The first fiddle sounds will be heard on the large stage at the Feldherrnhalle on St. Patrick’s Day on Saturday afternoon. On the other hand, the brass band “Beat Protest” sings the partisan song “Bella Ciao” on a rolling bicycle stage on Residenzstrasse. The small stage of the “Last Generation” is in motion, with around 90 climate protectors cycling along. It goes from Odeonsplatz to Gärtnerplatz.
The “last generation” wants new attention. A form of “measured disobedience,” as they say. The climate activists no longer want to stick to the streets, but instead want to take people with them to demand climate protection in a different way. Lower threshold. “This way,” hopes Ernst Hörmann from the Last Generation, “more people will certainly dare to come to us and take part.” When it came to gluing, the inhibition threshold was simply too high.
The 74-year-old, who was involved in the adhesive blockades from the beginning, is now talking about further development. “Now people know us, now we meet on the street as ‘Critical Mass’.” For the first time, climate activists are trying out their new form of protest with a “disobedient gathering” on the street in Munich.
Climate activist Ernst Hörmann hopes that more people will dare to take part in the “Last Generation” without sticking.
(Photo: Robert Haas)
The climate activists did not register the train. They didn’t need it either, says Albert Augustin, 50, from the “Last Generation”. In the event of a “critical mass”, i.e. an unannounced cycling demo with at least 16 participants, these are permitted according to the road traffic regulations. Even if the police didn’t think it was great, as he says. Six police motorcyclists accompany the train. For protection. After all, children also cycle on the street or parents with bicycle trailers.
Maiken Winter, ÖDP district councilor and active climate protector for 17 years, is also there. She is happy that the sticking protest is over and no one “died” in it. But also about the fact that the “Last Generation” made people so aware of the urgency of climate protection.
Passerby Ute Rosner-Grages also likes the fact that the activists are no longer sticking together. The 75-year-old supports “active engagement”, but in her opinion the question is how to win more people for your goal. This could be more successful with the new strategy. A young woman who is out with her friends also sees it that way. She takes a photo of the funny bicycle on the sidewalk with the poster saying “Hand on Heart – Time for Justice.” “It’s much better than gluing,” she says.
It is not immediately clear to everyone on the side of the road that it is the “last generation” that is protesting by ringing the bell. Not everyone knows the climate activists’ logo on the banner: a black heart circled in red. Many people ask who is cycling down the street. “Luckily they don’t stick anymore,” says a man spontaneously when he finds out who this group is. “Cycling is okay!”.
The climate activists sing along. Also loud, the longer the train goes and especially the closer you get to Gärtnerplatz, the destination of the group of cyclists. The entrances are blocked by the police and security guards are everywhere. According to the police, there were 120 people, or what felt like a lot more, on Gärtnerplatz, with protesters on the sidewalk being part of a registered demonstration.
Not only members of the “Last Generation” can be seen at the cycling protest.
(Photo: Robert Haas)
A few cycles around Gärtnerplatz – then the “disobedient gathering” begins on the street.
(Photo: Robert Haas)
The arriving cyclists do several laps around Gärtnerplatz. And then, in the middle of the street, the “disobedient assembly” begins, which has the motto “Away from fossil fuels, towards justice”. With music. With slogans. With talking. From Ernst Hörmann, for example. Who wants to preserve a world worth living in for his eight grandchildren. Who calls on politicians to take a stand and not to duck out of the way when it comes to climate protection. Some passers-by stop, some clap along to the music. A 22-year-old student cannot understand this. “I think the fear they are stirring up is exaggerated.” He doesn’t want to limit his standard of living.
Other climate activists such as “Parents for Future” support the “disobedient assembly” of the “last generation”. As do some doctors. Climate protection is also health protection; climate change is causing many more viral diseases, says dentist Sibylle Butz, 59.
And there is Moritz Selinger. He took part in the bike parade with his six-year-old son Lino. Doing something small is where it starts, he believes. For example, just by being a role model. For his son. He doesn’t even have a car. “It’s good if everyone can now take part in climate activist events like this.” Children. Familys. Elderly people.