May day

[Blackscare]

It's here!

Remember Haymarket, and all the countless other workers who've sacrificed for the cause!

May we all reflect on this day about the need for unity on the left and continued struggle for justice, liberty, and equality.

Anything going on in your areas today?

http://hosting03.imagecross.com/image-hosting-06/826300px-Anarchist_flag.svg.png

[Eastside Revolt]

MAYDAY - Honor The Dead, Fight For The Living!!!
*Join us, in the spirit of ending all exploitation*

Date: May 1st

Time: Starts 5pm, will go for awhile

Location: Grandview Park (Commercial & Charles)

*BBQ*
*POTLUCK*
*GAMES*
*INFO*
*FREE STUFF*
*MUSIC*
*DISCUSSION*

:::::Background:::::

May Day History

- On May 1st, 1886 American labour unions organized a general strike
in support of the 8 our workday. A march of 80,000 people went down
Michigan Avenue in Chicago, led by two Anarchists, Albert, and Lucy
Parsons. A couple days later, as the general strike continued. There
was a largely non-violent presence outside of the McCormick Harvesting
Machine co factory. Workers, who had become enraged by scabs just
finishing their workday, were fired upon by police.

The act of police repression was followed up by a demonstration at
Haymarket Square, organized by Anarchists. Following an explosion, a
massacre took place as countless workers were murdered, and only 8
police officers were killed. A show trial later ensued as 8 Anarchists were
hanged for murder. “The Haymarket Affair”, as it has become known, is
widely considered to have been an important influence on the origin of
international May Day observances for workers.

The 8 hour workday was an accomplishment the many people died for.
Relative to the time that the 8 hour workday became official, there have
been very few gains in the struggle against exploitation. Governments
and businesses have always found ways around such laws, especially
when it comes to those that are not considered citizens.
The modern labour movement has become institutionalized, and cannot
be relied upon in the fight against exploitation. We need a new aproach
to ensure that the fight against exploitation escalates.

WORKINGMEN ARM YOURSELVES AND APPEAR IN FULL FORCE!!
(a line from the original callout for the Haymarket demonstration)

Solidarity With Workers in Ontario

- On April 2nd and 3rd, 2009 CBSA raided three food processing
factories where they held all workers at gun point. These workers were
herded into a cafeteria where citizens and permanent residents were
separated from other workers.
These other workers, many of whom possess temporary work permits, were
handcuffed and held on a bus for over eight hours. In unprecedented
weekend hearings, most of the detained workers were tricked into waiving
legal advice or the right to dispute their removal.
These illegal and egregious actions were followed by speedy requests for
travel documents, as their original passports are held by unscrupulous,
corrupt agents at TNT Recruitment. The Thai consulate has provided
thesepapers and 41 of the arrested are being put on a plane on Sunday April
19th.
Removing workers from Canada in this way is arbitrary and illegal. The
recruitment agency and the company which paid these workers $9.00 an
hour for 12 hours of back-breaking and brutal work have not been charged.

NO BORDERS, NO NATIONS, STOP THE DEPORTATIONS

Secwpemcw Solidarity

- Canadian Pacific Railway are a 2010 Olympic sponsor, CP rail have strong historical
ties to colonization. Presently:
Archeologists have uncovered artifacts that are thousands of years old along with a
woman that has been there for 7,500 yrs, on Secwepemcw Territory; while building
the (CPR) Canadian Pacific Railway and the Trans-Canada Highway Corridor Project.
The Secwpemcw people are in need of support and solidarity, and have been struggling
constantly against “SunPeaks” ski resort. SunPeaks has already had a devastating
impact upon their land, while the Secwpemcw continue to defend.

NO OLYMPICS, NO CPR, ON STOLEN NATIVE LAND

Grandview Community Policing Center

- The Grandview CPC must leave Commercial Drive. They're job is to encourage fear
and paranoia amongst residents, and encourage snitching. They are linked to the
murderous VPD. Many CPC volunteers end up becoming law enforcement themselves.
One Pig who was envolved with lynching a newspaper delivey man at Georgia and
Burrard was formerly a community policing Volunteer. After havings it’s windows
smashed for years, the Grandview CPC can no longer afford insurance to fix them.
The are setting out, as they always do, on propaganda campaign to gain support in the
community, for the work they do, and to make any opposition appear mysterious and
irrational.

CPC, OFF THE DRIVE AND OUT OF OUR LIVES

As well as many other issues!!!

[GracchusBabeuf]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_May_Day_protests

http://news.google.com/news?q=may%20day


Several May Day marches, which are traditional events, have turned violent in Germany, Greece and Turkey as riot police battle protesters in their respective countries. Banks and shops have been attacked in Greece and Turkey.[1]

Further marches are taking place in Russia, the Philippines, Japan and Hong Kong, and are scheduled to get underway soon in Cuba, Italy and Spain.[1] There are other disputes and violence spread across Asia and Europe.

Looks like class struggle is coming to the front.

