DHL blockade at the airport: Dispute over climate activists goes to court!

DHL blockade at the airport: Dispute over climate activists goes to court!

Leipzig, Deutschland - The dispute over the blockade at Leipzig/Halle Airport is drawing bigger and bigger circles. Four years ago, in the night from July 9th to July 10th, 2021, about 50 climate activists and opponents of the airport expansion blocked an access, which led to the audience and blockages at the logistics companies. The Leipzig public prosecutor has been complaining to the activists for coercion since then, while the parties involved see themselves as a fighter for climate protection. But how will this dispute end?

The blockade took place near the federal road B6, which could not continue to drive several trucks. Despite the clear view of the public prosecutor, who is aiming for a criminal prosecution, the activists reject these allegations with vehemence. The different ratings of events by the district court of Eilenburg and the public prosecutor have further complicated the Situation. While the public prosecutor issued criminal orders with fines of 50 daily rates, the accused rejected them, which ultimately resulted in ongoing legal proceedings. So far, all accused blockers have been acquitted in three processes, and the judges pointed out that the trucks could continue in the roundabout. These handsome judgments led to the appeal of the public prosecutor, now new proceedings are scheduled at the district court for August and November.

Current developments and future perspectives

The legal disputes have developed into an endless dispute, and the next escalation level could now be clarified before the Dresden Higher Regional Court, since the third acquittal was appealed. It remains unclear when or how this argument will end, also because the public prosecutor is expected to do not want to schedule any further proceedings at the Eilenburg District Court. So there could be low penalties in a conviction, which some observers consider as inappropriate resource waste.

But the actions of the climate activists are not only limited to the events four years ago. Like Tagesschau , the group "Last Generation" temporarily blocked the company at Leipzig/Halle Airport. During this campaign, five activists stuck on the runway and interrupted the freight flight operations for about three hours. On this occasion, they wore signs with the inscription "Kill" oil "and published photos that should indicate the increasing threat of our planet. Their action was often criticized, especially of airport operators who accused the group, only to look for maximum media attention.

climate protest in the focus of society

The “last generation” pursues a clear goal with its non -violent actions, such as blocking traffic routes and the occupation of public spaces: more climate protection and a turn in current climate policy. In doing so, they resort to the funds of civil disobedience that are quite controversial. Unlike the Fridays for Future kids, they rely on direct actions and also illegal methods. These strategies led to some activists in Bavaria to prevent further actions.

The federal government has achieved its climate goals in recent years, but reports show that the economic sectors have failed to fail to carry out these requirements. The legal consequences that can result from the use of such forms of protest are also under discussion. President of the constitution Thomas Haldenwang, however, sees no danger of extremist development in the ranks of the activists. In view of these developments, it remains exciting to see how the legal and public reactions to these climate protests will develop in the coming months.

Leipzig/Halle Airport, as the fourth largest hub for air freight in Europe, has already announced that it will take safety precautions and to train the security forces sensitively in order to be able to better encounter such more and more frequent disorders from now on. These developments also highlight the increasing challenges with which the aviation industry is faced with.