Review for climate activists: color attack at the Brandenburg Gate without damage!

Review for climate activists: color attack at the Brandenburg Gate without damage!

After a color attack on the Brandenburg Gate, two activists from the climate protection group last generation have been acquitted of the allegation of property damage. This decision recently fell at the Tiergarten district court and marked an important event in the context of the climate protest in Germany. The incidents occurred in November 2023 when the activists with brushes sprayed a sandstone column of the famous landmark with orange color. According to the court, however, this was not an attempt to "not only temporarily change the appearance of the Brandenburg goal", as can be seen from the judgment. The color could be removed from a cleaning company within about 30 seconds, which the judge highlighted in her reasoning.

The presiding judge Kerstin Stoppa said that the acquittal was carried out for material reasons: "Not because I do the campaign". The two accused, including the prominent climate activist Lilli Gomez, had admitted to being involved in the campaign, but emphasized that they were aware of the existing graffiti protection in this area. They argued that their action was a "symbolic protest" because they had "nothing damaged". The judge underlined the speed with which the color could be removed, which played a decisive role in the eyes of the court.

context and earlier incidents

The public prosecutor's application, however, looked very different. He advocated guilt praises and fines for the activists. For Lilli Gomez, he demanded 180 daily rates of ten euros each, which made a total of 1,800 euros. The co -accused student should pay 150 daily rates of ten euros each. The demands were justified by earlier convictions from Gomez in connection with other protest campaigns, such as coercion and resistance.

This color attack was not the first of its kind. As early as September 17, 2023, members of the last generation attacked the Brandenburg Gate with prepared fire extinguishers, which caused an estimated damage of around 115,000 euros. There have already been several guilt against other participants in this matter. The repeated actions of the group reflect the increasing pressure, the environmental activist in the public debate about climate protection, and show the tensions between protest and legislation.

Currently, the judgment against the two activists is not yet final. The reactions to the acquittal and the continued last generation protests are being observed with excitement, since the group wants to continue to rethink in the future. The social discussions about such forms of protest remain present and charged.

For further information on the events around the color attack at the Brandenburg Gate and the judicial decisions, visit the articles from rbb24 and Tagesspiegel .