Activists block Axel Springer printing: 30 arrests in Berlin!

Activists block Axel Springer printing: 30 arrests in Berlin!

In the night from Sunday to Monday, June 2, 2025, activists of the "new generation" tried to block the Axel Springer printing company in Berlin-Spandau. The police reacted promptly and arrested 30 people. The aim of this campaign was to delay the delivery of the "Bild" newspaper by locking the gates of the printer on the Brunsbütteler Damm with a van, such as rbb24 reported. This blockade should last until Monday morning and was part of a announced "resistance wave in Berlin" of the organization, which emerged from the "last generation" climate movement. The "new generation" is committed to a fundamental change towards a living earth and real democracy.

Already before this campaign, supporters of the “new generation” had glued to the Springer headquarters on May 23. This letter was a reaction to an email from an employee of the newspaper "Die Welt", which had rejected a offer of activists. Ms. M. informed about the exit of the investor KKR as the shareholder of the Springer Group, which was carried out on May 1, 2025. Until then, KKR was the main shareholder and is also active in the fossil energy sector. Julian Huber, the main author of the reply, pointed out the economic links between Springer and KKR and expressed concerns about the independence of the jumping editorial offices and a possible influence on climate reporting.

protest and persuasion

The activists, including Hannah Jäkel, announced that their protests were not organized out of hatred but out of hope. Jäkel emphasized that they want to demonstrate in front of the Springer high-rise in Berlin on Monday because they want to convey a clear message. The protest is part of a larger plan to draw attention to the perception of the climate situation and to mobilize social support for climate protection.

The "new generation" sees itself embedded in a long tradition of social movements that take time to cause changes. As bpb , social majorities and alliance partners are crucial for the success of these movements. This applies particularly in the context of the climate movement, in which various groups, such as "Fridays for Future" and the "last generation", are already pursuing different approaches. It turns out that civil disobedience is recognized as a legitimate form of protest as long as it is clearly linked to the goals.

The protest campaigns of recent years, such as the blockages in the Hambacher Forst or the events in Lützerath, offer examples of civil disobedience that tries to draw attention to urgent social concerns. Nevertheless, the challenge remains to mobilize enough support in the population and at the same time to promote social debates on the need for measures to combat climate change.

Overall, the action of the "new generation" shows that the urgency of the topic of climate change and resistance to inadequate measures are still high. Activists and social movements must continue to do persuasion in order to successfully enforce their demands and to mobilize society.