“Gen Z regelt”, or Gen Z’s Got It, a youth initiative, has called for mass protests in 21 cities in Germany on Saturday, October 31; including Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg and Munich. Thousands of people are expected to take part in protest rallies against “broken schools and austerity”, as well as the cost of living, social injustice, conscription and climate change. The French protests that erupted into violence and wanton destruction of public and private property this weekend also arose from students’ frustration with the national school system and soon included numerous unions, groups and individuals expressing anger over a range of issues. The Generation Z Regelt website clearly states that the initiative is “against all violence,” whether directed at people or property. Police say they are “vigilant and relaxed” and add that they intend to protect people’s right to assemble and express their opinions. Still, images of mass damage and public violence in France, Italy and Spain have raised concerns among national policymakers and police, who have warned against allowing left-wing extremists to hijack protests. Andreas Roßkopf, head of the GdP union of the German Federal Police, made it clear that officers would deal harshly with riots and rioters, telling the Rheinische Post newspaper on Wednesday that “the state police, but also the federal police, will offer a firm and decisive response” to any problem. Roßkopf also warned that radicals and extremists could insert themselves among the protesters to “attack the police” or “simply be destructive.” Edited by: Roshni Majumdar If you trust our team for trustworthy reporting, please take a moment to select us as your preferred source on Google, so you always see our verified news first.
