In the past weeks, the appeal trial against the companion in the so-called Parkbank trial took place at the Hamburg Regional Court, in which three companions were sentenced for conspiring to commit the crime of arson in 2021.

The current appeal trial took place on 2 days, but this time we decided to save ourselves the media hype and to accompany the process with friends and companions.

As was to be expected, General-Prosecutor Schakau showed his usual side and ranted in front of the chamber throughout the trial days.

The chamber did not follow the theories of the prosecution and the cops in that the prison sentence of 1 year and 8 months was now suspended for 4 years. In addition, the companion must complete 60 hours of community service within 6 months of the sentence becoming final.

Furthermore, it should be mentioned here again that one of the companions in the same proceedings (whose appeal was already rejected in 2022) had to start his remaining sentence of 6 months in January.

The third person is expected to be imprisoned this year.

We will also walk this path together and in solidarity!

Watch out for further announcements

For the social revolt!

Freedom for all!

You can reach the now imprisoned comrade by mail with his book number and at the address:

Buchnummer: 108/23/2
JVA Billwerder
Dweerlandweg 100
22113 Hamburg
Germany

If you don’t want to write from home, feel free to contact your trusted infoshops or anarchist libraries in your cities. In Hamburg you can also use the LiZ as return address with your alias and pick up your mail during the opening hours of the anarchist library Sturmflut (Wednesdays 18-21:00, Saturdays 16-19:00).

Send thousands of letters! Show solidarity!

Fire and flames for all jails!

Freedom and Luck!

On the the 5.11. the three comrades were sentenced to 22, 20 and 19 months jail without parole. But the imprisoned comrades were set free after 16 months of pre-trial detention.

There were lots of people in solidarity in front of the courthouse and 2 hours later the two comrades were picked up and warmly welcomed by these people, together with all the close ones and families, when they were released from jail.

The fight against the corona virus demands a lot from all of us at the moment, it causes insecurity and fear, and isolation. Especially now it is important that we take care of each other and act in solidarity. Some approaches to mutual support and networking have emerged in recent days and must be further developed and tested in the near future. We must be aware that even in the current situation, the marginalised in society face far greater problems and are much more vulnerable than most others.

The restrictions of public life also affect our companions, friends and comrades in prison and those prosecuted outside the prison walls directly and indirectly. Currently, visits in prison and the possibility to participate in court trials as spectators are restricted, all solidarity events are forbidden and direct communication is made much more difficult. Besides everything else, we are faced with the particular challenge that all solidarity counters, parties, concerts and other events cannot take place and therefore urgently needed funds cannot come in.

Therefore we call on everyone to continue to make money available outside of events and not to leave the prisoners and everyone else alone.

Use the solidarity account to support the Parkbank 3, set up a standing order or donate individual amounts, or put up a money box at your home for every beer that cannot be drunk in the pub… and continue to write to the prisoners to reduce isolation!

The Corona virus is currently bringing almost all public life to a standstill, but not our solidarity. Show this solidarity to the prisoners, too! Walks to the jails are still possible, show the prisoners that they are not left alone and forgotten!

Freedom and happiness for the three from the park bench and all the others!

For a society based on solidarity, without prisons!

Account:

Rote Hilfe e.V. OG Hamburg

IBAN: EN06 2001 0020 0084 6102 03

BIC: PBNKDEFF

Keyword: Park bench

In the current situation, the German state is relying on the radical restrictions of social life. This discourse is accompanied by numerous monitoring and prosecution powers on the part of the security authorities in order to prevent alleged violations. Penalties for non-compliance with sometimes very questionable behaviour and residence bans in public places are accompanied by the upping of surveillance, allowing authorities to locate people via mobile phone tracking and to isolate them in order to prevent infection. These are mainly measures that politicians and police have been demanding for years and which are now being introduced into legislation in the wake of the pandemic and thus threaten to be applied more widely.

