Generation Z protests were held on October 31, 2026, in various cities in Germany, including Hamburg and Berlin. In Hamburg, police estimated that around 6,700 people participated in the protest. Some protesters, dressed in black and wearing masks, tore down construction barriers and threw them into the streets, with some of these barriers later set on fire.
Large Gathering in Berlin
In Berlin, after an initial estimate of several hundred attendees, police announced that about 5,000 people had gathered at the Brandenburg Gate. However, the organizers of the gathering claimed the number of participants was 10,000. One of the speakers in Berlin, Kaya Schwab, referred to the false promises of politicians, stating: "Young people are comforted by the notion that if they try hard enough, they will succeed. In reality, life has become extremely unbearable, and young people are being forced into military service."
Read more: Colombian President Orders Troops to Be Deployed to the Border City of Cúcuta
Protests in Other Cities
Protests were also held in other cities such as Dresden, Leipzig, Nuremberg, and Erfurt. However, some retailers in urban centers covered their shop windows due to the potential for unrest. In Cologne, police confronted some participants who had covered their faces and used incendiary materials, leading to the decision to cancel the march. This gathering turned into a stationary protest.
In Stuttgart, police repeatedly halted the gathering of young protesters and intervened due to face coverings and leaving the agreed-upon route. However, in other cities in Germany, police reported a relatively calm start to the protests, estimating that in cities like Freiburg 2,500 people, Frankfurt over 1,500 people, Mainz 1,200 people, and Munich 1,000 people participated.
Research indicates that politicians must involve young people in the decision-making process, or else this generation may become alienated from political institutions. Nina Kolleck, a researcher at the University of Potsdam, warned that the lack of youth participation creates the impression that policies favor older generations.
The organizers of these protests criticized the media, stating that they divert attention from their main demands by creating a "violent narrative." They emphasized the need for peaceful gatherings and expressed regret over the decision of the representatives of German national school students to distance themselves from these protests.
Read more: Residents of Oleshky, Ukraine Evacuate the War-Torn City · House Democrats Call for Preservation of Trump's Conversations with Artificial Intelligence
