an oil terminal. The sign read, “Stop New Oil". Because of injunctions taken out by the oil companies this simple act meant she was arrested and imprisoned for 32 days.

Now 2 years later the General Medical Councils disciplinary arm has ruled that holding that sign amounted to professional misconduct and Dr Benn has been suspended from practising medicine for five months. This decision is not just unjust; it is an attack on the fundamental rights of every individual to stand up for our planet and our future.

That's why we are calling for this decision to be overturned.

“As a doctor, my fundamental duty is to protect health and life. This includes proactive efforts to prevent disease and death. The climate crisis is the most significant existential threat to global health we have ever faced... How could my patients trust me again, if I didn’t take action?"

Sarah should be applauded. Instead, regulatory bodies have chosen to silence a dedicated healthcare professional who is acting to protect health.

By punishing Dr. Benn, the General Medical Council is sending a chilling message that doctors and other professionals should remain silent about the greatest threat humanity has ever faced.

But we refuse to be silent.

We refuse to stand idly by while our rights to peaceful protest are eroded. We refuse to accept a world where those who speak out for the environment are punished while polluters walk free.

We demand that the decision of the GMC’s tribunal be reversed and that Dr. Sarah Benn is reinstated immediately. We demand that our rights to peaceful protest be protected and upheld.

It is not only we who are appalled. The British Medical Association, has said that it's "very concerned" that Dr. Benn's action could be considered professional misconduct.

We demand justice for Dr. Benn and for all climate activists who are fighting for a better world.

Sign this petition to stand with Sarah and to defend our right to protest!