Prisoners in prisons are probably the most affected by the regulations put in place to prevent the spread of the Covid19 pandemic. In recent weeks, entire wards of the Holstenglacis U-prison have been put in isolation. This means 23 hours of confinement, virtually solitary confinement in the yard and little contact with other prisoners. But even if prisoners are not in isolation because of a suspected case, the already inhumane living conditions of the detention centre are still radically reduced. The number of visitors has been reduced, or visits are cancelled altogether (this happens, for example, because the LKA – Criminal office who has to be present at each visit, in this case – is „unable“ to monitor the visits or cannot find a suitable room) If visits do occur, they are often much shorter and only possible behind a separating glass. Here the harassing arbitrariness of the „necessary measures“ often becomes apparent: While the prisoners and visitors are subject to strict rules and are sanctioned if they do not comply, the screws sometimes behave without distance. Phone calls are still possible, but often there is not enough money to pay the absurd tariffs. The telephone provider is likely to profit especially here. Whether also post office and book transmissions are affected by the measures remains to be waited…

But the current situation also has a strong impact on the processing of prisoners. Instead of defusing the danger of infection in the prisons through dismissals – as happens in many places around the world – the deviese applies to many trials in Hamburg: Pull through, come what may! The basis for this is a change in the law regarding the interruption period for main hearings. If a trial is already in progress, a hearing could be interrupted for a maximum of 3 weeks. If more than 10 trial days have already been conducted, the period of interruption was one month. The new law provides for the possibility to interrupt proceedings for a period of up to 3 months and 10 days. The German Lawyers‘ Association, among others, has warned that this could lead to an artificial prolongation of criminal proceedings and thus also of pre-trial detention periods.

How are the defendants in the case against the park bench 3?

Despite the tense situation in connection with the restrictions imposed by the Corona pandemic, the defendants are doing well, according to the circumstances! The two comrades, who are still in custody, are in good spirits despite the numerous restrictions on visits and everyday life in prison. So keep on writing them letters and try to keep up the communication with the prisoners, especially under the current prison conditions! Also the third prisoner, who is still outside under registration requirements, is doing well!

What’s the status of the current proceedings against the park bench 3?

There is a drastic restriction of the number of spectator seats for the hearings in Hamburg courts. In the case against our comrades only 6 people can attend the trial, despite the fact that even with the safety distance of 1,5m there would be room for more people. All public viewers need to give their personal data at the entrance and have to follow the constantly changing rules of conduct within the court. Sometimes it is not allowed to stand in the corridor, sometimes it is not allowed to wait here or there. In addition, these alleged security rules probably do not seem to apply to cops or employees of the court. They often still move around the court building completely free.

The lawyers of the 3 defendants have tried again and again in the past days of the trial to request a delay of the proceedings. Due to the regulated minimum distance, neither an adequate communication with the clients is possible, nor – due to the strongly restricted seats for spectators – the publicity of the trial is possible. In this context, about 10 applications for a declaration of bias have already been filed against the Chamber of the Court. However, the Chamber, together with the public prosecutor’s office, continues to insist on a continuation of the proceedings, which has led to a continual escalation of the mood in the court.

Remain vigilant and support the prisoners!

Let us show them that they are not alone and that we are at their side especially now!

ps: Since the LIZ is not really usable due to the Corona situation, we can only forward your letters in a very limited way at the moment. The best thing you can do is to have your own sender address if you want to send letters with a synonym to the 3 defendants.

Corona update on the trial:

The court seems to want to continue the trial, so far no dates have been cancelled due to the corona virus. Of course, like so many things, this can change at short notice. We try to publish changes as soon as possible. However, due to the current situation the court has issued a new security order, which means quite drastic requirements for visitors of the trial:

– All visitors of the trial have to hand in their personal data (person or passport), which will be copied, kept for 14 days and then destroyed if no illness of other visitors is reported.

– If any of these visitors to the trial are subsequently suspected of having been infected with the corona virus or if a disease is confirmed, they must report to the court

– Generally only 6 instead of 100 members of the public are allowed to be present. They will be distributed with 1,5 meters distance in the stall

– The security gates have now opened half an hour before the start of negotiations

Some people will not be able to come, but to everyone else:

Continue to support our companions in the courtroom, think about how much more isolated the two companions in custody are in the current situation.

Show solidarity, whether in court, by postcard or in other ways!

Since 8.1. the trial against three comrades has been taking place in the high-security room 237. A 500 person strong demonstration in solidarity took place the evening before the trail began.

The first day of the trial was very well attended. Friends and relatives did not miss the opportunity to loudly express their solidarity and their joy about the reunion – the chance to see faces much missed. The day was otherwise marked by long queues and a pedantic admission control including taking off shoes and all the usual security measure which one would expect in an airport.

