Germany’s police union chief has called for swift criminal proceedings and stronger prevention measures after violent incidents during demonstrations by the “Gen Z regelt” initiative over the weekend. The unrest has sparked debate over descriptions used by police, security authorities and Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, including references to “young men from migrant backgrounds” and “migrant troublemakers,” and whether such language fuels resentment toward people with migration histories more broadly.
Jochen Kopelke, head of the German Police Union (GdP), sought to clarify how police use the description in an interview with Deutschlandfunk on Tuesday. He said it was not intended to refer to a large population group, but to “young men who repeatedly attract attention.”
Dobrindt has defended a controversial statement amid the debate.
Sources: Süddeutsche Zeitung.