"This is just the beginning!": Climate activists announce further protest actions - imprisonment "gives me strength"

Created: 11/06/2022, 12:01 p.m

By: Sophia Oberhuber

After this adhesive action in the BMW world, Misquero (front center) & Co. were taken into custody.

© Goetzfried

Numerous climate activists were imprisoned for almost a week for a protest action in BMW World.

But they don't think about quitting, as two of them are now revealing.

Munich – Fifteen climate activists stuck to cars in the BMW World and on the streets in Munich last week.

The police then took her into custody.

Most of them were detained for a total of six days.

Two of the activists, Mauricio Misquero (33) from Spain and Sylvain Dome (36) from France, talk to our editors about why, despite all the criticism, they would do everything exactly the same way again.

They are both scientists.

There is no preparation for imprisonment.

How are you?

Dome:

It was the first time I ever came into contact with the police.

But i feel ok

Misquero

: I have to add that we don't do this because we like civil disobedience.

We just don't have any other option.

This is the last way to get public attention.

And you sacrifice your freedom for this attention?

Misquero

: It's a very strong message that we're sending.

We need to communicate the urgency of the situation.

And something everyone understands is when your freedom is taken away.

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The environmental activists Sylvain Dome (left) and Mauricio Misquero F. © Sophia Oberhuber

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How did you experience imprisonment?

Dome:

We were first in solitary confinement, then we were allowed to talk to each other for an hour a day.

But we weren't allowed to have any books with us.

That was hard.

It can drive you a bit crazy.

Misquero:

But it also gives you time to think about what's important in life and why we do what we do.

It gives you strength.

We all had the feeling that it will continue.

This isn't the end of the fight, it's just the beginning!

But it is important to protest non-violently for action on the climate crisis.

How do you react to criticism that, for example, ambulances could not get through?

Dome:

With every action there is a part of the road that is not blocked.

So that rescuers can get through.

We try to block everything - except emergency lanes.

Blood transport driver blocked

That blockades by climate activists can have dangerous consequences was shown on Thursday in Munich.

A blood transport driver had to be directed to the tram lane by the police.

"I had to take a detour with a lot of loss of time because activists had to stick to the street," said driver Jens Luther, who sits on the city council for the CSU.

“Some of the climate activists endanger the health and life of other people.

The rule of law must not accept that,” said Minister of Justice Georg Eisenreich.

Interview: Sophia Oberhuber