Frustration with climate activist tactics is mounting in Germany, as demonstrated by a recent incident where a woman physically removed a protester blocking traffic. A video circulating online shows the woman, dubbed the "brutal blonde" by some media outlets, pulling the activist by her hair to the side of the road, not once, but twice, after the activist returned to obstruct traffic. Police in Recklinghausen confirmed a minor injury to the activist and are investigating the incident to determine if charges are warranted against anyone involved in removing the protesters. The activists were taken into custody.
This incident highlights the escalating tension surrounding climate protests organized by the group "The Last Generation." The group has gained notoriety for disruptive tactics, including gluing themselves to roads and airport runways. A recent airport protest caused significant travel disruptions, delaying, canceling, or diverting dozens of flights at the start of summer school vacations. Transport Minister Volker Wissing condemned the group's actions, labeling them criminal activity rather than climate protection.
The group's tactics, such as gluing themselves to surfaces, often necessitate intervention from emergency services to remove them, sometimes causing pain and injury to the activists. Videos shared on social media show increasingly frustrated drivers confronting and removing protesters from roadways. In April, the group disrupted holiday travel by gluing themselves to streets in Berlin, blocking traffic to the Alps.
The "Last Generation" argues their disruptive actions are necessary due to what they perceive as government inaction on climate change, particularly in the transport sector. They criticize the Transport Ministry's reliance on "technological flexibility" rather than concrete plans to meet emission reduction targets. As tensions rise, the future of these protests and the public's response remain uncertain.