The accused are still steadfast and draw strength from solidarity and sympathy.

By the way, there is a blog where the minutes of the trial are collected and summarised, not yet translated into english, but will be at some point, so keep an eye on this new blog: parkbankprozess.blackblogs.org

We will only be able to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the investigations of the cops and the public prosecutor’s office after the trial. But at this point, we have three more points:

Observations:

At least one of the accused was monitored for about 8 months prior to arrest, including TCU and GPS orders. The whole thing ran under the popular keyword of „danger prevention“, meaning that it was approved by the police chief without judge’s reservation.

Both the reason for the surveillance and the majority of the surveillance protocols remain the secret of the prosecution and other authorities at present.

Money:

In addition, the court has decided that the second attorneys will not be assigned as additional public defenders. This means that we have to pay much higher costs, because the second lawyers have to be financed completely by themselves.

Therefore once again: We are also dependent on your financial solidarity!

Press:

Editors of „Der Spiegel“ have been harassing people and shops they associate with the three from the park bench in the last days. The journalists have rung the stairs and appeared in front of private apartments. We assume that they are the same ones who bother people in Berlin and Leipzig (de.indymedia.org/node/62164).

It is as well to be assumed that further press reports with knowledge from files will pop up. We are aware that this is a shitty situation for everyone. We ask you however further to refrain from speculations.

And one thing is clear: Don’t talk to the state security reporters; Anna and Arthur keep their mouths shut!

Freedom and happiness!

Changes might occur, possibly at short notice, so keep an eye on the updated list.

Securities measures of the first day of the trial were incredibly pedantic and took a very long time. As a result, court entrance will now start two hours before the trial begins.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

NEW YEARS EVE at the prison.

Like in many other cities, the turn of the new year was accompanied by a rally at the Holstenglascis Remand Prison in Hamburg. At around 7pm the prisoners were greeted with chants and a huge firework display in the park at the rear side of the prison.

From around 11pm, roughly 250 people gathered in front of the prison’s main entrance. Their solidarity was shown with music, speeches, greetings from prisoners and fireworks.

There were very positive reactions and sympathy from the prisoners and their families. A particularly heartfelt greeting was addressed to the prisoners from the park bench and the 129b prisoners.

Fire and flame of repression!

Speech

We are here today because friends, loved ones and family of ours are experiencing the turn of the year behind these ugly walls and we want to be as close to them as possible. We do not recognise the State, its cruel institutions or its repression. Maybe some of you are here because you are sick and tired of being subjected to consumption at every opportunity, and despite the fact that this capitalist system only produces destruction and stupefaction, still, you look for a perspective in which a struggle against it is possible. Here, we are creating a unifying moment in front of this wall, showing the value of our solidarity and our perspective for another world.

We are standing here now, separated from our friends, in front of this prison. It symbolises, like nothing else could, the measures of repression against all delinquents and dissidents. Repression is a logical consequence when people start to resist a system that is based upon power. Repression is the means of subjugation, from those in power, encompassing our daily lives. The daily pressure and compulsion to function according to the law. One function of repression is the separation from each other and it stands between us and our ideas. Repression can create fear of resisting injustice and powerlessness. We do not simply want to suppress this fear but to find a common way of dealing with it. Because what we are fighting against is the isolation, competition and hierarchical relationships that are imposed on us in a capitalist patriarchal society. Important for our militant perspective is the attack on institutions of power as well as the way that relationships are created in our society. This means that the action that entails repression is just as important as how we deal with each other when repression strikes, both of which are attacks against the State!

Going beyond competition, hierarchy and authority, we want to explore ways of dealing with each other. We want to create a common project and approach each other in solidarity. The state already decides too many things in our everyday life, it should not also decide how and when we are in solidarity. It should not tell us who has done wrong and who has done right. We should not fall for the distortion of reality by the state or try to take it over. We want to think beyond laws and investigations. What is the use of knowing who exactly did or did not do something, and how? And all of this within the logic of the State, a logic of guilt. A logic which perpetuates the innocence of the State and its faithfuls, and which inevitably leads to those who disturb a so-called normality, to be guilty.

