Climate protection in prison: Kempten activist competes

Climate protection in prison: Kempten activist competes

The 69-year-old climate activist Karl Braig from Kempten started his first prison on Monday, as the first person in the last generation. The former civil service provider and environmental activist, who has already experienced many protest actions, was sentenced to five months in prison after gluing with other activists in March 2023 at Sitzblockaden in Passau on the street. These actions led to the traffic on the B12 temporarily standing to a standstill. Braig, who caused a probation of 500 euros due to his refusal, described the Situation as a necessary step for the climate emergency, such as reported.

The last generation, known for her controversial actions, accompanied Braig's start to prison with a vigil in front of the correctional facility in Kempten. Around 50 members who kept emotionally speaking said goodbye to him and assured him: "You are not alone." Braig, who had previously stood in disputes with the judiciary several times, saw himself and his actions as part of a larger goal. He expressed that he did not have to blame himself and that his attitude was also of historical relevance: "I am sure that there are other times when these judgments then ended this process differently," he remarked loudly Süddeutsche Zeitung .

The judiciary's decision to impose a prison shortly before Christmas is rated by support bodies as a "blatant overreaction". Braig, who looks back on a life full of environmental protests, including nuclear power and US rockets, sees his detention as a continuation of his civil disobedience. Despite financial options for paying the fine, he decided to go behind bars in order to set an example. It remains to be seen whether and how long he has to serve his five months in the JVA Kempten, while all eyes are now aimed at his experience in prison.