By Anne Losensky
Blocked highways three times, stuck once: 1,350 euros fine for climate gluer Helga H. (56).
District judge Birgit Boll-Sternberg says what many people think: “Nobody has the right to instrumentalise third parties, such as drivers, in order to draw attention to political goals. In a democracy you have to look for political majorities, not take people hostage in order to achieve your own goals!”
Tiergarten District Court. Accused: Helga H. (56). Craftswoman in a small town in Hesse (less than 6800 inhabitants). In Berlin, she was a freeway blocker from the very beginning: January 24th and 26th, 2022 at Wolfensteindamm (Steglitz), on February 9th, 2022, exit Tegeler Weg (Charlottenburg) – she was also stuck to the asphalt there.
On February 9, climate stickers blocked the exit on Tegeler Weg on the A100 – right in the middle: Helga H. (red circle) Photo: Til Biermann
Miles of traffic jams for three days. In Berlin there are currently 174 procedures against road blockers. Helga H. is the seventh person to appear in court because she appealed against penal orders: she does not want to pay a fine of 4,500 euros.
Her lawyer demands acquittal (he doesn’t want to read his name in the newspaper): “That wasn’t necessary, because there were other access roads to the motorway…median reservations, sidewalks, surrounding streets, it was relatively easy to evade everything!” Drivers should ” animated to pause”.
Climate activist Helga H.: “I’ll do it again!” The judge sentenced three times coercion (blockades), once resistance (sticking). 90 daily rates of 15 euros each, because Helga H. insists that she only earns 450 euros a month (previous estimate 1200 to 1500 euros). You can appeal or appeal.