Dartford Crossing climate activist in deportation battle
Marcus Decker's partner launches legal campaign backed by celebs
Friday, 26th January — By Anna Lamche
Marcus Decker and Holly Cullen-Davies
A CAMPAIGN has been launched to stop the deportation of a climate activist who received one of the most “severe” sentences for peaceful protest in British history.
Holly Cullen-Davies is in a legal battle with the Home Office to save her partner Marcus Decker from being forced back to Germany.
The former Camden School for Girls pupil’s campaign has been backed by a range of celebrities including the environmentalist and TV presenter Chris Packham.
And a letter addressed to the Home Office in defence of Mr Decker has been signed by actors Olivia Colman, Jeremy Irons and Emma Thompson, and musicians Brian Eno, Sam Lee and Bob Geldof, and photographer Nadav Kander.
Mr Decker, a German national who grew up near Leipzig, scaled the Dartford Crossing bridge in October 2022 as part of a climate protest along with fellow environmentalist Morgan Trowland.
In April 2022, Mr Decker was jailed for two years and seven months for causing a public nuisance – a sentence which has been criticised by the UN as “severe”.
Mr Trowland was handed a three-year sentence.
Just Stop Oil said these were the longest sentences for peaceful climate protest in British history.
Mr Trowland has since been released on electronic tag because he is a British passport holder.
Meanwhile, Mr Decker remains in HM Highpoint South in Suffolk, battling a Home Office deporta- tion order issued to him in the summer of last year.
According to Ms Cullen-Davies, he was offered an early release date by the Home Office – on the condition that he left England and never returned.
“He didn’t [accept] because he is committed to me and my family,” Ms Cullen-Davies told the New Journal.
Mr Decker writes to her children, now aged nine and 11, from jail and calls them regularly on the phone.
She said: “He’s still very much their stepdad, and a really important role model in their life – but it’s very difficult for them to understand the idea that he might be thrown out the country forever for doing something for their future.”
The family are preparing for Mr Decker to appear before a judge to fight his deportation order at any moment – although they have not yet received a court date.
“You cannot deport dissent, and you certainly cannot deport the climate crisis.
“I think that’s the key message: what is the government actually getting out of deporting this one man, who has been called a ‘human rights defender’ by the UN?”
“This is a different case from a criminal who has done something for their own personal gain… [crime] is not usually for the public good.
“Marcus did an action which he knew would result in a difficult situation for him. He knew he’d almost certainly go to prison.
“He was prepared for that. He did it ultimately to raise the alarm, [and] to protect billions of people on the frontline of the crisis right now.”
She said Mr Decker “should be believed” for his pledge never to participate in disruptive climate action again.
She said of her partner: “He’s an unusually bright and positive and cheerful person who lights up a room.
“He’s got an incredible ability to live in the present despite knowing what the future holds, and trying to mitigate the worst that the future holds.”
Mr Decker is also a gifted musician who often put on concerts in schools with Ms Cullen- Davies, also a classical pianist.
In prison, he has started a choir for other prisoners and plays the piano and organ for church services.
“He really lives lightly. He walks the walk, he lives as he preaches. He is an amazing example for all of us of how to live a lifestyle that is sustainable.”
She urged people to sign the petition on Change.org against his deportation; it now has more than 150,000 signatures (search for Marcus Decker).
A Home Office spokesperson said: “The right to protest is a fundamental part of our democracy but we must also protect the law-abiding majority’s right to go about their daily lives.
“Any foreign national who is convicted of a crime and given a prison sentence is considered for deportation at the earliest opportunity.”
