+++ Urgent preliminary ruling procedure initiated today by the camp organisers in order to take legal action against the restriction of the freedom of assembly. +++ Administrative authorities in Hamburg try to prevent large protest camp +++
The administrative authority in Hamburg does not want to allow the System Change Camp, which will be set up in Hamburg’s Stadtpark from 9th to 15th August. The camp organisers have initiated an urgent preliminary ruling procedure today in order to take legal action against this restriction of the freedom of assembly. A rally against the decision of the administrative authorities will take place on Wednesday, 3 August at 10 a.m. at the Rathausmarkt under the slogan “This is all covered by the freedom of assembly!
Hamburg, 01 st August 2022
The administrative authority in Hamburg does not want to allow the System Change Camp, which will be set up in Hamburg’s Stadtpark from 9 th to 15 th August. The camp organisers have initiated an urgent preliminary ruling procedure today in order to take legal action against this restriction of the freedom of assembly. In a decision from 29 th July 2022, the administrative authorities declared that the protest camp should be moved to a different location and should be significantly reduced in size. According to the conditions, sleeping in tents as well as the provision of drinking water and food should also remain prohibited.
“It is a scandal how Hamburg disregards our fundament rights. We are expecting several thousand people from all over to come to our System Change Camp. We have prepared a major program for a weel with many different political events. To deny us the necessary infrastructure with sleeping tends, food supply and even drinking water is an affront and a breach of law. It seems as if there are enemies of the constitution in the administrative authorities of Hamburg,” explains Luka Scott, one of the spokespersons from the camp organisers.
Only recently, the Federal Administrative Court granted protest camps special legal protection in a landmark decision. According to this decision, infrastructure and overnight tents are also protected under the freedom of assembly. The Administrative Court of Hamburg ruled in a similar way in May 2022. In this case, a protest camp supposed to take place in Hamburg’s Stadtgarten as well was made impossible by the administrative authorities with restrictive conditions – unlawfully, as the court has now clarified.
The lawyer Nils Spörkel, who is representing the climate justice alliance Ende Gelände in court as a co-organiser in the case, explains:
“Already at the G20 summit in Hamburg in 2017, the administrative authorities in Hamburg tried to prevent legitimate protest camps. It is now continuing this inglorious tradition, contrary to the current case law of the Federal Administrative Court on climate camps. In addition, according to the case law of the Federal Constitutional Court, climate protection is one of the goals of our constitution. Therefore, it should be clear that protest against anti-climate policies is protected by the right to freedom of assembly.”
Charly Dietz, also spokesperson for the camp organisers, adds:
“Interior Senator Andy Grote doesn’t seem to take democracy and the rule of law very seriously. The fact that the Greens as a coalition partner are supporting the Interior Department’s refusal to cooperate, ignoring fundamental court decision and putting obstacles in the way of climate activists is unacceptable. We see it as the duty of the Greens to exert their influence so that this repressive wrong decision is corrected.
More than 30 political groups have joined forces for the System Change Camp in Hamburg. It is meant to unite the struggles of climate justice movements, anti-colonial and anti-militarist groups. Up to 6,000 participants are expected. A rally against the decision of the administrative authorities will take place on Wednesday, 3 August at 10 a.m. at the Rathausmarkt under the slogan “This is all covered by the freedom of assembly!
Contact
E-Mail: systemchange_camp@riseup.net
Charly Dietz: +49 163 681 177 6
Luka Scott: +49 177 970 575 7
Online
Website: https://systemchange.noblogs.org/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SystemChange_C
Participating groups and alliances
Abya Yala Anticolonial,
Aktionsbündnis Kesselbambule,
Animal Rebellion,
Antifa Hoheluft,
BUNDjugend,
Climáximo,
Colombia Solidaria Hamburgo,
Debt for Climate!,
Ende Gelände,
Extinction Rebellion,
FAU Hamburg,
GasExit,
Gegenstrom Hamburg,
Gemeinsam gegen die Tierindustrie,
Grüne Jugend Hamburg,
Internationale Sozialistische Organisation,
Interventionistische Linke,
Janun,
Klimakollektiv Oldenburg,
Klimatreffen Hamburg,
KLIRR!,
Lützerath Lebt,
Rettet Hamburgs Natur,
Rheinmetall Entwaffnen,
RWE & Co enteignen,
Sand im Getriebe,
Seebrücke Berlin,
Transform LEJ,
…ums Ganze!,
Ung Vänster Göteborg & Bohuslän,
Wald statt Asphalt,
We are Plan C,
Women Defend Rojava
