Achim judgment: fines for climate activists according to the motorway protest

Achim judgment: fines for climate activists according to the motorway protest

The district court in Achim recently focused on an upcoming judgment that caused a lot of excitement and a police operation. Two demonstrators who carried out a bicycle demonstration on a sign bridge on the A27 three years ago have now been convicted. They had roped to the bridge and attached signs with protesting messages against car traffic, which led to considerable traffic disruptions.

In the procedure on August 30, 2024, after a total of four days of negotiations, judge Sonja Schwarz's fines of 900 euros for the criminal record and 700 euros for his accomplice. These punishments result from the violation of applicable laws and the severity of the incident, even if the defense criticized the police procedure during the demo as unjustified and exaggerated.

The special background of the protest

On April 15, three years ago, the two activists carried out their protest, which aimed to draw attention to the urgent need to reduce car traffic. It was her conviction that this traffic contributes directly to the destruction of the planet. They had not registered the highway, which led to a massive police operation and a full closure of the A27, which created traffic jams and traffic problems.

The defenders' defenders argued that the demonstrators acted in an emergency. Her spokesman pushed this out by pointing out that, for example, if you see a burning house, you don't ask why you take windows to save what to save. Although her tactic met with violent criticism, it should be noted that her basic concern frames an alarming concern about the climate catastrophe.

The judge followed the recommendations of the public prosecutor, but she did not evaluate the crimes as particularly difficult, but as a "reprehensible, socially harmful coercion". This shows the narrow line between activist resistance and the respect for the legal system. The defendants named several "requests for evidence" during the trial to support their view of things, but all were rejected.

confrontation in court and spontaneous action

To the surprise of many, the activists reported a “spontaneous tandemo” on the court day. As a result, the police had to move in to ensure public order and to have discussions with the court director. The police contributed to the de -escalation of the situation, which revealed a kind of tension between the freedom of demonstration and the house right of the court.

The incident emphasizes the questions that arise in the area of ​​law and citizen participation, especially in terms of activist movements and their influence on the legal system. Although the director of the district court wanted to take on a moderate role, the defendants found his behavior to be partisan, which resulted in a flood of complaints and applications.

The judgment, which was imposed in the end, seemed rather irrelevant for the defendants, which partly reflects her decision not to consider the rule of law as its allies. One accused already expressed that they would not be concerned with how the verdict will be, since the procedure could be shifted to a higher instance.

The trial itself was like a spectacle, in which numerous interjections and even cladding contributed to the apparent entertainment of the spectators. Such a behavior could be interpreted as an expression of disillusionment towards the existing legal norms that the activists find insufficient.

Whatever the legal aspects, there is no doubt that the process and its accompanying circumstances put the tension between activism and case law in the foreground. While the demonstrators felt encouraged in their protest, the judgment shows the complexity with which the legal system tries to deal with when it comes to incidents that are both legally and socially explosive.