The key facts
- Youth initiative Gen Z regelt announced protests on October 31 in 21 cities, including Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg and Munich.
- Reasons: 'broken schools', austerity, cost of living, social injustice, military conscription, climate.
- The initiative states it rejects violence; police promise to protect the right to assemble, but respond firmly to riots.
Actions on October 31 in 21 cities
The youth initiative 'Gen Z regelt' ('Gen Z sorts it out') called for mass protests in 21 German cities on Saturday, October 31, including Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg and Munich. Thousands of people are expected to take part.
Demands and reasons
Demonstrators protest against 'broken schools and austerity', as well as against the rising cost of living, social injustice, military conscription and climate change. The initiative's website explicitly states that it is 'against any violence' — both against people and property.
Background: unrest in France
The French protests, which erupted last weekend with violence and large-scale destruction of private and public property, also grew out of students' dissatisfaction with the national school system and then expanded through trade unions, groups and individuals expressing discontent over a range of issues. Footage of damage and violence from France, Italy and Spain has caused concern among German politicians and police, who warn of the risk of protests being hijacked by left-wing extremists.
Police position
Police say they are 'vigilant and calm' and intend to protect people's right to assemble and express their opinions. Andreas Rosskopf, head of the GdP trade union of the federal police, told the Rheinische Post newspaper on Wednesday that state and federal police would give a 'firm and resolute response' to any riots. He also warned that radicals and extremists could infiltrate the ranks of demonstrators in order to 'attack the police' or 'simply destroy things'.
