Düsseldorf and Wuppertal see Gen Z and Prüf NRW protests planned for 14 November

Prüf NRW rally in Düsseldorf

Prüf NRW, an initiative founded by cabaret artist and former MEP Nico Semsrott (for Die PARTEI), plans to march through Düsseldorf from 14:00 on Saturday, 14 November, leaving from Graf-Adolf-Platz. The group wants the Federal Constitutional Court to review parties that the Verfassungsschutz (domestic intelligence service) classes as confirmed right-wing extremist or as a suspected case of right-wing extremism. It hopes to bring that motion through the Bundesrat, according to its own statements. The initiative holds its protests on the second Saturday of each month in state capitals, Düsseldorf among them. Around 2,000 participants are expected, and the march is due to reach the DGB house at about 17:00.

Gen Z march and conflicting route details

A separate Gen Z protest, organised mainly by young people and taking place across Germany, is directed against militarisation, social cuts and a shift to the right. Reports differ on the Düsseldorf route. One gives a path from Friedrich-Ebert-Straße via Karlstraße, Stresemannplatz and Graf-Adolf-Straße to the Königsallee, walking both sides of the boulevard and ending at Johannes-Rau-Platz around 20:00. Another describes a march from the Hauptbahnhof via the Königsallee to the state chancellery (Staatskanzlei), starting at 17:00. Police have registered around 100 participants for the Düsseldorf march and expect considerable traffic disruption from midday, so public transport is recommended.

Shopkeepers and police preparations

At the first Gen Z protest on Halloween Saturday, 31 October, many shops on the Königsallee boarded up their windows with plywood and some closed, fearing violence like that seen at protests in France. This time the Interessengemeinschaft Königsallee says the windows will not be boarded up. Its managing director Andrea Greuner said the police were well prepared and that there is a clear procedure to stop individual groups from using the protests for riots. The police said they are planning for a larger turnout than registered and will deploy strong forces on site, and they expect a peaceful course. The NRW interior ministry has said it will keep a consistent line against violent groups taking over peaceful protest, and that this approach has not changed.

First wave and Wuppertal

The first Gen Z protests across North Rhine-Westfalen drew several thousand people, and a report from the interior ministry to the state parliament says they were largely free of disruption. The ministry said violent groups used Cologne as a stage, where police prevented attempted looting on Halloween night and were repeatedly pelted with fireworks and bottles. Looting also occurred in Frankfurt am Main that weekend. In Düsseldorf about 2,500 people took part in the first demonstration, which ended largely peacefully. In Wuppertal around 300 participants are expected on Saturday, with a route from Berliner Platz over Bundesstraße 7 to the Hauptbahnhof, according to a police spokesman.

Prüf NRW, Düsseldorf (expected, 14 November)2,000

Gen Z, Düsseldorf (registered, 14 November)100

Gen Z, Wuppertal (expected, 14 November)300

Gen Z, Düsseldorf (participated, 31 October)2,500

Prüf NRW, Düsseldorf (expected, 14 November)

2000 people

Gen Z, Düsseldorf (registered, 14 November)

100 people

Gen Z, Wuppertal (expected, 14 November)

300 people

Gen Z, Düsseldorf (participated, 31 October)

2500 people

Data from the article text