Though the Glasgow May Day showing was a low key affair, the same
could not be said about the rest of Europe. Across southern Europe
the numbers were in the hundreds of thousands, unions in Greece,
Italy, Spain, Portugal and France used the traditional marches to
express anger at the attack on their living standards from the
financial Mafia's “deficit reduction” program throughout the Euro
Zone forcing countries deeper into recession. In France the trade
unions organized around 300 demonstrations across the length and
breadth of the country including the capital Paris. The Interior
Ministry stated that 316,000 people turned out, compared to 77,000 in
2011. In Italy demonstrators briefly clashed with police in riot gear
in Turin and thousands marched in Rieti to listen speeches denouncing
Prime Minister Mario Monti's reforms. Madrid saw tens of thousands
march in the rain to the main square chanting and waving signs
opposing the “austerity cuts”, Lisbon saw similar numbers, while
in Athens around 5,000 workers, pensioners, unemployed and students
marched with banners reading "Revolt now" and "Tax the
rich".
SOLIDARITY.
This sort of
activity was repeated across the globe, from Asia to America, from
Europe to Australia. May Day is most certainly alive and kicking.
There are some excellent photos of May Day rallies across the world
HERE
