Thousands join March for Life and counter-protests in Berlin and Cologne

Rallies in Berlin and Cologne

Thousands of people gathered in Berlin and Cologne on 19 September 2026 for the annual March for Life demonstrations and simultaneous counter-protests. The gatherings were organised by the Federal Association for the Right to Life (Bundesverband Lebensrecht, or BVL), an umbrella organisation uniting predominantly Christian groups. Demonstrators in both cities campaigned for prohibitions on abortion and assisted suicide. Police estimates indicated that approximately 2,000 to 2,200 people participated in the Berlin march at its start, whereas BVL organisers stated that 4,200 people attended in the capital. In Cologne, organisers reported 2,100 participants, though police observed fewer than 1,000 attendees across both the main march and the counter-demonstrations. Organisers had previously registered up to 5,000 marchers in Berlin and 3,000 in Cologne, figures that police confirmed were not met.

Slogans and hospital disturbance

March participants carried visual symbols and banners throughout the designated demonstration routes. At the assembly points, participants erected rows of white crosses. Some carried banners bearing slogans such as "Kein Tod auf Rezept" (No death on prescription), while another display featured a small baby doll fastened to a wooden cross accompanied by the slogan "Keine Kinder - keine Zukunft" (No children, no future). Catholic bishops were among those in attendance at the gatherings. In Berlin, the march route passed by the Charite university hospital, where a confrontation developed. Police reported that between 30 and 40 individuals entered the hospital grounds in an attempt to block the passing procession. Police officers intervened, recorded the personal details of the suspects, and initiated criminal investigations on suspicion of trespassing.

Counter-protests and legal background

Parallel counter-demonstrations took place in both cities to oppose the BVL platform. In Berlin, the Alliance for Sexual Self-Determination mobilised activists, while in Cologne, the feminist group Pro Choice Köln convened rallies under the motto "Pro Choice - Für körperliche Selbstbestimmung" (Pro Choice: For bodily self-determination). Organisers of the counter-demonstrations had registered roughly 800 participants in Berlin and 3,000 in Cologne, though actual turnout remained below those estimates. The counter-protesters called for the full legalisation of abortion and the complete repeal of Paragraph 218 of the German Criminal Code. Under current German law, abortion is technically classified as an unlawful act, but it remains exempt from criminal penalties if performed within the first twelve weeks of pregnancy following mandatory counselling completed at least three days beforehand.

Organisational history and political links

The March for Life has taken place in Berlin since 2002, while the Cologne gathering was introduced in 2023. At previous demonstrations, the presence of figures from the far-right Alternative for Germany party, including Bundestag lawmaker Beatrix von Storch, prompted vocal opposition from church representatives participating in the march. Participation levels have fluctuated over recent years. In 2025, police recorded approximately 2,200 participants in Berlin and about 1,200 participants in Cologne. To maintain public order during the multiple demonstrations across Berlin on 19 September, authorities deployed 1,150 police officers throughout the city.