Innsbruck: Palestine activists occupy Austrian Broadcasting (ORF) with a powerful action

Andrea J.
9. Juni
3 Min. Lesezeit

On Friday, June 6, a powerful protest against the biased and one-sided reporting of monopoly media took place in Innsbruck, Tyrol. Activists from the Palestine Solidarity Movement occupied the ORF (Austrian state broadcasting) regional center, hoisted flags on the roof and presented their demands to the media. A large-scale police operation, as well as arrests by the executive followed.

„Today on June 6, 2025, after almost 2 years of genocide in Palestine, we have decided to occupy the Austrian broadcaster in Tyrol. We are accusing the Austrian state and the Austrian press of their complicity!" (1), the activists declare in their statement. Wearing white overalls and masks, some activists reached the roof of the ORF headquarters, where they placed a highly visible Palestine flag, a flag with Georges Ibrahim Abdallah (a fighter against imperialism and for the freedom of Palestine, imprisoned in France) and a banner with the inscription “Occupied” on the premises. Bengal fire was also used during the action, which further increased the attention and visibility of their demands. A rally was held in front of the ORF building and banners and flags were put up. The pictures went through the entire Austrian monopoly media landscape!

The activists' demands

In the building, the activists loudly proclaimed their demands through megaphones, which were also spread via social media. “1. stop the trivialization of the genocide in the Gaza Strip by the media!”, “2. show solidarity with media workers in Palestine!”, or also “4. for the defense and restoration of neutrality!” and “against the distortion of the concept of anti-Semitism” have been among the demands of the activists. They also declare that “all ties with Israel must be cut” and “all NATO arms transports through Austria must be stopped”. A statement by an arrested activist reads: "I took part in the action to show my solidarity with the Palestinian people in their struggle against genocide. I also think it is important to put pressure on the rulers in Austria and stop their attacks on neutrality and our democratic rights. With its distortions and lies, the ORF has played a decisive role in Austria in justifying the genocide in Gaza!". An occupier with a Jewish family background explains: “We are occupying the ORF Tirol today because it is unacceptable that there has been no mention of genocide in Gaza on state television and radio for 21 months and that Israel has not been condemned.” (2)

Reports in the monopoly media prove the activists to be correct.

A wave of uproar followed in the bourgeois monopoly media. While the action was still the “headliner” in various media (such as the Kronen Zeitung) in the first few hours, many of the reports “disappeared” from the front pages all too quickly. Apparently the matter became too “hot” for them and too much publicity for this campaign was undesirable. Likewise, the majority of articles in the monopoly media focused mainly on the “unauthorized action” and “illegal occupation” and swept the activists' demands and concerns under the carpet. For example, the demand for the restoration of neutrality, or even the twisting of the concept of anti-Semitism, was de facto not mentioned in any of the major media. Instead, the same inflammatory accusations of the system parties were spread everywhere. In addition to the governing parties, the so-called “opposition” parties also agitated. The FPÖ, which usually presents itself as the “defender” of freedom of speech and assembly, did not wait long to seize the opportunity to call for a general ban on “pro-Hamas demonstrations” (the anti-democratic combat term used against Palestine solidarity), put forward by Tyrolean FPÖ leader Markus Abzwerger. (3) The Green Party's deputy leader and media spokesperson Sigrid Maurer and the Green Party's foreign policy spokesperson Meri Disoski even declared in their statement that the action was an “intimidation of journalists” and “unacceptable from a democratic point of view”. Another twist without equal! These inflammatory statements, as well as the monopoly media's coverage of this event, prove the activists of the occupation especially to be correct and underline the necessity of their demands.

Solidarity with the arrested activists!

Not only were numerous police forces deployed to the ORF center, but the special task force “Cobra” was also deployed to clear the building. Apparently nine activists were arrested. It is not yet known what charges they will now face from the judiciary. However, it should be clear to all democratic, anti-imperialist and revolutionary forces and individuals that solidarity must be shown in any case!