Berlin Gen Z protest: 22 provisional arrests and up to 1,200 people at the peak

Rally through central Berlin

Hundreds of people marched through Berlin on Saturday, 14 November, at a demonstration by the initiative "Gen Z regelt". The rally began around 17:30 at Savignyplatz in Charlottenburg, with the route planned along the Kurfürstendamm to the Halensee S-Bahn station. Only 100 participants had been registered in advance, but police later said on the platform X that up to 1,200 people had taken part at the peak. Earlier police figures had put the crowd at about 700, so the count rose as the evening went on.

Registered in advance100

Police estimate, around 19:00700

Police peak figure, late evening1,200

Registered in advance

100 people

Police estimate, around 19:00

700 people

Police peak figure, late evening

1200 people

Data from the article text

Timeline of the evening

Around 19:00 a police spokeswoman said two people had been arrested after throwing pyrotechnics, and about 700 people were on the march at that point. Police deployed 700 officers at the rally. In a later update posted in the late evening, police reported 22 people provisionally arrested so far, including for setting off pyrotechnics. The timeline below sets these reported figures against the planned date of the next demonstration.

Arrests and injuries

Thirteen criminal complaints were filed for riot (Landfriedensbruch), assault, resisting officers and violations of explosives regulations. Two police officers were injured during the rally. Police also reported that chants directed against officers were shouted several times. The slogans included remarks against Israel and against Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and the police update came in the same report as the peak attendance figure.

Demands and other cities

The initiative's demands include more money for education, stronger climate protection and measures against rising living costs. The march itself targeted broken schools, conscription (Wehrpflicht) and cuts to universities and social services. Other German cities also held demonstrations on Saturday, and the call for them carried the words "Phase 2 beginnt" (Phase 2 begins). The group had also demonstrated nationwide in late October, when police counted about 5,000 people at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.

Protests planned for 20 November

The initiative has called for a Europe-wide youth strike on 20 November. Organisers registered 15,000 demonstrators for Berlin alone, and demonstrations are planned in the capital and numerous other cities in Germany and across Europe. Protests are expected mainly in France, Italy, Spain, Belgium and the United Kingdom. The 15,000 figure is what the organisers registered, not a police count.