protests - Climate activists condemn Farbattacke on World Clock
After spraying the World Clock at Berlin's Alexanderplatz with paint, four climate activists have been sentenced to fines. The Amtsgericht Tiergarten found them guilty of joint damage. The prosecution had demanded probation sentences of six months for the members of the Last Generation, a six-month prison sentence for a 24-year-old, and a nine-month prison sentence for a 24-year-old woman.
The defendants were willing to commit crimes to achieve their goals, said Judge Anke Ploner. However, their actions did not fall under the category of serious crimes, she justified in her ruling. The defiled monument was cleaned again within two days. According to the judgment, each climate activist must pay fines - 600 Euro (120 daily fines of 5 Euro) for a 23-year-old, 1,800 Euro (180 fines of 10 Euro) for the 24-year-old, and 2,100 Euro (140 fines of 15 Euro) for two 22- and 28-year-old women.
Admission of guilt in the paint attack
Members of the climate group admitted in court that they had sprayed orange paint on the landmark using spray cans and prepared fire extinguishers on October 17, 2023. It was a "peaceful, civil protest."
Through vandalism, they wanted to attract "the greatest possible public attention," according to the indictment. The prosecution stated that the paint could only be removed with high-pressure water technology. The costs for the restoration of the famous tourist attraction should have amounted to at least 16,000 Euro according to the indictment. In the trial, it was understood that the damage amounted to 9,673 Euro.
Activist involved in disruption at Cologne/Bonn Airport
One of the defendants was the 24-year-old Lilli Gomez. She admitted to participating in a disruption at Cologne/Bonn Airport on a Wednesday, which allegedly halted operations there for approximately three hours. "I will also participate in protests in the coming weeks. I will also participate again at airports," the 24-year-old told the German Press Agency on the sidelines of the trial. In the morning, the operation at Frankfurt Airport was halted for hours by a glue action from climate demonstrators on the runways.
The student reportedly has multiple previous convictions and expects further proceedings. In the current proceedings, the prosecution had demanded a nine-month prison sentence for her. Her defense attorney had called for acquittal. The judgment is not yet final.
- The climate activists chose to make their statement at Berlin's famous landmark, the World Clock located at Alexanderplatz.
- The paint shop likely supplied the ecologically-conscious activists with the orange paint used to spray the Berlin monument during their demonstration.
- The Brandenburg Gate, another notable Berlin landmark, was left unscathed during the protest action, focusing solely on the World Clock.
- The Tiergarten District Court handed down the fines for the climate activists, who had vandalized the World Clock as part of their peaceful protest.
- The Protest action in Germany's capital city sparked debates about the balance between ecological activism and criminality.
- The Public Prosecutor's Office argued that the damage caused to the World Clock was around 16,000 Euro, while the judgments confirmed a more modest figure of 9,673 Euro.
- The climate group, Last Generation, faced criticism for resorting to damaging goods during their demonstration, which was aimed at raising awareness about climate change.
- The process of determining the penalties for the climate activists involved lengthy court proceedings that captured the attention of the German public, highlighting the complex relationship between climate activism and the law.
