German climate activists spray painted the historic Brandenburg Gate columns, featuring bright orange and yellow, amid demands to end the use of fossil fuels by 2030.
The iconic 18th-century landmark was painted by members of the Letzte Generation, translated to "Last Generation." The incident happened despite Berlin Police trying to stop the protesters from doing any further damage.
Brandenburg Gate Spray Painted
In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, police said that the members of the Letzte Generation spray painted the columns located on the eastern side of the Brandenburg Gate. The police department added that the personnel at the scene were observed using a hydraulic lift, which prompted officials to keep the climate activists from climbing the landmark.
Law enforcement personnel made 14 arrests among on-site protesters and have launched an investigation to assess how much damage was done to the historic property. According to Fox News, the Letzte Generation, based in Germany, is part of the European A22 network.
The network includes Britain's Just Stop Oil, which had recently made headlines in the region with hundreds of roadblocks by protestors who glued themselves to the tarmac. The latest effort also sparked a law enforcement crackdown by federal states in Germany.
The Letzte Generation also posted on X and shared images of the spray-painted Brandenburg Gate columns, saying that they would not stop unless a pivot is initiated. The group said they must soon exit oil, natural gas, and coal by 2030.
The protests come as the German government has set a target of 2045 to become a climate-neutral country but has missed its climate protection targets in the last two years. In a statement, Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner condemned the climate activists' actions, saying that while the country supports "freedom of expression," he does not condone damaging property.
Climate Activists Demand End to Fossil Fuels
The Letzte Generation has been protesting across Germany since the spring of 2022 and has conducted efforts that targeted political party headquarters, luxury shops, and a private jet at the capital's airport with paint, according to DW News.
The activist group's latest protest initiative for Berlin kicked off last Wednesday with a march involving several hundred participants. The Letzte Generation also said that the incident at the Brandenburg Gate was part of a "turning moment" protest against a lack of government action on shifting away from fossil fuels.
The group noted that the protest had made it clear that it was time for a political change, going away from fossil fuels and towards fairness. The Letzte Generation is best known for its rallies in German politics and society.
Wegner said that with the latest action at the Brandenburg Gate, the group was damaging the historic building and the free discourse about the important issues of our time and future, said WION News.
The Brandenburg Gate was built on the orders of Prussian king Frederick William II after he restored the Orangist power by suppressing the Dutch popular unrest. It is considered to be one of the best-known landmarks in Germany.
