Stuttgart (dpa / lsw) – After the ongoing protests by the “Last Generation” climate group and other blockades announced by the activists, the Baden-Württemberg Interior Minister Thomas Strobl has had enough. “It’s illegal, they’re criminals,” criticized the CDU politician on Tuesday in Stuttgart. He considers the motivation of the mostly young people “irrelevant”. It was “absolutely unacceptable” to accept that rescue services would be held up and human lives endangered. “Possibly one or the other is not about climate protection at all, but about committing crimes,” said Strobl. Previously, Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) had repeatedly shown little understanding for the protests.
For months, the “Last Generation” group has been blocking roads and autobahns across Germany and calling for a “stop to the fossil madness.” In recent weeks, climate protesters have also stuck to paintings or sprayed them with food. With their actions, the climate activists want to emphasize their demand for a more decisive fight against climate change. Fines were imposed several times after road blockades in Stuttgart, among other places.
Most recently, the “Last Generation” was heavily criticized in connection with the death of a cyclist in Berlin. The 44-year-old woman was run over by a cement mixer on October 31 and died a few days later. A special vehicle from the fire brigade, which was supposed to help free the injured, was stuck in a traffic jam that was said to have been triggered by the climate protest. It is unclear whether the earlier arrival of the vehicle would have changed anything. In that case it is still being investigated.