[GracchusBabeuf]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_May_Day_protests

http://news.google.com/news?q=may%20day


Several May Day marches, which are traditional events, have turned violent in Germany, Greece and Turkey as riot police battle protesters in their respective countries. Banks and shops have been attacked in Greece and Turkey.[1]

Further marches are taking place in Russia, the Philippines, Japan and Hong Kong, and are scheduled to get underway soon in Cuba, Italy and Spain.[1] There are other disputes and violence spread across Asia and Europe.

Looks like class struggle is coming to the front.

[Wakizashi the Bolshevik]

I am back from a long day of propaganda!
We with the the PVDA, have propagated our party on a may day celebration of the social-democrats!:lol:
They didn't really like it:laugh:.

[Devrim]

Interesting news report from the Turkish press:

ISTANBUL – The year 2009 is set to become a very important turning point in the history of Turkey's May Day celebrations that have traditionally been dominated by violence with the government's declaration of May 1 as an official holiday and the limited opening of a symbolic square for celebrations. (UPDATED)

Video: Workers disperse after historic peaceful celebrations (http://videogaleri.hurriyet.com.tr/Video.aspx?s=5&vid=3330)
Video: Demonstrators hurl Molotov cocktails at police (http://videogaleri.hurriyet.com.tr/Video.aspx?s=5&vid=3328)
Video: Turkish workers enter Taksim after 31 years (http://videogaleri.hurriyet.com.tr/Video.aspx?s=5&vid=3327)
Video: Police intervene in May Day marches in Istanbul (http://videogaleri.hurriyet.com.tr/Video.aspx?s=5&vid=3326)


http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/domestic/11555991.asp?gid=244

The title of the first video seems to be contradicted by the titles of the second and forth.

In Ankara, it was, as ever, much quieter. There was a little tear gas, and the police fired a few warning shots into the air, but that was about it.

Devrim

[cyu]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_May_Day_protests

No mention of Mexico? I wonder how much was being planned for May Day before the you-know-what...

[DesertShark]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090502/ap_on_re_eu/eu_germany_may_day


BERLIN – More than 270 police officers were injured in this year's May Day riots in the German capital, prompting criticism Saturday of Berlin security officials and calls for more officers. Though the majority of the 273 officers suffered only minor injuries Friday, 14 were badly enough hurt that they will need to take time off work, said Berlin police chief Dieter Glietsch. He did not have more specifics.
In all, 5,800 police officers were on hand to try to keep a lid on the violence that has become a yearly ritual in Berlin. They used tear gas, pepper spray and water cannon as some of the roughly 5,000 leftist demonstrators, marching under the motto "capitalism is war and crisis," threw stones and bottles.

[Leo]

In Ankara, it was, as ever, much quieter. There was a little tear gas, and the police fired a few warning shots into the air, but that was about it.

I think there was also around 16 injured (1 demonstrator and 15 policemen) when the clashes happened and around ten were arrested some time before the clashes.

In Istanbul I read there was over a 100 detainees which is significantly lower compared to last years figure of over 500 and 2007s figure of detainees which was over 1000.

[Random Precision]

I went on two marches at my university in support of the food and maintenance workers, many of whom will be out of a job this summer because the trustees cut the budget for them. One march was organized by the business union, SEIU, that represents the workers in those departments, and the other, which attracted far more students and workers (and also mentioned our demands :rolleyes:), was led by the students. We've got more actions planned to end the year, but I hope that the administration takes notice.

[BogdanV]

No protests in my country. Only the social-democrats organized BBQs (with people killing each other to get a hold on the free beer and grill), electoral propaganda and a march through the capital.
Regarding the march, they didn't protest or had any message. There were just people marching with silly "The Romanian 1st of May" boards. No claims, no nothing.

Oh, and the media made some commie bashing with their shows. No television except one station did mention the history behind May Day. Others just rambled about the social-democrats, bbq and sea tourism.

Also, about the social-democrats free-bbq action, some police officers charged with guarding the grills area, profited from several minutes of rain to "help themselves" with beer and grill, without having a ticket. The same idiots also kicked-away a couple of beggars because they had no tickets (..um.. but did the officers have tickets ?).

[Wakizashi the Bolshevik]

We of the PVDA have held big manifestions, but unfortunately not in the vioinity of where I live. I myself have with some Comrades just made some propaganda for the PVDA in the streets and even in a social-democratic eeting (which some of the soc-dems obviously didn't like:laugh:)

[PRC-UTE]

there's some more info on May Day in Turkey and news from Iran and Vietnam


In this week's mailing:

* "Ethical" corporation negotiates in London, attacks workers in
Pakistan
* Turkey: Historic May Day as unions reach Taksim Square
* Iran: Brutal crackdown; more than 150 arrested
* Vietnam: Crackdown on independent trade unions
* Why unions matter

_*"Ethical" corporation negotiates in London, attacks workers in Pakistan*_

Unilever was recently ranked "one of the world's most ethical companies"
by something called the Ethisphere Institute. Unilever, they said, "has
proven to be one of the world leaders in upholding high ethical
standards, making it a true standout in its industry."

