Thousands rally in Berlin as Gen Z plans protests in 30 German cities
Thousands of people are gathering in Berlin and more than 30 other German cities as the nation becomes the latest European country to be hit by a wave of student protests.
People gathered at the Platz des 18 Maerz on the west side of Berlin’s iconic Brandenburg Gate on a sunny but chilly Saturday afternoon. The crowd was a mix of anti-fascist activists, students in Halloween outfits, and grandmothers wearing 'omas gegen rechts' badges.
The protests were organised by a loose alliance called Gen Z Regelt. By Saturday morning, nearly 180,000 people across 34 cities had signed up to participate, with the main host cities including Frankfurt, Cologne, Munich, and the capital Berlin.
Nearly 12,000 people had signed up to join in the German capital, and people were continuing to stream into the square well into the demonstration to listen to speakers. The Berlin demonstration is expected to last two hours.
However, at a rally in the western city of Cologne, scuffles broke out between protesters and police, who moved in to contain a march there. The protest organisers had outlined six key issues that took them to the streets on Saturday, including the rising cost of living, education cuts, and military conscription.
Political failure of government
Students told Al Jazeera that they are both angry and frustrated by ongoing funding cuts, even as the government invests heavily in the military. They also said they feel a sense of hope after seeing student protests in different parts of Europe in recent weeks.
"Funding for education and social services are being cut, while the cost of living keeps rising. Universities are struggling, institutes are closing, teachers are losing their jobs and education facilities are literally falling apart. This crisis is the political failure of our government. And instead of solving it, Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his rich friends are funding the military with billions of euros."
This is a sentiment that Emma Heymann, a 24-year-old student living in Berlin, resonated with. She said her generation feels very angry at the government because they are making these huge cuts that are affecting their quality of life here.
"Our generation feels very angry at the government because they are making these huge cuts that are affecting our quality of life here. And at the same time, they are spending billions on the military and spending money to fund the genocide in Gaza."
A wave of European protests
The Berlin demonstration is expected to last two hours, with another one planned at 5:30pm (16:30 GMT) in a different part of the German capital. In the past week, political figures have raised concerns about the protests turning violent.
Yet demonstrators say they see the narrative of violence distracting from the issues they want to raise. They urge the police to not confront their demonstrations with any kind of violence.
"We stand in solidarity with all the people around the world who are fighting for an affordable life, for more investment in the education system, and against wars and military buildup."
The protesters join a wave of demonstrations that have swept across Europe in recent weeks, including in France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, and Serbia. Kilian Hampel, a senior research fellow at the Future of Work Lab at the University of Konstanz, says other demonstrations are having an impact on young Germans.
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