STORY: The Fechenheim Forest on the outskirts of Frankfurt has been occupied since September 2021. In protest against plans by the Hessian state government to clear the area for the planned expansion of the A 66 motorway, as an environmental activist explains. “It’s simply a form of destruction that we can’t let happen without comment. That’s why people are getting in the way of the whole thing as best they can – also in tree houses, on the trusses or here on this beautiful monopod.” Police began clearing the occupied premises on Wednesday. Hostility has not been shown to the emergency services so far, said Jochen Wegmann, spokesman for the Frankfurt police. “Of course there is a bit of indignation that the police are there. That was to be expected for us. But apart from that there have been no attacks on the emergency services.” // “Right now there are, or have been, more or less in the low double digits build-up enemies in the woods. We know of one that got tangled up in the structures that we brought down with a ladder , who then also explained that she is now leaving the forest. We haven’t got anyone else out of the forest yet.” Hesse’s CDU Prime Minister Boris Rhein called on the activists to leave the forest voluntarily and peacefully. “I’ll also say that very clearly: Peaceful protest is not only permissible in our country, it’s encouraged. And yet, of course, there must always be attention to ensuring that peaceful protest remains peaceful.” There was protest not only in the forest, but also on the streets. Demonstrators gathered there in several places to protest against the planned highway expansion. They criticize the A 66 as a fast track to climate hell. According to media reports, it is planned to complete the clearing of the Fechenheim forest by the end of February. About 1000 trees are to be felled for this purpose.