Climate activist who blocked traffic on Sydney Harbour Bridge jailed for at least eight months

Violet Coco, a member of the Fireproof Australia activist group, has been jailed for eight months over a protest on Sydney Harbour Bridge. Photograph: Carly Earl/The Guardian

A climate protester who blocked a lane of traffic on Sydney Harbour Bridge has been sentenced to 15 months in prison with a non-parole period of eight months, with human rights advocates labelling the punishment “disproportionate”.

Magistrate Allison Hawkins in Sydney’s Downing Centre local court on Friday sentenced Deanna “Violet” Coco to prison for her role in the climate protest on 13 April this year, when the now 32-year-old parked a truck and stood holding a lit flare.