You don’t have to be able to climb; sit-ins and many other forms of protest are also useful and helpful. You don’t have to take part in risky actions; there will also be a rally (Kundgebung). Stable support outside the forest is just as important as the sloths in the trees!
Preparation
- Keep an eye out for alerts (especially early in the morning) and pass them on. As soon as we have information about the (possible) timing of the clearing, we will inform all group chats and social media channels. But, it could also start spontaneously on a random morning!
- Keep an eye out for cutting preparations.
- Think about what you want to do when the clearing is imminent; you will find various options below. Discuss your plans with your activist group, your friends or us, and try out different forms of action beforehand if necessary, practise climbing or whatever else is necessary.
- Decide in advance whether or not you will disclose your identity to the police. In order to effectively refuse to provide your personal details, you need to be well prepared, so find out about this in advance. If you are going to provide your personal details, take your ID with you.
- Write the number of the Hamburg EA +49 (0)40 43278778 on your body with a waterproof pen, regardless of whether you are taking action or ‘just’ going to the rally!
EA = Ermittlungssausschuss = supportive people on the phone, that pay attention to who is being held by police and where, in case of arrest they will also contact a lawyer for you if necessary
- Make all the necessary arrangements, e.g. if you have planned something together: what exactly, where you will meet, who will bring what, etc.; how you will notify your employer that you will be absent from work; how are you making sure that your family or roommates etc do not worry and your children and pets are taken care of, etc.
- Pack your things: Do you still need to get some things? Pack an emergency bag and have it ready, then all you’ll need in an emergency is warm tea and fresh drinking water. Even if you’re ‘just’ coming to the rally or providing other support, the better prepared you are, the faster you’ll be in the morning when the clearing is happening. Here’s a packing list. Also, pay attention to what you’re NOT taking with you!
Staying up-to-date
When the cutting is happening you will receive up-to-date information via our Telegram and Signal groups, at the rally directly at the forest, or at the meeting point in the neighbourhood. There will be a warm, dry room available for exchanging information. When the clearing is imminent that location will be announced via all channels.
Communication with the police
Do not speak to police officers at all, or speak as little as possible. Do not speak on behalf of or about other people. Do not say anything about strategy (e.g. how long the action is planned to last, etc.) or organisation (e.g. who invited you to the action or who prepared what).
Not disclosing your identity (ID Verweigerung)
Be sensitive when discussing and generally handling other people’s names and personal details. If people do not want to reveal their identity, you are making it easier for the police to find out anyway. If you do not want to reveal your identity, the support groups are prepared for this. Obtain an ID number from us in advance (at meetings and events) or from the Ende Gelände number generator: https://www.ende-gelaende.org/eanummer/ (the rest of the web page is irrelevant for you), which you can provide to the EA instead of a name. Prepare yourself, your things, your hands and your face carefully. Of course, you can also provide your personal details to the police. Both options have advantages and disadvantages, and it is your individual decision. Find out about the possible consequences in advance and decide how you feel comfortable. If you do not provide your personal details or provide false details, you may be accused of an administrative offence (Ordnungswidrigkeit), but who should they send the fine to?
Options to protest and support
- Join the rally, be loud, inform passers-by and car/truck drivers. An attempt will be made to register the demonstration. Even if this does not work at first or takes some time, a spontaneous, unregistered gathering is legal in this urgent situation. You are free to participate without hindrance and cannot be checked by the police during the demonstration or on your way there and back without reason. If the assembly is broken up, the police must clearly communicate this. If you then remain at the site, you may be charged with the administrative offence of ‘participating in an unregistered/broken-up assembly’. Wearing a mask to hide your identitiy at assemblies in Hamburg is a criminal offence.
- Support people in the forest: Try to communicate with people in the forest by shouting or playing music. Be careful not to shout out any sensitive information! Bring drinks and food (preferably warm and vegan) and, if necessary, warm, dry items (socks, jumpers, blankets, etc.) and try to give them to the people in the forest (the police may not allow this, but try anyway!). Check the packing list to see what is needed. If people are cleared away and arrested, ask the police where they are taking them and what they are accusing them of. Write down how many and which people they are taking away. Ask for the names the people are using in the action or for ID numbers, but DO NOT write down the names you may know! Call the EA with this information.
- Climbing trees: Whether you climb with or without safety equipment (climbing harness) depends on your skill level and the tree. To make your eviction more difficult, your feet should be at least 2.50 metres above the ground. You should only climb where and as high as you feel safe. There will be opportunities to make yourself comfortable in the trees. Be prepared to hold out for a day; sometimes it is not (or no longer) possible to supply people from below/outside the forest.
- Sit-ins: Vehicles and machinery can be blocked on the road or in the forest. Keep your eyes open for where access routes could be used and be quick!
