Climate activists from the Last Generation group have smeared the entrance and the entrance area of the FDP federal office in Berlin-Mitte with an oil-like liquid. They poured the liquid from several buckets onto the doors and parts of the facade, as reported by the German Press Agency.
Then they stuck several posters on it: “FDP: professionals in blocking, sticking to the combustion engine”, among other things. Similar actions are said to have taken place in other places in Berlin, for example at the Coca Cola and BASF sites. The last generation is cooperating with the group Extinction Rebellion, the reporters said.
More than 60 arrests
During the protests, more than 60 people were arrested for possible crimes, Interior Senator Iris Spranger (SPD) said in the afternoon. Spranger said all protests related to freedom of expression and assembly would be supported and, if necessary, protected. “Blind damage anger, coercion, endangering others but leave this framework that we have given ourselves as a society,” said the senator. “If this limit is exceeded, the rule of law will resolutely oppose it.” There is agreement on the goal of implementing more climate protection. However, the chosen path to get there is wrong and does not lead one step closer to the actual goal.
About a month ago, members of the last generation tipped an oil-like liquid onto the Basic Law monument near the Reichstag in Berlin, triggering nationwide criticism and outrage. The monument could be cleaned quickly and was not damaged.
The group had announced further disruptive actions for these days. Most recently, the Fridays for Future movement had also distanced itself from the actions of the last generation. “The climate crisis needs solutions for society as a whole, and we can only find and fight for them together and not by pitting people against each other in everyday life,” said spokeswoman Annika Rittmann of the German Press Agency.
Djir-Sarai: Stop climate blockades
According to FDP General Secretary Bijan Djir-Sarai, the announced blockade actions by climate activists should be prevented. Illegitimate actions such as vandalism and damage to property will not succeed in mobilizing majorities in society for climate protection – on the contrary, they will damage it. “This is also why we must succeed in stopping the blockades that have been announced. The rule of law must be defensive and must not allow individual radical groups to carry out illegal actions on a large scale,” Djir-Sarai told the newspapers of the Bayern media group.
