Highlights: Street blockades by "latest generation" climate activists have continued since mid-April in Berlin. In Germany, the Protestant Church supports the actions of "Last Generation" activists. Four out of five Germans reject the activists' actions. The Protestant Church regrets the despair of the demonstrators. While it does not tolerate violence and wrongdoing, it considers civil disobedience, such as blocking streets, legitimate. 'We share their goals, the preservation of Creation, he explains. Learning from the gospel means allowing dialogue within society on these issues'

Street blockades by "latest generation" climate activists gluing themselves to the asphalt have continued since mid-April almost every day in Berlin. These actions are not very popular...

In Germany, the Protestant Church supports the actions of "Last Generation" activists

Activists from the environmental group "Last Generation" organize a march in front of St. Thomas Church in Berlin's Kreuzberg district, April 26, 2023. AFP - TOBIAS SCHWARZ

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

Street blockades by "latest generation" climate activists gluing themselves to the asphalt have continued since mid-April almost every day in Berlin. These shares are not very popular in Germany. The Protestant Church, which regularly opens its doors to protest movements whose ideas it shares, welcomes them for meetings with the public.

Advertising

With our correspondent in Berlin, Pascal Thibaut

« We are in this church because the climate crisis is hitting the whole of society. And we know that the Church has played an important role in the history of resistance. »

In mid-April in Berlin, the activists of "Last Generation" present their upcoming actions to block the German capital. The press conference is held in the Protestant church of St. Thomas in the alternative district of Kreuzberg.

Since then, environmental activists, who regularly block major roads in the city by sticking their hands to the asphalt, use this place for their meetings.

BEI UNS KANN MAN MITMACHEN ❤️‍🔥

💬 Hör unseren Plan!

🧘 ♀️ https://t.co/pRdhCTx0QJ Besuch ein Training für zivilen Widerstand!https://t.co/iTKuMomT94

🦺 Komm mit auf die Straße!https://t.co/1hCAHrDRtw

🧡Unterstütze uns per Spende!https://t.co/zoLV1ks9rE pic.twitter.com/yZFe78EJZT

— Letzte Generation (@AufstandLastGen) May 4, 2023

Civil disobedience deemed legitimate

Bertold Höcker is responsible for the Evangelical Church of 27 parishes and 90,000 members in central Berlin. St. Thomas is one of them. This theologian, known for his progressive positions, explains the reasons for supporting "Last Generation" activists.

We share their goals, the preservation of Creation, he explains. Learning from the gospel means allowing dialogue within society on these issues, but also preventing activists from becoming radicalized.

The Protestant Church regrets the despair of the demonstrators. While it does not tolerate violence and wrongdoing, it considers civil disobedience, such as blocking streets, legitimate.

But if "Last Generation" can use St. Thomas Church like others in Berlin, a dialogue with critical voices that these places were supposed to allow did not really see the light of day. Four out of five Germans reject the activists' actions. At each intervention, the police must carefully dissolve the glue that the demonstrators have used and protect them from invective or violence by motorists.

► Read also: The actions of the German movement "Last generation" do not pass with Berliners

In Germany, the Protestant Church supports the actions of "Last Generation" activists

In Germany, the Protestant Church supports the actions of "Last Generation" activists

Civil disobedience deemed legitimate

You may like

Trends 24h

Latest