Bundesjustizminister Marco Buschmann (FDP) considers prison sentences possible for certain forms of protest by climate activists. “In addition to fines, our laws also provide for imprisonment in certain cases,” said Buschmann of the “Bild” newspaper with a view to the sensational protest actions by climate activists in the past few days. “These laws must also be enforced.” With road blockades or damage, “climate blockers” not only “do a disservice to climate protection, but also commit crimes”.
Buschmann said that contradiction and protest are “not only permissible in a democracy – they are part of a diverse society”. However, he added: “Anyone who throws at works of art can be prosecuted for damage to property. A roadblock can be punished as coercion. And if ambulances are slowed down, criminal liability for negligent bodily harm can also be considered.”
The trigger for the debate on climate protests is an incident that happened in Berlin on Monday. A cyclist was hit by a truck and seriously injured. According to the fire brigade, the special vehicle that was on its way to her was stuck in traffic for a long time because climate activists of the “last generation” had blocked the A 100 motorway.
Neubauer criticizes the chancellor
Climate activist Luisa Neubauer regrets the incident. “Across the German climate movement, we stand for climate activism that does not endanger people,” Neubauer told the German Press Agency on Tuesday. “The incident in Berlin makes me very sad.” The legitimacy of protest actions stands and falls with “that people are not put in danger,” said the activist from the organization Fridays for Future. Dangerous situations such as the formation of a rescue lane would be planned for all actions of her organization, she explained.
Neubauer emphasized that she feared that such critical moments could also occur in the future “as long as the conflict behind the protests is not settled”. “As long as the government blocks fair climate protection, there will be more and more divisions in society. And if the big questions about the climate crisis are not answered in parliament and cabinet, these questions will increasingly be debated on the streets.”
Neubauer sharply criticized Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and his appeal to climate activists not to endanger people in their political actions. The Chancellor’s statements were “cynical,” she explained. After all, it is the chancellor “personally who, by blocking rapid climate protection, is making a large contribution to the indirect endangerment of people”. The climate protest of the organization Fridays for Future, whose most prominent representative is Neubauer, is considered rather moderate compared to the actions of the “last generation”.
