On 01/22/2018 we experienced the most violent police operation in the forest since the premature end of the clearing season. This mission clearly showed us three things:

1. By massive civil disobedience it is possible to prevent evictions.
2. The violence and escalation in Hambach Forest comes from state and police, contrary to the propaganda that a de-escalative course is being run under the Aachen police chief.
3. The majority of the media does not attach much importance to fair reporting in this matter. Instead, it is common practice to accept without any criticism alleged facts from police press releases.

1. By massive civil disobedience it is possible to prevent evictions.
   The police came to the forest with the claim to clear the way. It was a common practice some time ago that was repeated every few months. They did not succeed this time. After the police withdrew (presumably because of the onset of darkness), there were still several barricades on which some of the uncleared people were staying. They also decided against continuing the mission. Would that have become too expensive? The fact that nine of the arrested activists are provisionally in custody proves only that the state is a very bad loser. It does not change the fact that an eviction was prevented by (non-violent) resistance. What it takes: Many determined and creative people. So come to the Hambach Forest and resist with us!
2. The violence and escalation in Hambach Forest comes from state and police, contrary to the propaganda that a de-escalative course is being run under the Aachen police chief.
   Since Dirk Weinspach is responsible for the operations in the Hambach Forest, he attempts to bring the image of a more de-escalative strategy, while police and mass media regularly paint a picture of violence seeking anarchists in Hambach forest. This mission again impressively proved the opposite. On the part of the activists, we saw creative and non-violent resistance, but brutal violence on the part of the state. Even the police states in their press release that the action of the activists was peaceful. As for the violence on the part of the state, we give only the most impressive examples in order not to go beyond the scope of this text:
   • The brutal mistreatment of the daughter of local supporters from Buir of the occupation. Presumably, this measure should deter people from supporting us. However, they probably reach the opposite, a radicalization of these supporters!
   • The kick that led to a serious foot injury. Does not need any further comment.
   • The threat of the climbing cop “Pauli”: “Touch the crane and I’ll cut your fingers off”
   • The numerous torture locks applied.
   • And, of course, the still ongoing deprivation of liberty of nine activists.

   In addition, there were other provocations that failed to achieve their supposed goal of provoking violence by the activists, such as the felling of trees or the fact that representatives of a neo-fascist party were also invited to attend the mission (and that they followed this invitation).
   By the way, it should be noted that the police did not take justice and law very literally that day. Among other things, this is demonstrated by the fact that they argued with the right of assembly, and that activists were forced to take off their disguise, but at the same time they were trying to collect personal data in masses, which is usually not allowed at assemblies.

3. The majority of the media does not attach much importance to fair reporting in this matter. Instead, it is common practice to accept without any criticism alleged facts from police press releases.
   Anyone can convince themselves of this fact by simply comparing our publications and those of the police and then looking at what was available in which newspapers at the time of publication. The fact that newspapers such as the Kölner Stadtanzeiger, the Aachener Zeitung and the BILD (the latter obviously does not even have the claim to journalistic work) take police press releases at face value and ignore opposing depictions is questionable from a journalistic point of view, but it is a familiar process. The most important thing to be corrected is this: Activists who lock themselves on usually dealt with it and know how to do it without putting their lives in danger. The only danger in such a situation is improper action by police or security.