We show solidarity with attacks against the State and mechanisms of oppression, we show solidarity with our comrades in struggle and mutually strengthen each other in the practiced solidarity of attacks against the existent. In remembering again and again why we are against the State and what we want to stand up for and in which ways we choose to do so, we can counter the fear of repression.

We want a break with this world and create a fundamental, emancipatory change – do we expect this to happen without resistance from those in power? Do we expect that there could ever be resistance without repression? If we want to abolish the State, it is obvious that this will have consequences. Therefore, we should not succumb to the fallacy that we could prevent repression, because it is the cornerstone of this society. In the moments when we decide to defend ourselves against the existent, in which ever form that might be – be it taking the train without a ticket, going to a demonstration, distributing flyers, writing this text here, militant actions or simply not obeying their rules, we always have to expect repression. If there were no repression and we were allowed to do whatever we wanted in this world, we would not have to fight against it. That is why we do not allow ourselves to be paralysed by their repression, but instead to see ourselves strengthened in our ideas of freedom.

The clear program of the authorities of repression is to isolate resistant subjects in order to break them and not to let more resistant potential grow. This can affect everyone. One goal of the state is to bring about division and to eradicate solidarity, and this is exactly what we want to prevent. If we allow ourselves to be insecure but to as well allow the joys and passions that unite us, we can experience moments of freedom without dis-empowerment or a total loss of control. What our solidarity includes and what we can do against repression is to attack the State and the oppression in which we live. Attack in its institutional form as well as in the constructs of relationships that are imposed on us, that we want to replace with realtions of solidarity. We counter the fear of repression and prison with the prospect of living in freedom in another world of solidarity. -And when we come to terms with the fact that we do not have much to lose but everything to gain, then we no longer have to be intimidated, but can stand together with our heads held high against the State and its faithfuls. In the attack against the old and in the creation of something new! Solidarity accompanies us in our daily lives, but is above all an expression of our struggles. The fight against isolation – for solidarity – is the main task of every revolutionary practice, because solidarity is the basis of the relations we want to have with people.

That means: solidarity is the basic principle of what we are fighting for. Solidarity is the struggle we are fighting and the goal we have in mind.

Alltogether the court did set 25 days of trial untill April. All will be held in a security courtroom which has an extra security controll and a securityglas seperating the audience from the courtroom. If you want to go into the courtroom you should be there at least one hour before the trial starts. The name of the court is Landgericht Hamburg with the address Sievekingplatz 1. Usually there is a manifestation on each courtdate.

 The security control is opened 2 hours prior the beginning of the trial.

-dates and especially times might change on short notice-

20.2.     9 o’clock
27.2.    10 o’clock
28.2.     9 o’clock
2.3.       9 o’clock
3.3.       9 o’clock
5.3.       – cancelled –
24.3.     8.30 – 9 o’clock
31.3.     9 o’clock
2.4.       9 o’clock
3.4.       9 o’clock
7.4.       9 o’clock
8.4.       9 o’clock
28.4.       9 o’clock
30.4.       9 o’clock
5.5.       9 o’clock
7.5.       9 o’clock
14.5.       9 o’clock

At the beginning of November, the three received the indictments from the Hamburg Attorney General’s Office. These statements provide information about parts of the investigation and gathered evidence. The statement ends with the General Prosecutor’s request to keep two of the three in custody and as well includes the decision to spare the third person. The application for the proceedings to take place in the Regional Court was as well made public.

The three comrades are accused of preparing to commit crimes. The alleged crimes are described by the General Prosecutor’s Office as planned arson and as aggravated planned arson. The distinction between arson and aggravated arson has to do with if human life is endangered – the threat of life and limb. This differentiation has been fabricated from speculation around one of the alleged arson targets. Additionally, one of the comrades has been accused of violating the weapons law by carrying incendiary devices. The General Prosecutor’s Office accordingly accuses two of the comrades of aiding and abetting the violation of the weapons law.

.

The three comrades do not comment on the charges nor on the investigation, this means that the public prosecutor’s office is solely dependent on the results of the investigation to convict them. According to the indictment, the time of the arrest suggests that the accused were planning attacks for the anniversary of the G-20.

