Marking the occasion of International Labour Day, thousands of Europeans took to the streets on Saturday to call for an improvement in labour rights and protections. While Labour Day protests are a yearly phenomenon in Europe, this year’s demonstrations came amid COVID-19 restrictions, along with a grim atmosphere brought in by the devastating economic and social fallout from the pandemic. Last year, the protests were cancelled due to a massive surge in COVID-19 cases.
In Paris, nearly 17,000 people joined the rally, holding up signs saying, “The Profiteers Must Pay for the Covid Crisis” and “Slavery by Banks.” The protests in France also had a political tone, specifically in light of the upcoming presidential elections, with far-right leader Marine Le Pen and several leftist leaders participating in the demonstrations.
The rallies saw the participation of hooded, black-clad individuals who were also seen clashing with the police in Paris. Videos emerged showing protestors setting garbage bins on fire and smashing the windows of banks, resulting in 34 arrests. Moreover, 27 officers were reported to have been injured in Lyon, where five demonstrators were arrested. Reports suggest that the violence in Lyon and Paris was organised by “radical elements”, which forced the police to intervene. However, most of the 300 demonstrations organised in other regions of France, including Nantes and Toulouse (which were attended by nearly 106,000 people), were entirely peaceful.
Berlin, too, saw large-scale protests, with 30,000 taking to the streets to urge the government to end social inequality. Protestors were seen clashing with the police, with some attacking the forces with bottles, rocks, and fireworks. This resulted in over 100 officers being injured along with 354 demonstrators being arrested on grounds of physical assault and trespassing. The police used pepper spray and water cannons to disperse the crowds.
Furthermore, 70 cities in Spain also saw protests, with several thousand protestors rallying in masks and abiding by social distancing protocols. The demonstrations saw the participation of seven government ministers, including Labour Minister Yolanda Díaz.
Protests were also organised in Turkey, which is currently facing strict restrictions amidst a surge in COVID-19 cases, resulting in the arrest of over 200 people. The police in Brussels also fired water cannons on demonstrators that were violating the COVID-19 social distancing protocols. Meanwhile, in Russia and Italy, the protests were largely scaled-down, owing to the COVID-19 restrictions that have been imposed to curb the spread of the virus.
Police Clash with May Day Protestors Across Europe
On May 1, which marks International Labour Day, thousands of protestors clashed with police forces during protests conducted across several European cities, including Paris and Berlin.
May 3, 2021
SOURCE: REUTERS