- Offer safe spaces: Warm, quiet places where people can retreat or even stay overnight can be very helpful. If you can offer a safe space, please contact us!
- We believe in diversity of techniques. Get creative, grab your political group or group of friends and get started! Find out about possible targets and locations, as well as the risks and possible consequences of your actions. You are welcome to ask us or consult with us, but you don’t have to. We have developed a consensus within which we show solidarity with all actions.
- Gesa Support: Gesa = “Gefangenensammelstelle”, where people are taken into custody.
Police Station 44, Georg-Wilhelm-Straße 77 in Wilhelmsburg or another police station. If people are injured, they may also be taken to hospital under police escort. As soon as we know where people are being held, we will spread the word through all channels. And when people are released, they should not be alone; we want to give them a warm welcome! Come to the police station(s) to show your support, bring warm drinks, vegan snacks, blankets, music and street chalk, and report the released people to the EA!
It may happen that police officers on the scene accuse you of various offences, e.g. resisting law enforcement officers (Widerstand gegen Vollstreckungsbeamte), assaulting law enforcement officers (tätlicher Angriff auf Vollstreckungsbeamte), coercion (Nötigung), breach of the peace (Landfriedensbruch), trespassing (Hausfriedensbruch), damage to property (Sachbeschädigung) or whatever else they can think of. Police officers throw around all kinds of accusations and penalties, some of which are complete nonsense. Don’t let them intimidate you! Whether you will be convicted, for what and how severely, will be decided (much) later by the courts. Sometimes they also threaten to charge you for the costs of the operation. You can and should object to this, and in case of doubt, we will all bear the costs of repression in solidarity. If you have any questions about possible penalties, costs, your criminal record or similar, please contact the Hamburg EA, Rote Hilfe, other legal aid organisations or us.
Possible police operations
The people from the forest will probably be evicted by the police. They call this ‘unmittelbarer Zwang,’ which can mean carrying people away or using painful holds (Schmerzgriffe). You do not have to cooperate, but may remain passive. Defensive movements can be interpreted as ‘resisting law enforcement officers’ (Widerstand gegen Vollstreckungsbeamte) or ‘assaulting law enforcement officers’ (tätlicher Angriff auf Vollstreckungsbeamte). From a height of over 2.50 metres, people are removed by special police officers, usually using a lifting platform or ropes.
The police will ask for your ID on site (see above for information on refusing to show ID). They are also allowed to and will probably search your things and clothing to find clues to your identity or items related to the action (e.g. climbing harnesses, banners, etc.) and confiscate them if necessary. If they accuse you of a criminal offence, regardless of what you actually did, they may also take photos of you and your belongings. The police will probably issue expulsion orders (Platzverweis) to people who have been evicted and who have provided their personal details. Ask for this in writing with the exact location and time. If you return afterwards, the police may take you into custody (see below).
As soon as you are no longer able to move freely due to police action, you are in custody, even if they surround the forest or the demonstration and do not let anyone leave (Kessel) or if they detain people in their cars. People may also be taken to police stations, which is very likely if they refuse to show ID, but can happen at any time. There, people may be locked up in solitary cells. They are allowed to detain you for the following periods: up to 12 hours to establish your identity; until the end of the following day if you are accused of a serious offence or criminal act; to prevent a serious offence or criminal act, to enforce an expulsion order or similar until the ‘danger’ has passed (in this case probably no longer than 2 days), at most up to 14 days, which must be decided by a judge! They will probably come up with an accusation for everyone, but they often let people out again during the night.
You do not have to make a statement to the police about what happened or what you are accused of, and you should definitely not do so! You will not be disadvantaged by not making a statement. Do not sign anything, not even confiscation reports. You have the right to translation, toilet facilities, protection from rain/cold (blanket in your cell), shade, food and drink (including vegan options), medical care and medication (bring whatever you need on a daily basis). You must ask for everything. Object to all measures such as searches of your belongings, undressing, ED treatment, etc. They will do all of this anyway, but they must record your objection.
If you are in custody at a police station, you have the right to make one successful phone call. Call the EA! Just say who you are (or your ID number if you are refusing to give your personal details), where you are and what you are accused of (not what you did!). If you do not want to give your personal details, say the letter/number combination assigned to you by the police. The police officers must tell you which station you are at. Answer the EA’s questions. The police are listening! If the EA is not directly available, you will find an emergency number in the answering machine message and can call that number.
If they have taken you to a police station, the police will probably carry out an identification procedure (ED Behandlung): photos, description of physical characteristics, height and weight, fingerprints. Again, you do not have to cooperate, but may remain completely passive.
When you are released, ask for the police reports and what they confiscated from your belongings (do not sign anything!). And let the EA know that you are free again!
Afterwards
If you have had contact with the police or received a letter from them, you can find further important information here. You are not alone!