It is not for us to judge the plausibility of charges or even speculate about guilt and innocence. Nor are we trying to figure out what might have really happened. All of this will find its stage in court and the prosecution will use it to hoax an attack on militant politics. The particularity of this theatre starts with the acceptance of the threat of life and limb. It is speculated that that the front door of a Hamburg senats home address was a concrete tartget of attack. According to a site insection and the opinion of an expert, this house door was decided as a suitable tartget of attack. None of this however, can lead to the assumption that it would then be set on fire and that would result in the endangerment of human life. This accusation serves primarily to discredit militant and revolutionary practices. It is intended to produce the darkest possible picture of the accused comrades. Within the framework of stupid extremism theories, behaviour patterns that belong to inhuman ideologies are transferred, projected onto people to rebel, who fight for ideas of freedom. The point here is to demonise, to divide by deterrence and to lock up elements of emancipatory movements.

We will not be intimidated or even split by the constructs and lies of the public prosecutor’s office. Our actions are directed against opressive ideologies and living conditions and aim to change them radically, militantly, ready for conflict and always looking for ways to bring us closer to a life in freedom.

We support the accused and stand up for our revolutionary convictions and utopias.

Keep your eyes and ears open, come to the rallies and events. Collect money and write to the prisoners and take your solidarity to the streets!

…………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Trial dates – until April.

So far, 25 days of trial have been scheduled. All of them will take place in the high-security Room 237 at the Hamburg District Court (Sievekingplatz 1). The high security hall means that there is a separate security control and the public area is separated from the participants of the trial by a glass pane. We will try to have a rally in front of the court on each day of the trial as a contact point.

If you would like to enter the courtroom, come one hour early, to allow time to get inside.

8^th Jan 13:00

11^th Jan 13:00

17^th Jan 09:00

20^th Jan 13:00

22^nd Jan 13:00

23^rd Jan 13:00

27^th Jan 09:00

28^th Jan 09:00

29^th Jan 09:00

3^rd Feb 13:00

4^th Feb 09:00

6^th Feb 09:00

10^th Feb 13:00

12^th Feb 09:00

17^th Feb 09:00

18^th Feb 09:00

20^th Feb 09:00

27^th Feb 09:00

28^th Feb 09:00

2^nd Mar 09:00

3^rd Mar 09:00

5^th Mar 09:00

31^st Mar 09:00

2^nd Apr 09:00

3^rd Apr 09:00

7^th Apr 09:00

8^th Apr 09:00

9^th Apr 09:00

We would like to inform you that the trial against the 3 Hamburg comrades is just around the corner. 2 of them are still in custody since their arrest on the night of July 8, 2019.
The trial is due to start on January 8th, 2020 at 1 p.m. in the regional court in Hamburg (courtroom 237). Come to the start of the trial and show solidarity with the comrades!

Come New Year’s Eve to Holstenglacis UKnast to start the new year with the prisoners!

On Sunday, January 5th, 2020 at 5 p.m. there will be an information event in Rote Flora about the Park Bench 3 and on Tuesday, January 7th, 2020 at 7 p.m. there will be an evening demo before the start of the trial at the Centro Sociale.

January 8th will be the first day of the trial, rally at the district court from 12 noon!

Stay alert and wait for further announcements!

Freedom for the Park Bench 3!

Freedom for all!

alltogether the court did set 25 days of trial untill April. All will be held in the security courtroom 237 which has an extra security controll and a securityglas seperating the audience from the courtroom. If you want to go into the courtroom you should be there at least one hour before the trial starts. The name of the court is Landgericht Hamburg with the address Sievekingplatz 1.

8.1.     13 o’clock
16.1.   13 o’clock
17.1.     9 o’clock
20.1.   13 o’clock
22.1.   13 o’clock
23.1.   13 o’clock
27.1.     9 o’clock
28.1.     9 o’clock
29.1.     9 o’clock
3.2.     13 o’clock
4.2.       9 o’clock
6.2.       9 o’clock
10.2.   13 o’clock
12.2.     9 o’clock
17.2.     9 o’clock
18.2.     9 o’clock
20.2.     9 o’clock
27.2.     9 o’clock
28.2.     9 o’clock
2.3.       9 o’clock
3.3.       9 o’clock
5.3.       9 o’clock
31.3.     9 o’clock
2.4.       9 o’clock
3.4.       9 o’clock
7.4.       9 o’clock
8.4.       9 o’clock
9.4.       9  o’clock