Protest held in Berlin to support Last Generation environmental activist group

BERLIN

A solidarity march for the environmentalist group Last Generation was held Friday in Berlin, two days after a police operation.

Hundreds gathered in Frankfurter Tor Square in the Friedrichhain district and organized a silent march on Unter den Linden Street to the Brandenburg Gate.

Demonstrators carried banners reading: "Preserving the climate is not a crime", "Article 20 of the Constitution = Save life" and "Solidarity with the Last Generation - Their struggle is our struggle."

Group spokesperson Raphael Thelen told Anadolu that he is still in shock because of the operation against the Last Generation.

Criticizing the German authorities' characterization of the group as a "criminal organization," Thelen said peaceful people use their right to demonstrate.

He said he finds the accusation "too exaggerated."

Stating that the group was stronger than ever after the operation, he underlined it never before had more people come to a march than Friday.

Police launched an operation Wednesday against Last Generation and searched 15 locations in seven states.

An investigation was launched against seven group members, aged between 22 and 28, accused of "establishing and aiding a criminal organization" and two were accused of "sabotaging an oil pipeline to Ingolstadt."

The group causes vehicle queues in traffic across Germany by sticking their hands to the asphalt on streets to draw attention to climate change.