Police officer from BW was an active participant in climate advocacy group "Last Generation"
German Climate Activist Group "Last Generation" Faces Legal Challenges
The German climate activist group "Last Generation" (Letzte Generation) has found itself in the crosshairs of the legal system, despite not being officially classified as a criminal organization. The group, known for its disruptive protests, has been facing increased criminalization and legal repression, with authorities using laws traditionally designed to combat organized crime to prosecute its members.
Recently, the Interior Ministry Department in Stuttgart has expressed concern over contact attempts by "Last Generation." These attempts are believed to be aimed at engaging police officers and policewomen through a program called "police networking." The Ministry has sensitized its offices and institutions to report such contact to the Baden-Württemberg State Criminal Police Office for investigation.
In early March, members of "Last Generation" were sentenced to prison terms without suspension for their repeated climate protests and stated intention to continue their actions in Heilbronn. This marked a first for the group. However, there is no evidence to suggest that "Last Generation" is currently under observation by the constitutional protection or considered a criminal organization.
Meanwhile, the General Prosecutor's Office in Stuttgart has been engaged to investigate whether such contact with police officers is relevant to criminal law. Legal experts disagree on whether "Last Generation" can be classified as a criminal organization, according to Section 129 of the Criminal Code.
The Baden-Württemberg Ministry of the Interior allows officials to privately join climate activist groups, but they must comply with official duties if recognizable as such. However, this has not deterred "Last Generation" from attempting to engage with police officers.
A notable case involves a police officer named Marco, originally from Baden-Württemberg, who was a secret member of "Last Generation." Marco, who left the group due to concerns about potential career disadvantages, was involved in data management, contact sorting, and text writing for the group. His role did not include participating in the group's street blockades.
The state chairman of the German Police Union (DPolG), Ralf Kusterer, considers membership in "Last Generation" incompatible with the police profession. Kusterer has also suggested that the group should be investigated by the constitutional protection.
The duty of restraint and neutrality, as well as standing up for the liberal democratic constitutional order, are part of the special duty and loyalty of police officers in Baden-Württemberg. The controversial strategy of applying existing criminal and organized crime laws to climate activists, such as "Last Generation," raises concerns about the misuse of legal tools and the suppression of environmental protest.
In recent times, there have been several tense situations between police officers and climate activists. Last week, a police officer in Mannheim caused outrage among climate activists when he poured oil on an activist's head.
As the legal battles against "Last Generation" continue, the group remains active, with hundreds of court cases underway nationwide against its activists for coercion and other offenses, usually resulting in fines. Despite the challenges, "Last Generation" maintains that its goals are democratic and democratic in preserving the planet for future generations.
- The controversial legal challenges against the environmental science group, "Last Generation," have escalated to include investigations by the General Prosecutor's Office, as they examine whether the group's contact with police officers is relevant to criminal law.
- While the group's activities in the realm of climate-change activism have led to prison terms for its members, to date, there is no official classification of "Last Generation" as a criminal organization under Section 129 of the Criminal Code.
- The ongoing strife between "Last Generation" and the authorities in the field of politics and general news has extended to include the crime-and-justice sector, with a police officer from Baden-Württemberg, named Marco, having been a secret member of the group, carrying out tasks such as data management and contact sorting.
