Protests Occur - Multiple Thousands Protest for Climate and Democracy Safeguards Prior to European Elections
A huge number of people in Germany are joining the Fridays for Future activists and marching for the cause of environmental protection and maintaining democracy.
The protest aims to highlight the role of the European Union in helping to tackle the climate crisis, and the upcoming European elections. Large gatherings occurred in cities like Berlin, Munich, and Hamburg, with more than 100 cities having planned demonstrations.
Luisa Neubauer, a climate activist, spoke to the German Press Agency, asserting that to prevent the looming climate catastrophe, the EU's climate policy must be strengthened. She believes that such an endeavor can only be achieved through a strong democratic system, maintaining social harmony, and providing support for fellow citizens. Neubauer added that the far-right might impede all this.
Fridays for Future demands that all countries in the EU move towards exiting coal, oil, and gas by 2035. Also, they call for doubling the investments in renewable energies and climate-neutral industries.
The protest in Berlin was estimated to have had over 5,000 participants as per the police, while the organizers claim that it was 13,000. The demonstration began in the afternoon at the Brandenburg Gate.
In Hamburg, approximately 1,000 people participated in the protest as per the police. It was not the number the organizers expected - they initially thought of around 15,000 participants. A spokesperson from Fridays for Future in Hamburg stated, "The people who have gathered are genuinely passionate about the cause."
Lina, a singer, was set to perform in the protest, but at the last moment she canceled. The reason being, she had issues with how the climate movement handled antisemitism. She's of the opinion that Fridays For Future Hamburg did not distance themselves enough from antisemitism and failed to prevent such content from being constantly displayed at their demonstrations. She played the character Bibi Blocksberg in a movie and the latest being her dancing in RTL's "Let's Dance" show.
There were around 2,000 people who joined the climate protest in Munich, according to the police. There were 8,000 participants that the organizers had planned earlier. The KVR, who operate the climate camp at the Munich Königsplatz, estimates that there will be around 250-300 attendees each day, expecting that they would gather for interaction, data sharing, and peaceful protests. The tents have been secured due to the weather, and pallets have been placed on the ground as a reaction to the mud.
In Kiel, about 800 people reportedly took part in the climate protests. This number was somewhat smaller than the 1,000 the organizers had predicted.
"It is heartening to see that today thousands of people across Germany are out on the streets, calling for more environmental protection," stated Ricarda Lang, the leader of the Green party, to the German Press Agency. She argues that the climate strike is more relevant than ever before. The European elections are just around the corner, and June 9 marks a critical juncture in determining the future European climate policy. "Apart from the Union's affinity for deliberately reversing climate protection and standing against the EU's lead candidate's stand, the inconsistent stand of the Union on the Green Deal remains a threat to the climate, to Germany's economic prospects, and to the well-being of Europe as a whole."
