Climate activists thronged the streets of Getreidemarkt, Friedrichstraße and Rechte Wienzeile. There was also a brass band.
The heralded wave of “Last Generation” protests in Vienna continued on Friday. Activists blocked the area around the Naschmarkt in the Secession area in the morning. The participants glued themselves to the slopes of the Getreidemarkt, Friedrichstraße and Rechte Wienzeile. Immediately after the action began, police began moving the first activists off the road, spokeswoman Barbara Gass said.
A meter-high yellow X was erected at the other busy intersection – a sign of solidarity with Lützerath, a German village that will pave the way for lignite mining. A brass band in orange safety vests provided entertainment, reported “Last Generation” spokesman Florian Wagner. The government was asked: “Where is your climate plan?”
No big traffic jams
So far, there have been no major traffic jams in the morning traffic, which was fairly quiet for a Friday, said ÖAMTC spokesman Marc Römer. On the Rechtse Wienzeile, the cars backed up to the Kettenbrückengasse, on the former Zweierlinie to the Volkstheater. There was also slow traffic and bottlenecks on alternate routes nearby.
Last week, the movement announced plans to carry out a wave of disruptive actions in the federal capital. Friday was the fifth day of this project. On Thursday they blocked Schüttelstrasse in Vienna-Leopoldstadt in two places. A protest action on the Ostautobahn was thwarted by the police. In a “Last Generation” video on Twitter, actress Valerie Huber (“Kitz”, “Klammer – Chasing the Line”) expressed her solidarity with climate activists.
Kick activist on Wednesday
On Wednesday, they joined the outer belt of the Westbahnhof and the inner belt of Europaplatz. They were also attacked by a man. As a “next generation” Twitter video shows, he kicks one of the activists. Police initially filed a complaint against unknown perpetrators for bodily harm.
On Tuesday they blocked the Praterstern and were supported by around 40 leading scientists. The “Störwelle” began on Monday, when activists took to the streets in front of Viennese schools. So far, all actions have resulted in extensive traffic obstructions.
(APA)