Presse release from 01/06/2019

Police act harshly against climate activists in Vienna

 

Several instances of harsh treatment occurred during a protest for climate justice called “Ende Geländewagen” in Vienna on Friday. A video that went viral on Twitter (https://twitter.com/Marcus_MoD/status/1134766405184884736) shows an officer beating an activist while he was being restrained on the ground. Around 250 peaceful protesters blocked one of the major roads in Vienna, and some activists chained themselves to wooden tripods set up in the streets.

“The officer-in-charge threatened violent action at the start very of the protest.”, says Sina Reisch, spokesperson for “Ende Geländewagen”. The protesters drew attention to the detrimental consequences of car traffic to climate and health in Austria. “Yesterday’s events show, that the current system will enforce its interests violently – despite doing irreparable damage to the world we live in. In order to achieve a transformation towards a better system, it is no longer enough to attend protests.” says Reisch.

In fact, policemen executed the clearing of the blockade with unreasonable violence. One of the activists, with a laceration on the head, needed medical care. Another activist had to go to the hospital after being held in the detention centre until approximately 3 am in the morning. “The laceration was the result of six policemen restraining the activist forcefully on the ground. There, the activist’s head hit the concrete,” said Sina Reisch. Policemen also expressed violence against passer-bys: video-footage (https://twitter.com/RADikalAutofrei) shows people being pushed aside to hinder them from taking pictures and filming the scenes described above. As of yet, it is unclear whether any illegal action took place inside the detention centres Rossauerlände and Hernals where approximately 100 activists were held. It is confirmed, however, that there were acts of insult and harassment.