A Combative Internationalist Workers Day
Esteban Diaz
This May Day I had the opportunity to march alongside the working class of Argentina to protest against the payment of the foreign debt and for increased wages and more jobs. The turnout was massive. The working class exhibited its internationalist character in uniting across the board against world capital.
Tens of thousands of demonstrators around the entire world came out to struggle demanding the capitalists pay for the crisis, with incidents taking place in Greece (a country destabilized by a serious financial crisis), but also in Zurich, Macao, Jakarta. Major demonstrations were also held in Spain and France. In Athens and Thessalonica, Greece brief confrontations broke out between demonstrators and riot police.
In Turkey, thousands of demonstrators assembled in Istanbul’s Thaksin Square for first time in 33 years; demonstrations had been forbidden there since May 1, 1977, when unknown assailants opened fire on the crowd killing 34 people.
Germany again transformed May Day into a day of anti-fascist resistance and opposition to the extreme right, as peaceful demonstrations were held in Berlin and other cities.
This day has been yet another show of the internationalist unity and combativeness of the whole proletariat in the face of the international financial crisis so that the crisis is paid for by the capitalists.
Thanks for the accounts of the May Day celebrations which have been appearing in HT over the past several days. Here in Brattleboro, Vermont, we celebrated our 26th consecutive May Day on the town common t with speeches, a presentation where we held up photos and give thumb-nail biographies of the Haymarket martyrs; we had music, food and, for the kids, a May Pole, plus clown who made baloon animals and hats. It was a festive occasion, a time to see old friends.
Hola yo estaba feliz de leer su artículo en el Times Habana.
Bob Cowdery
Spokane, WA y los EE.UU.