Douglas to close 12 shops ahead of German youth protests

Cosmetics chain Douglas has said that it will close 12 branches ahead of youth protests planned in 32 German cities this weekend. Shops in central Düsseldorf have also begun boarding up windows.

Douglas to close some shops during youth demos

A spokesperson from Douglas has told the dpa that 12 branches of the high street cosmetics chain will be closed on October 31, when over 150.000 people are expected to attend youth protests in 32 German cities.

“The security of our employees and customers is our top priority,” the spokesperson said. “That includes the preventative closure of 12 particularly exposed shops on October 31.” Douglas has not confirmed which 12 of its 347 branches will be closed on Saturday.

According to DER SPIEGEL, several luxury shops on Düsseldorf’s Königsallee and Prachtstraße have also taken precautionary measures by boarding up windows. 

Speaking to the dpa, Andrea Greuner, managing director of the Königsallee Business Association, said shops were clearing window displays under the motto “There’s nothing to loot here”. 

“Fundamentally, we hope the announced demonstrations go ahead peacefully,” the Douglas spokesperson added.

What do Gen Z protesters want?

While police in France face accusations of using excessive force against schoolchildren and shops have been looted, the youth initiative responsible for organising the demonstrations across Germany has said it “oppose[s] all forms of violence” against people and property.

Ahead of Saturday’s demonstrations, Gen Z regelt (Gen Z’s Got it) has called on the CDU/CSU-SPD government to act in six areas: broken schools and austerity; the rising cost of living; unfair distribution of burdens; ending conscription; stopping surveillance expansion; and real climate action now.

The initiative says austerity cuts to education, social services, culture and health were imposed “on our backs, while big corporations keep profiting and billions flow into rearmament”.

In a letter to Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) published on October 29, protest organisers said they would “remain peaceful” and “remain vocal”.

“We want to take to the streets in solidarity. We are non-partisan. There is no place here for discrimination of any kind,” they added. “We stand for a democratic society in which everyone counts equally – including the younger generation.”

Speaking to Rheinische Post last week, Andreas Roßkopf, head of the German Federal Police's GdP union, said police will take a "vigilant and relaxed” approach.