Protests over the rising cost of living, which began in France, are spreading to Germany. Tens of thousands of people are expected to take to the streets on Saturday, when the demonstrations will coincide with Halloween.

Germany’s new youth movement, “Gen Z regelt,” or “Gen Z has got this,” is protesting high living costs, underfunded schools and universities, environmental concerns and the possible reintroduction of mandatory military service. Demonstrations are planned in major cities including Berlin, Frankfurt, Cologne and Munich.

Organizers chose Halloween to increase turnout and visibility. On its website, the movement says: “We are young people who no longer want to watch decisions being made about our future without us.” Organizers say the protests should remain peaceful and ask participants to keep their faces visible, including when wearing Halloween costumes.

Additional police officers have been deployed across Germany. Luxury stores along Berlin’s upscale Kurfürstendamm shopping street have boarded up their windows as a precaution.

The German demonstrations are part of a broader wave of protests across Europe. In France, the Yellow Vests movement has called nationwide demonstrations described as the “third act” after protests on October 17 and 24. Students and some unions are also expected to join.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez warned of a “very high risk of public disorder.” He said demonstrations would be authorized only outside city centers and that 70,000 additional law enforcement officers would be deployed nationwide.

Halloween has added another complication for French authorities. Nuñez warned of separate calls for gatherings from 8 p.m. local time by radical far-left groups and radicalized Yellow Vests. He said some messages referred to “revolution” and “insurrection,” which authorities consider incitement to serious public disorder. The gatherings will be banned.

The word “purge” has circulated on social media in recent days, referring to a dystopian film franchise in which all crimes are legal for 12 hours. Paris police wrote on X that concealing one’s face in public is punishable by a €150 fine. Carrying a weapon, even a fake one, can result in up to three years in prison and a €45,000 fine.

The French protests began in late September with demonstrations by high school students. They demanded improvements to deteriorating school buildings, action on teacher and resource shortages, and changes to the university admissions system.

The rallies were initially peaceful and attended mainly by students, but they quickly became the country’s worst wave of deadly nationwide violence in years. Police used tear gas and water cannon, while black-clad, hooded rioters set fires and broke into shops and government buildings. More than 2,000 people were arrested, at least two people died and serious injuries were reported. Curfews were imposed in some cities.

The latest demonstrations remained largely peaceful, although clashes broke out in some cities, prompting police to use water cannon and tear gas again. The Interior Ministry said at least 400,000 people protested across France, including 110,000 in Paris, while around 1,000 people were detained.

More than 550,000 people took part in the October 17 protests. More than 3,000 shops were attacked or looted, some were destroyed, and over 2,700 people were arrested. The interior minister said more than 1,000 law enforcement officers had been injured since the protest movement began.

President Emmanuel Macron described the violence as a “collective failure.” In an interview with YouTuber Hugo Travers, he said no high school student had begun pressing their demands expecting to suffer such severe consequences, just as no police officer had joined the force expecting to face such violent situations.

France’s security operation includes specialist tactical units, helicopters, armored vehicles, police dogs and water cannon. The next major test for the authorities will come on November 5, when an inter-union coalition has called a nationwide strike and mobilization over the rising cost of living.

Source: cnn.com