Status: 08.09.2023, 19:06 p.m.
By: Mark Stoffers
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The activists of the "Last Generation" recently blocked an important road in Essen. (Symbolic image) © Nadine Weigel/dpa/Symbolbild
Three activists of the "Last Generation" have been sentenced to several months in prison for blockade actions. The most drastic verdict so far.
Heilbronn – Groundbreaking verdict or excessive sentence? The whole of Germany is discussing the climate stickers and their actions. Recently, the storm of the Adlon occurred with the ignition of pyrotechnics and climate activists plan to bring all of Berlin to a standstill with a large-scale action next Wednesday, April 19, 2023. Now activists of the "Last Generation" had to answer in court because they blocked a road again just a few hours after a conviction.
The verdict against the climate stickers is at the same time a record fine: The three activists of the "Last Generation" have to go to prison for several months and were not simply asked to pay like other climate stickers.
Climate glue collects record fine: District court sentences activists of the "Last Generation" to prison terms
The Heilbronn District Court sentenced two men and one woman to prison terms of five, four and three months without parole for coercion. According to the public prosecutor's office and activists, the sentence is the harshest ever imposed on members of the "Last Generation" in Germany. Another climate glue was sentenced to three months in prison on probation. However, the verdict is not yet final.
The court saw it as proven that the three men and a woman blocked the federal highway 27 in Heilbronn in protest at the beginning of March. Three of the four defendants had already been sentenced to fines and short prison sentences for another road blockade on the morning of the now indicted action. However, the climate stickers were not approached – just like an activist of the last generation in another action.
Record fine for climate stickers after another road blockade: "Completely unteachable"
Only a few hours after the verdict, the activists, who are probably not full-time climate gluers and collect money, were back on the streets. According to police officers, two of the defendants also tried to stick to the asphalt. When that failed, the two glued themselves together with their hands. With the action, the activists wanted to express their displeasure with the previous verdict in the media, said the prosecutor. "There can't be a faster rate of relapse." The defendants were "completely unteachable".
The judge also addressed this in her reasoning for the ruling. "They didn't take the first verdict as an opportunity to question their behavior," she said. Because three of the four defendants had emphasized in the trial that they wanted to continue blocking roads, she had to impose the prison sentences. "You have expressed that nothing else impresses you," she said in the direction of the defendants.
Kima-Kleber have to go to jail: scandal at the sentencing of climate activists of the "last generation"
The activists saw it differently and emphasized in the trial that they had wanted to use the protest action to draw attention to what they considered to be inadequate measures to combat climate change. "I would like to be one of those people who can say: I have done everything in my power to stop climate change," said one of the defendants, who did not say a word against the measures against climate glue. Another emphasized that he does not currently see any other effective forms of protest than the road blockades. It is absolutely peaceful, does not destroy anything and does not threaten anyone with violence, said the defendant. "I don't see our protest as a crime."
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During the last word of one of the defendants, a scandal ensued: the defendants began to sing, parts of the audience applauded. The judge had the room evacuated for a short time and excluded parts of the audience from the hearing. Even before that, there had been repeated applause from the auditorium and admonitions from the judge not to disturb the proceedings.
Verdict against climate glue: Activists protest in front of the courthouse – "Climate protection is not a crime"
About 20 activists protested against the criminal proceedings in front of the courthouse in Heilbronn. They carried placards with messages such as "Climate destroyers on trial, not the climate activists!" and "Climate protection is not a crime".
Meanwhile, a climate activist of the "Last Generation" was able to record a success in front of the Berlin court. At issue was a 2,000-euro fine, which the Berlin police had threatened the climate glue if she glued herself to a street. However, she successfully defended herself against the ban on gluing.
Climate glue wins lawsuit in Berlin: Sticking ban not legally permissible
A preventive ban on stickers for certain climate demonstrators by the Berlin police must name specific streets. Otherwise, this prohibition with the threat of a high penalty payment is not legally permissible. This was decided by the Berlin Administrative Court, as announced on Monday.
In December 2022, the police had prohibited an activist from sticking herself to road blockades again until June 2023 or from otherwise connecting with the street or people. At the same time, she threatened a fine of 2,000 euros. The woman had been arrested again and again during blockades of the group "Last Generation". It endangers the general public, according to the police.
The woman went to court and was initially successful. The administrative court granted their urgent application – but only because the police had not precisely determined the affected streets. (with material from dpa
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