Thousands of protesters gather in Berlin's Platz des 18 Maerz
The protests, organized by the loose alliance Gen Z Regelt, are part of a wave of student protests sweeping across Europe.
Thousands of protesters have gathered in Berlin's Platz des 18 Maerz, on the west side of the iconic Brandenburg Gate, as part of a wave of student protests sweeping across Europe.
The diverse crowd is comprised of supporters from various age groups and backgrounds, with anti-fascist activists standing alongside students, grandmothers, and camera crews. The atmosphere is calm so far, despite the size of the gathering.
Organized by the loose alliance Gen Z Regelt (Gen Z sorts it), the protests have attracted widespread participation across Germany. By Saturday morning, nearly 180,000 people had signed up to participate in over 34 cities.
The main host cities include Frankfurt, Cologne, Munich, and Berlin, with the capital city seeing a turnout of almost 12,000 participants. People continued to stream into the square well into the afternoon, eager to listen to speakers.
As the rally is set to begin at 2pm (13:00 GMT), the square remains filled with protesters awaiting the start of the demonstration.
As the rally in Berlin got underway, tensions were escalating elsewhere in Germany, with scuffles breaking out between protesters and police in the western city of Cologne. The situation there was becoming increasingly volatile, prompting a police response to contain the march.
Among the key issues driving these protests is the rising cost of living, which has left many young people struggling to make ends meet. Education cuts are also a major concern, with students feeling the pinch as funding dwindles and fees rise.
Students say they're not just angry about these developments, but also frustrated by the government's priorities. Despite ongoing funding cuts, the state is investing heavily in its military, leaving many wondering why education isn't getting similar attention.
One student, Veronika Dinter, travelled from Hannover to join the rally in Berlin. A 23-year-old political science student, she spoke about her own experiences with high living costs and part-time work to fund her studies.
Funding cuts have had a devastating impact on education infrastructure, with universities struggling to stay afloat as institutes close and teachers lose their jobs. The situation is dire, with some facilities literally falling apart due to lack of maintenance funds.
As the rally in Berlin continues, protesters like Emma Heymann express outrage over government policies that have left many feeling betrayed.
The 24-year-old student's words echo a sentiment shared by many of her peers, who are frustrated with the government's handling of key issues affecting their lives.
Phil Tziartzianis, who traveled from Kassel to join the demonstration, feels a sense of solidarity among young people sharing similar concerns.
Protesters in Berlin are part of a larger wave of demonstrations sweeping across Europe, with recent rallies taking place in France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, and Serbia.
Experts like Kilian Hampel attribute the growing frustration among young Germans to legitimate concerns about poor educational infrastructure.
Protesters have planned a second demonstration in Berlin for later today, following a wave of rallies across Germany's capital city.
The first demonstration is expected to last two hours, after which another one will take place at 5:30pm (16:30 GMT) in a different part of the German capital.
Facts based on reporting originally published by Al Jazeera.
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