Three climate activists are on trial again on Wednesday. The members of “Extinction Rebellion” (XR) demonstrated in April during the general meeting of the reinsurance group “Munich Re” on Munich’s Königstraße for the immediate stop of all insurance for oil and gas projects and the exit from all investments in fossil energy production. The insurance company had reported her for trespassing, and the Munich public prosecutor’s office had applied for penal orders. Some protesters had not accepted these.
Protest action on Marienplatz: Representatives of “Scientist Rebellion” opposed the imprisonment of 16 scientists.
(Photo: Stephan Rumpf)
Investigations were initiated against a total of 84 women and men in connection with climate protests last year. The public prosecutor’s office responsible for the city and district of Munich reported on Monday. The majority of those prosecuted do not come from Munich, said the head of the authorities, Hans Kornprobst. The police had filed a total of 250 criminal charges, 80 percent of them between October and December, when the two climate protection organizations XR and “Last Generation” intensified their protests.
Trespassing, coercion and property damage reported
According to the public prosecutor’s office, 45 actions were criminally relevant. Property was damaged twice. However, there was no resistance to police officers or even “acts of injury”. Trespassing was not just the protest with smoke pots at the reinsurer. In October, twelve activists from the groups “Scientist Rebellion” and “Debt for Climate” taped themselves inside a building on Lenbachplatz in front of the sales offices of the financial investor Blackrock; four others were involved in a performance that was streamed live and was intended to draw attention to the deadly consequences of oil production. A few days later, climate protectors stuck to a car costing around 170,000 euros in the BMW world.
The investment company Blackrock on Lenbachplatz also received a visit from climate activists.
(Photo: Stephan Rumpf)
At the end of August, two activists fixed themselves on the frame of a Rubens painting in the Alte Pinakothek. The day before, five climate activists ran onto the field in the 16th minute of the Bundesliga home game between Bayern Munich and Borussia Mönchengladbach. They tried to tie themselves to the posts of a gate. The game was delayed by a minute and a half.
There was major traffic chaos at Stachus when activists from the “Scientist Rebellion” clung to it in October.
(Photo: Stephan Rumpf)
The Munich police counted 26 street blockades last year. According to senior public prosecutor Felix Hofmeir, head of the department for politically motivated crimes, you meet the criminal offense of coercion. Up to 23 activists were involved in individual cases. Such blockades are by no means “non-violent”, said Hofmeir. After all, physical coercion is exerted on drivers. At the latest when an action is broken up by the police, the constitutional protection provided by the basic right to freedom of assembly also ends. Three blockers of the “last generation” have to answer to the judge for an action on November 3rd next Tuesday.
Senior public prosecutor urgently warns against rabid self-defence
Drivers who think they resort to ruthless self-help or who even have to attack blockers are also liable to prosecution. The Munich I public prosecutor’s office is currently investigating a driver who was prevented from continuing his journey in May. He got out – with a baton in his hand. He placed it on the head of one of the activists and gave him an ultimatum to clear the way. Another forcibly pulled an activist off the street.
In both cases there is now an allegation of coercion, in the second case also of bodily harm. According to the public prosecutor’s office, the investigations have not yet been completed – the legal situation is complicated. The urgent advice of the chief public prosecutor is all the simpler: “Don’t do that,” Hans Kornprobst warned motorists, “the police have such situations under control quickly.”