On 13 December 2022, the homes of eleven activists belonging to the ‘Last Generation’ movement were searched in several federal states. Laptops, mobile phones and posters were confiscated. The investigations are being conducted by the Neuruppin public prosecutor’s office, which accuses Last Generation of disrupting public services, trespassing, coercion and suspicion of ‘forming a criminal organisation’. The house searches are primarily justified by various actions carried out by climate activists targeting the oil refinery in Schwedt in the Uckermark region. In October, several climate activists occupied a pumping station there. The house searches are the culmination of an aggressive smear campaign by the media and politicians. In recent months, the media has been aggressively campaigning against the actions of ‘Last Generation’. The Springer press (Bild, Welt) in particular has long been calling for tougher action against ‘Last Generation’ and spreading lies and false reports. There has also been speculation about an alleged ‘climate RAF’ and calls for tougher action by the state. Not only in the press, but also in politics, there were repeated calls for tougher action against ‘Last Generation’. Possible charges of terrorism were discussed, and during the conference of interior ministers, Hesse’s Interior Minister Peter Beuth (CDU) stated that it should be investigated whether ‘Last Generation’ was a ‘criminal organisation’.
The current house search demonstrates the fascist-like development of the state apparatus towards the climate movement. In North Rhine-Westphalia, the tightening of the Assembly Act 2022 was also a response to the mass actions of ‘Ende Gelände’ against RWE’s lignite infrastructure. In Munich, the form of protest known as ‘sticking’ to the road was banned just last week under the pretext of ‘preventive hazard control,’ and activists in Bavaria are repeatedly being taken into ‘preventive custody.’ This means that people who have not yet committed a crime can be detained for a certain period of time (up to 30 days in Bavaria) without conviction on the grounds that they could commit a crime in the future. There has also been discussion about implementing the possibility of 30 days in police custody nationwide. Repression against the ‘Last Generation’ is increasing not only in Bavaria, but throughout the federal state and internationally. In London two weeks ago, 57-year-old Jan Goodey was sentenced to six months in prison after blocking a motorway.
The wave of repression against ‘Last Generation’ is primarily aimed at shifting the boundaries of what is possible for the state and thus continuing the fascistisation of the state apparatus. The state’s actions also clearly show that it is not even interested in complying with its own climate protection laws. After all, Last Generation is only demanding the implementation of laws that have already been passed by politicians – nothing more. The state is thus showing more clearly than ever before that it is on the side of the capitalists who are destroying our basis of life on this planet for their own profit.
The current repression and media smear campaign against ‘Last Generation’ and climate activism in general can also be seen as preparation for the upcoming eviction of Lützerath in January 2023. The expanded possibilities for repression will also be directed against all progressive forces that take to the streets to protest against war and crisis. This is clearly demonstrated by the tightening of the law on incitement to hatred and the recognition of the so-called ‘Holodomor’ as alleged genocide. The aim is to mobilise the entire state apparatus against progressive protests fighting for a better life. The violent evictions of universities in Frankfurt, Munich and Nuremberg by the police after occupations by ‘EndFossil: Occupy’ also clearly demonstrate these developments.
It is clear to us that we also stand in solidarity with the ‘Last Generation’ against repression, because this repression is directed against the entire climate movement. But we must not stop at individualistic actions that are directed only at the state and demand compliance with laws. We cannot rely on the capitalist system and the bourgeois state if we want to stop the climate crisis. For as long as production is driven by profit, nature will be destroyed. Only under socialism will the economy serve the interests of the majority of the population and be based on environmental and climate protection. This also means that, above all, we must once again create a mass movement that specifically involves workers in the fight against the climate crisis. Whether it be in the defence of Lützerath or in any other struggle against the climate crisis. Only if we take to the streets en masse and do not rely on this system will we be able to end the climate crisis.
Let us therefore fight together against repression and the climate crisis with greater determination than ever before.