University of Halle waived 16,000 euros in damages after the paint attack!

University of Halle waived 16,000 euros in damages after the paint attack!

In October 2023, an incident occurred at the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg that heated up tempers. Activists from the climate movement “Last Generation” sprayed the glass facade of the Audimax with orange paint over an area of ​​​​around 200 square meters. This action was strongly condemned by Rector Claudia Becker as it was considered an illegitimate means of protest. The university subsequently filed a criminal complaint against those involved. The Halle regional court imposed fines on the two activists, but the university announced that it would not claim the total damage of over 16,000 euros against them. The university management justified this with the small amount of damage and the tense budget situation of the university, which has been struggling for several years with the loss of 30 professorships, 250 positions and 4,000 study places.

The decision to waive the claims for damages was met with harsh criticism from the FDP. State parliamentary group spokesman Konstantin Pott was outraged and described 16,000 euros as by no means a “small amount”. He unequivocally called for the perpetrators to be held accountable for their actions. Meanwhile, the university was already planning initial cleaning work, which was carried out by a specialist company and would cost a mid-four-digit figure.

The context of the climate movement

The protest actions of the “Last Generation” fit into an increasingly complex picture of the climate movement in Germany. Since the advent of Fridays for Future, the protest landscape has changed significantly. Experts like Sebastian Haunss analyze how the climate movement has diversified and has to compete on different issues, including the corona pandemic, the economic crisis and the Ukraine conflict. While “Fridays for Future” enjoys broad support in society, the actions of the “Last Generation” do not receive the same response and are often controversial.

The traffic blockades and direct actions carried out by this group in particular are met with resistance from broad sections of the population. Haunss notes that this type of protest is increasingly perceived as a conflict issue in society and appeals to the need to win a social majority for climate protection. Despite these challenges, the climate movement has achieved successes, such as the coal phase-out law, but the implementation of the required measures remains in jeopardy.

Insights from education

Education also attempts to convey topics such as climate protection and social responsibility. A new initiative from YouTube called “Think Like a Musician” aims to provide quality resources for teachers. This shows how education and social issues are intertwined and how important it is to address the concerns of movements such as “Fridays for Future” and “Last Generation” in schools.

Overall, it is clear that the fight for climate protection and the necessary changes in society require perseverance. The movements are diverse, and even if some forms of protest are controversial, the discussion about climate change and its effects on society remains a central challenge for all generations.