There is protest, and suddenly the IAA’s “Open Space” is no longer open. When two activists climbed onto the Mercedes stand in a residential courtyard on Saturday, stretched a banner over the star logo (“At full throttle into climate hell”) and tied themselves up, the Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) had the courtyard cleared and block access. Also for media representatives. Only after vehement protest and a detour did the SZ gain access after about 40 minutes.
The IAA tweets that the yard is closed due to “overcrowding”. Why this obvious untruth? The VDA, as the owner of the property rights, does not respond to this. Only that they were evacuated for security reasons. Should protests be prevented from being adequately reported? How is the attempted lockout of reporters at a trade fair in the city center attended by hundreds of thousands compatible with freedom of the press?
Messe München asserts that it was not involved in the decisions on Saturday. Mercedes explains that there was no decision to deny access to the press. It was the police operations manager who initiated this to prevent disruptions, explains a police spokesman. However, a makeshift meeting point has been set up for media people. A view of the police and fire brigade operations was possible through a side gate.
Harald Stocker, chairman of the Bavarian Journalists’ Association, criticizes the actions of the police. If the restriction of reporting goes beyond securing police operations, this is “unjustified and excessive.” It would have been possible to give reporters closer access without putting them at risk. Free reporting on such occasions must be better protected. The public sector would have to set “clear limits” on the private organizer’s property rights, for example through a “freedom of the press clause” in the rental agreement.