The blockade began at around 8 a.m. in southern Warsaw. The protesters sat in the road and held signs with the names of municipalities, appealing to them to save water.
Traffic was forced to grind to a halt, leading to minor skirmishes between frustrated drivers and the activists.
Last Generation posted a video on X that showed a male driver spraying foam from a fire extinguisher on the people sitting on the road.
Police intervened on the spot and pulled the activists off the road. The demonstrators informed the police that one of the drivers used what they believed to be pepper spray on them.
Despite the incidents, police reported that none of the activists had any injuries that could threaten their health.
“Requests to a court for punishment for committing offenses of obstructing, hindering traffic on a public road, littering, and failing to comply with officers’ orders have been made,” said Assistant Commissioner Ewa Koldys of the Warsaw II District Police Station.
Last Generation held a short press conference, detailing their demands.
“Our goal is the longest series of civil resistance actions against climate collapse in Poland. At the same time, we demand that Prime Minister Donald Tusk issue a public statement committing to implement our demands, i.e., shifting 100% of funds from new motorways to regional public transport and introducing a monthly ticket for regional transport throughout the country for 50 złoty,” a representative of the organization said.
Controversies
In May 2023, a Bavarian court set up an inquiry into Last Generation for suspected involvement in criminal activities.
Around Germany, some 170 police officers carried out raids on residences, closed the group's website, and froze associated accounts.
The investigation, spearheaded by Bavaria's central office for combating extremism and terrorism, alleged that the group was using its website to gather funds for additional criminal endeavors, amassing at least €1.4 million. Additionally, two members of the group were accused of plotting an attack on an oil pipeline in Bavaria.
Funding
The German newspaper Welt am Sonntag reported in 2022 that Last Generation pays certain activists up to €1,300 per month. The funds are distributed by an organization named Wandelbündnis in Berlin, sourced from the Climate Emergency Fund, a non-profit organization in the U.S. that also finances the Just Stop Oil group, according to the newspaper.
Last Generation also receives funds from private donations and Rote Hilfe, a group set up in 1920s Germany to provide help to jailed communists, Welt am Sonntag reported.
Last Generation is most active in Germany, France, Italy, the U.K., and Poland.
