Far fewer people took part in a second round of youth protests across Germany on Saturday than two weeks ago, with demonstrations remaining largely peaceful, police said.
In Berlin, around 700 people gathered in the evening, according to police, although organizers had registered a demonstration for just 100 participants. Two people were detained after allegedly throwing pyrotechnic devices, a police spokeswoman said. Around 700 officers were deployed to monitor the protest.
Turnout was lower than expected in other cities as well. In the northern city of Bremen, up to 670 people took part in a protest in the city centre, against an expected turnout of around 2,000. In the west of the country, just 80 people marched through Wuppertal and 100 through Dusseldorf.
The Gen Z regelt — "Gen Z Takes Charge" — initiative called the protests, with a range of demands from more funding for schools, addiction services and psychotherapy to measures to tackle rising living costs, greater social justice and stronger climate action. The initiative also opposes the introduction of compulsory military service and an expansion of state surveillance.
Two weeks ago, tens of thousands of young people joined the initiative's first round of protests in cities across the country. While most rallies remained peaceful, some were followed by violent clashes. The youth initiative subsequently distanced itself from the violence.
Much larger protests are expected next Friday in Germany and elsewhere in Europe as part of a continent-wide youth strike. In Berlin, organizers have registered a demonstration for 15,000 participants. Protests are also expected in countries including France, Italy, Spain, Belgium and the United Kingdom.
The German protests are part of a wider wave of youth-led demonstrations across Europe this year. In France, a fifth consecutive Saturday of demonstrations over the cost of living took place on the same day, drawing 106,000 people nationwide, according to the Interior Ministry.
