Extinction Rebellion paralyzes Zurich – all news in the live ticker
Demonstrators block traffic on Zurich’s Bahnhofstrasse on Monday.
Image: keystone
The group “Extinction Rebellion” blocked the traffic in the city center on Monday. The police cleared the unauthorized rally after noon.
04.10.2021, 8:08 am04.10.2021, 3:13 pm
While the activists are still blocking the Uraniastrasse and being led away or carried away individually by the city police in Zurich, they are already announcing the blockade for Tuesday. Members of the “Extinction Rebellion” group want to sit down on a street in downtown Zurich again.
With their “peaceful sitting in public space”, citizens would disrupt the normal course of things, writes the group in a statement on Monday afternoon.
You don’t enjoy that. “But in view of the absolute climate emergency, it is no longer enough to express one’s dissatisfaction only through legal demonstrations and petitions.”
The activists are ready to be arrested, the statement said. And: “They’ll be back tomorrow.”
Announcement made true
On Monday – as announced – at twelve o’clock several dozen people sit down with folding and garden chairs on Uraniastraße. Several dozen are on the street with banners such as “We want to live” and “Listen to the Science”.
Some passers-by are not amused by the blockade. “Those are all foreigners”, said a gentleman with Veston. In fact, many activists have come from French-speaking Switzerland. @watson_news pic.twitter.com/As6mfooNir
– Adrian Müller (@mueller_adrian) October 4, 2021
After a short period of time, the city police began the evacuation. “We can no longer tolerate the restrictions on traffic and are precisely starting with identity checks, notifications and directions,” the police announced on Twitter.
Aim: to shake politics awake
The organization Extinction Rebellion wants to use civil disobedience and, in their eyes, legal means to urge politicians to take action in the fight against climate change. With the blockade in Zurich, which is to go on for several days, they want to receive answers from the Federal Council.
The first members of the Extinction Rebellion (“rebellion against extinction”) had already come to the canton of Zurich on Saturday, many of them from western Switzerland.
On Saturday they drew attention to the climate crisis with a play on the Rathausbrücke. On Sunday followed – after an opening party and various disobedience courses on the barracks area – an art event in Zurich’s main train station; According to the organizers, around 250 people laid down on the floor at a “die-in”, representing the extinction of people. (sda)
That was the demonstration in the live ticker:
Live ticker: Extinction Rebellion paralyzes Zurich
The last of the activists are gone
The police broke the blockade. Here is a brief summary of what happened.
Police carry protesters away
The police have started to carry away the remaining demonstrators on Uraniastrasse one by one. The trams are already running again on Bahnhofstrasse.
So far, hardly any resistance
The police have started the eviction. However, the situation seems to be cleared up without any major problems: the demonstrators hardly offer any resistance.
The police are “clearing” the street
How long will the Bahnhofstrasse / Urania axis be blocked? According to a police spokesman, it is not yet possible to predict how long the “eviction” will take. That depends on whether you have to carry away all activists individually. @watson_news
– Adrian Müller (@mueller_adrian) October 4, 2021
“The matter may take a long time”
According to a spokesman for XR, the activists are waiting to be led away or to be carried away. “It could take a long time.” “We can’t wait any longer and now we finally have to fight global warming,” added a demonstrator. @watson_news pic.twitter.com/qAgGpWpVQz
– Adrian Müller (@mueller_adrian) October 4, 2021
“5 more minutes”
The Zurich police have announced that they will lift the blockade. She gives the demonstrators an ultimatum: “Another 5 minutes,” then it should be evacuated.
Many demonstrators from western Switzerland
Some passers-by are not amused by the blockade. “Those are all foreigners”, said a gentleman with Veston. In fact, many activists have come from French-speaking Switzerland. @watson_news pic.twitter.com/As6mfooNir
– Adrian Müller (@mueller_adrian) October 4, 2021
Limited tram traffic
“Fun Fact”: Through the @xrSwitzerland -Demo is blocked of all public transport in Bahnhofsstrasse @watson_news pic.twitter.com/y5PPgwHeqe
– Adrian Müller (@mueller_adrian) October 4, 2021
“Unauthorized rally”
On the ship that blocks Uraniastrasse in one direction of travel at the level of Bahnhofstrasse, it says in large letters: “Act now!” Several people have sat on folding chairs and garden chairs, so that the street in the city center is completely blocked.
The activists hold up umbrellas that read “It’s serious, my guys” or “Act now”, and a large banner reads: “We want to live.” They shout “rebellion” and applaud themselves.
The city police announced in an announcement that they would not tolerate any blocking of public or private traffic. On Twitter, she writes of an “unauthorized rally”. You are in use with various units. It recommends that all road users drive around the city center.
In the inner city area there are currently delays in road traffic due to an unauthorized rally. We are in action with various units and recommend all road users to drive around the city center. ^ Spa
– Zurich City Police (@StadtpolizeiZH) October 4, 2021
The police are looking for a conversation
This answers in English: “I’m locked on the boat – I’m turned on at the boat.”
The policeman replies: “I don’t believe you.”
The activist remains seated for the time being.
It starts
It starts with the Züri-Blockade: A group of XR activists blocked the traffic at the Rudolf-Brun-Bridge @watson_news pic.twitter.com/viwxWfqMyy
– Adrian Müller (@mueller_adrian) October 4, 2021
First activists gathered
Despite light rain, several dozen people gathered at the roundabout behind the State Museum before eleven o’clock. According to the program, newcomers are welcomed there and informed about the upcoming campaign. Some have folding and garden chairs with them, banners cannot yet be seen.
The activists also operate an information stand on Bahnhofstrasse, where they refer passers-by “about the climate crisis”. Meanwhile, the Zurich City Police are present at the main train station and in the city center.
The activists have announced that they will block Uraniastrasse in the Bahnhofstrasse area on Monday at 12 noon. To do this, you want to sit down on the street with chairs. (sda)
