“Gen Z Rules” Protests: Giving Society What It Wants to Hear

You can watch the numbers grow. As of this writing, 39,492 people have registered for the “Gen Z Rules” demo on October 31st. Behind it are young people who want to take to the streets “for education, health, climate protection, an affordable life and against conscription”, inspired by the student protests in France.

But even before anything has happened, the organization “clearly and clearly” distances itself from “any violence” and “extremism” on its channels. There is “zero tolerance for riots”, which also includes violence against property and the looting of shops. “Anyone who riots or seeks violence does not belong to us.”

This hurts because it ignores the violence of the state and that of late capitalism to which young people themselves are exposed. But tactically it's smart. This is despite the fact that it is difficult to delegitimize violence against things as a means of protest.

The taz is an independent, left-wing and opinionated daily newspaper. We have been arguing in our comments, essays and debate texts since the taz was founded in 1979. We often cannot and do not want to agree on an opinion. That's why you'll find some completely opposing positions here - all part of the very broad left-wing spectrum of opinions.

Physical violence was often necessary to achieve small improvements in the system: the suffragettes who campaigned for women's right to vote in Britain in the 1910s succeeded after resorting to property damage and arson.

Violence is legitimate not only as a means of protest, but also as a symptom of violent late capitalism. Dissociating itself as a movement from violence stabilizes relationships of power because it distracts from the violence that permeates this society. It lies in simple facts: that most of us are forced to sell our labor, pay more and more of our wages for rent, and can be evicted at any time if we stop.

In Germany, the "No violence! Only peaceful protest is good" belief is widespread - much more widespread than in France, where a bit of rioting against the state is met with comparatively broad understanding. There may also be historical reasons for this (violence + Germany = not so much good came out of it). What is certain is that to this day many, even far into the left-wing camp, reject violence. The taz was quick to call what was happening in France “naked violence with senseless destruction”.

“Gen Z Rules” also wants to appeal to people who are going to a demonstration for the first time, have seen the pictures from France and are justifiably afraid of getting picked on. It is naive that they distance themselves from violence because in the end the violence will come from the police. The Palestine solidarity protests in particular, which were first beaten up and then banned, are an example of how remaining peaceful does not protect against violence.

But “Gen Z regulates” is not completely naive. On the website they give tips on how to prepare and in the event of an arrest: They recommend affinity groups, a campaign cell phone, a change of clothes, the EA number, enough water, “including to rinse your eyes.”

Precisely because police violence is to be expected (we see a more brutal version of it in France), the way “Gen Z regulates” is smart. Not only do they want to stay “peaceful,” they even want to take garbage bags with them to clean up after themselves (“We want to be loud, creative and conspicuous without reducing the city to rubble”). Yes, that's cheesy, but it makes the state power look completely excessive.

Like the police unionist Jochen Kopelke, who foamed at the mouth and warned in a racist manner that “Gen Z regulates” could be joined by “young riot migrants” who are “in the mood for violence against the police.” And: “They […] shouldn’t expect any mercy from us.”

Okay, wow, chill out, parents whose children would like to go to the demonstration might also think that (or something like that).

Yes, it sucks that “Gen Z rules” plays the power-stabilizing game of selectively naming one violence and distancing oneself from it. Let's see whether it's really wise to distance yourself from any extremism, or whether a lot of stable left-wing radical young people won't be lost in the process.

For the moment, however, it is not stupid to give German society the confessions it wants to hear. And the influx doesn't stop: 6,000 new registrations have been added since this text began. If this continues, “Gen Z rules” has the potential to become not only big, but dangerous.

Editor's note: In an earlier version it was said that Jochen Kopelke referred to “Gen Z regulates” as “young riot migrants”. In fact, he warned that such groups could join the protest. We have corrected the passage.

In a further change, we have made it clear that the author is talking about “violence against things” and not against people with regard to the protests.