German Gen Z takes to streets over cost of living (VIDEOS)
Young people are protesting across Germany on Saturday over the cost of living, underfunded education, and possible military conscription, with demonstrations planned in 34 cities.
The demonstrations continue last week's unrest across Europe, where protesters clashed with riot police over rising living costs and government policies. In France, rallies that began in September with students demanding lower education costs have escalated into broader anti-government protests across the continent.
Halloween timing
The German youth-led movement 'Gen Z regelt' scheduled its nationwide day of action for Halloween to maximize turnout and visibility. Organizers expect more than 170,000 participants across major cities including Berlin, Frankfurt, Cologne, and Munich.
We are young people who no longer want to watch decisions about our future being made without us.
European unrest
Protests have already begun in Cologne, where demonstrators are marching with placards reading 'Stop financing Ukraine.' Additional police have been deployed nationwide, with luxury shops in Berlin's Kurfuerstendamm boulevard boarding up windows as a precaution.
France's Yellow Vests movement has called for nationwide protests on Saturday, billed as the third round of demonstrations. Authorities plan to deploy 70,000 police officers, while students and unions are expected to join. Police are also on alert for possible unrest in Madrid, Barcelona, and Rome.
Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed the protests stem from the EU's own mistakes, particularly regarding migration. 'Europeans are dismantling their own traditions, making them even less able to pass them on to migrants,' Putin said last week.
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