Hamburg raises its voice: 2,650 demonstrators against Merz's statements!

Hamburg raises its voice: 2,650 demonstrators against Merz's statements!

Today, October 25, 2025, around 2,650 people demonstrated in Hamburg against the statements made by Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) on the topic of “cityscape”. The organizers had expected up to 10,000 participants, which clearly shows the discrepancy between expectations and reality. Under the motto“We are the cityscape!”The protesters marched from the town hall market via Mönckebergstrasse to the main train station and presented clear messages against racism and social division on their signs.

The speeches and slogans vividly illustrated the discontent that has accumulated after Merz's statements. On October 14th in Potsdam, the Chancellor emphasized that the federal government was making progress in migration policy, but that there were still “problems in the cityscape”. These statements not only caused discontent in civil society, but also attracted criticism from various political groups. The Left Party, Fridays for Future Hamburg and smaller left-wing organizations called on people to take part in the protest. Slogans like“Get out of our cityscape!”and“Friedrich, who’s bothering you and your racism!”were emblazoned on the banners and demonstrated the determination of the participants.

Political reactions and backgrounds

The Hamburg AfD faction harshly criticized the call for demonstrations and questioned the motives of the organizers. The discussion about Merz's statements and their impact on society is seen by various sides as a necessary step into an objective debate about migration and integration. Criminal scientist Susanne Beck appealed to everyone involved to return to a clear, fact-based discussion instead of becoming entangled in heated arguments.

There were similar actions in other cities in the run-up to the Hamburg demonstration. In Magdeburg, over 300 people took to the streets, while in Bonn the CDU district office was daubed with critical slogans. These protests show that the issue of “cityscape” is making waves not only in Hamburg but nationwide and is increasing social and political polarization.

A look at the protest landscape

The protest institute has registered an increase in similar demonstrations in recent years. Nationwide, resistance to discourses that could endanger coexistence in society is growing. The demonstration in Hamburg is an example of how citizens make their voices heard and take a stand against political statements.

It remains to be seen whether the full use of the term “cityscape” will lead to further mobilization in the future. However, one thing is certain: people are ready to stand up for their beliefs and fight against racism and social inequality. These protests are a clear expression of resistance to policies that are perceived as divisive.

For more information on the background and the situation in the protest landscape around the topic of “cityscape”, I recommend a visit to the websites of NDR and Zeit, and for deeper insights into the protest landscape Protest Institute.