Extinction Rebellion blocks German parliament
October 8, 2020
Extinction Rebellion activists blocked bridges and roads around the German parliament building in Berlin on Wednesday evening.
The aim of the blockade was to call for a so-called "ecocide law," which would designate climate and environmental damage as a criminal offense, German news agency DPA reported.
The German Twitter account of Extinction Rebellion posted: "Tonight we blocked the government district in 7 places. Politics must be detained. We demand Ökzid Law for the ecological and climate crisis!"
Read more: Extinction Rebellion: The activists risking prison to save the planet
The police said no crimes were committed during the action.
Detention
The protesters wanted to ensure that the members of the Bundestag had to "do detention" in the Reichstag by preventing them from leaving the government building, according to an Extinction Rebellion spokeswoman.
Around 350 activists took part in the demonstrations. There was also a rally occurring at the Brandenburg Gate in the center of the German capital.
Extinction Rebellion had announced a week-long series of protests in Berlin aimed at highlighting environmental degradation and climate change.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, there were significantly fewer participants this year compared to last. Several thousand people took part in the 2019 week of action in Berlin with flash mobs and bicycle demos, as well as road blockades.