Berlin’s iconic Brandenburg Gate was splashed with orange paint on Sunday morning by German climate advocates, demanding swifter measures against global warming.
Activists from The Last Generation employed paint-filled fire extinguishers to coat the monument’s six pillars in Berlin’s heart.
The group’s agenda emphasizes the need for Germany to halt its reliance on fossil fuels by 2030. They also advocate for immediate initiatives, such as setting a general speed cap of 62 mph on highways, to expedite emission reduction.
In a statement, the group asserted, “The demonstration underscores our message: A shift in politics is overdue. We need to transition from fossil fuels to a just society.”
Following the incident, authorities limited access to the Brandenburg Gate, taking 14 individuals associated with The Last Generation into custody.
Renowned for its audacious protests, where participants adhere themselves to streets, obstructing traffic, The Last Generation remains a contentious entity within German societal and political spheres. Kai Wegner, Berlin’s Mayor, criticized the group’s approach, emphasizing that such methods surpass acceptable protest boundaries.
He told the German news agency DPA, “Such activities tarnish not just the historical significance of the Brandenburg Gate but also stifle constructive discourse on pivotal contemporary and future concerns.”
In May, authorities in multiple states executed search warrants at the residences of seven top figures from The Last Generation. Before these searches, phones belonging to six of these leaders were tapped by Bavarian prosecutors as part of a probe to determine if the group could be labeled a criminal entity, as reported by the Bavarian prosecutors’ office to Reuters.
Furthermore, the group’s online platform was disabled to curtail their fundraising efforts. Under German law, should the group be banned, backing them could lead to imprisonment.
The following month, when Lachner intended to stage a protest in Regensburg, a Bavarian city, officers arrived at his residence. He was held at a police facility for six hours. This instance showcases Bavaria’s application of regulations permitting the police to confine individuals for up to a month without formal charges to thwart potential criminal acts based on a judicial directive.
The number of European nations cracking down on vandalism is increasing.
Germany has set a goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2045; however, it has fallen short of its yearly targets for the past two years.
