After the climate blockade
“Last Generation” is dismayed by the death of a cyclist and criticizes the media
The climate activists of the “last generation” have been increasingly attacked since the accident and blamed for the woman’s brain death.
© Paul Zinken / DPA
After the death of a cyclist in Berlin-Wilmersdorf, the climate activists from “Last Generation” are under pressure. They are accused of impeding a possible rescue by blocking roads.
Note: This article was updated after the cyclist’s death became known.
After the death of a cyclist who was run over by a cement mixer, whose rescue was possibly hampered by climate blockades, the activist group “Last Generation” has sharply criticized the media and announced further protests. “We didn’t expect that an entire media system would turn against us,” said the group in a statement quoted by “Spiegel”.
In the statement, the group complains about a “wave of allegations, untruths and hate speech” against itself and accuses the “media landscape” of “fictionally exaggerating the circumstances of the cyclist’s accident in Berlin in this form and thus democratic protest in a crisis situation delegitimized”.
“Last Generation” wants to continue protesting
Regarding the accident, it says: “So that we don’t get us wrong: the fact that the cyclist had an accident on the road is terrible. We are dismayed and in mourning”. However, it is “time to draw a line,” the group adds, referring to reporting on them.
Regarding future actions, it is said that the group will not be dissuaded by “public agitation” from “doing the only morally right thing: not to remain in an all-important crisis, but to go ahead.” According to the “Spiegel”, the statement does not reveal whether the group is planning further road blockades.
Police are investigating two climate activists
The cyclist was hit and run over by a truck in Berlin-Wilmersdorf last Monday. The 44-year-old later succumbed to her injuries after being declared brain dead on Thursday. According to current knowledge, those affected do not recover from this – regardless of what measures doctors take. The woman will continue to be treated in intensive care in a clinic, said a police spokesman.
The accident caused a nationwide stir and discussion. According to the fire brigade, a special vehicle that was supposed to help free the injured person under the truck was stuck in a traffic jam on the city highway. This is said to have been triggered by an action by the climate protest group “Last Generation”.
The police are investigating two 63 and 59-year-old climate activists for failing to provide assistance or for the disability of people providing assistance. According to the police, the causal connection to the blockades must be checked – also with experts. The fire brigade assumes that the woman’s rescue was delayed by several minutes because the special vehicle was stuck in traffic. However, a fire brigade spokesman admitted that the formation of a rescue lane was problematic last Monday given the size of the vehicle.
Since the technology was not available, the rescuers at the scene of the accident had to improvise, according to the fire department. This resulted in delays. The fire brigade did not provide any information as to whether this had an impact on the health of the cyclist. It is also generally difficult to make such a statement, said a spokesman. At the same time, he referred to the ongoing investigations. The climate activists have been increasingly hostile to social networks since the incident and made directly responsible for the woman’s death.