But last week, while Unilever officials were negotiating in London with
the IUF over the rights of their Pakistani workers, the company took
vicious and discriminatory reprisals against workers who have stood up
for their rights.

Does this sound very "ethical" to you?

To send an urgent message to Unilever, click here
<http://www.iuf.org/cgi-bin/campaigns/show_campaign.cgi?c=404>. To
learn more about this campaign, visit the IUF website
<http://www.iuf.org/cgi-bin/dbman/db.cgi?db=default&uid=default&ID=5890&view_records=1&ww=1&en=1>.

_*Turkey: Historic May Day as unions reach Taksim Square*_

Last week we asked you to send messages to the Turkish government asking
them to allow unions to march to Taksim Square in Istanbul. And we're
very pleased to report that for the first time in more than 30 years,
trade unions were in Taksim Square, able to commemorate the massacre
that took place there in 1977. LabourStart correspondent Mac Urata was
there and photographed the event
<http://www.flickr.com/photos/workers_in_action/sets/72157617612190236/>.
There's full coverage of May Day in Turkey on LabourStart, here
<http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/show_news.pl?country=Turkey&langcode=en>.

_*Iran: Brutal crackdown; more than 150 arrested*_

We also asked you last week to help persuade the Iranian government to
allow workers to peacefully protest on May Day. We were less successful
here, as the government brutally attacked demonstrators and arrested
more than 150. Full coverage of these events is here
<http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/show_news.pl?country=Iran&langcode=en>.

_*Vietnam: Crackdown on independent trade unions*_

"The Vietnamese government is trying to wipe out the independent trade
union movement," reports Human Rights Watch. Trade unionists have been
detained, placed under house arrest and imprisoned. For full details,
click here
<http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/05/03/vietnam-end-crackdown-labor-activists>.

_*Why unions matter*_

As we've seen, workers in countries like Pakistan, Iran, Turkey and
Vietnam are literally risking their lives to join and form trade
unions. Unions clearly matter to them.

But do they matter to the rest of us? Michael D. Yates, the author of
/Why Unions Matter/ <http://www.labourstart.org/bookshop/?p=34>, clearly
thinks so. The second edition of this important book has just come out
and LabourStart is pleased to feature it as this week's book of the week.

In addition, we have an exclusive interview with the author where we
discuss a number of issues raised by the book including independent
political action by unions, the Employee Free Choice Act, and the split
in the American labour movement. Click here
<http://www.labourstart.org/bookshop/?p=34> to read the interview and
learn more about the book.

Remember that every book you order from us helps support LabourStart's
campaigning activities. Thank you.

Eric Lee.

[Djehuti]

Some pics from our block in Stockholm:

http://stockholm.suf.cc/bilder/1maj09/01.jpg
http://stockholm.suf.cc/bilder/1maj09/02.jpg
http://stockholm.suf.cc/bilder/1maj09/03.jpg
http://stockholm.suf.cc/bilder/1maj09/04.jpg

Iam the one to the left in this picture, with the black flag and sunglasses.

http://stockholm.suf.cc/bilder/1maj09/05.jpg
http://stockholm.suf.cc/bilder/1maj09/06.jpg
http://stockholm.suf.cc/bilder/1maj09/07.jpg



Our block (Syndicalist Youth) was about 150-200 people or so, and the Syndicalist Demonstration at large was 3000-3500 people here in Stockholm (500-1000 more than last year) It was a great day!

After the demonstration there was supposed to be a union blockade, but the company surrendered and payed 100,000$ so it was cancelled. Instead 10 of us syndicalist youth went to confront the liberal-conservative youth, 40 or so upper class brats that had had gathered to provoce the Social Democrats marsch. We tore their placards, blew their baloons and spat on them. They soon left and was about to get up some stairs when activists from the Revolutionary Front rushed down towards them, the liberal-conservative brats were chased from two sides and paniced and fled down an alley never to be seen again on our day! Then we went to the park where there was food and beer and partied around Stockholm all day long!

Fantastic mayday! :)




Movie:
FmQwW3Vwl-Q


Pics from our comrades in the Revolutionary Front, also at the Syndicalist Demonstration in Stockholm:

http://revfront.org/arkivet/1maj20091/1maj1-sthlm.jpg
http://revfront.org/arkivet/1maj20091/1maj4-sthlm.jpg
http://revfront.org/arkivet/1maj20091/1maj9-sthlm.jpg

[marxistcritic]

Mayday....
Nice day. A recent poll in the US showed that socialist leanings among american workers are no longer very small-in fact, almost half of them are left-leaning. I know that there are far larger numbers of comrades in europe, but in america the anti- socialist sentiment is barely going away, inch by inch, and our numbers are still relatively small....

[Red Rebel]

It was great to see all the union officials out during May Day in Philadelphia, even though it rained, our spirit wasn't dampered. Still would've liked to see some more rank & file members though. Last few years we had the local middle school come out to the rally, but they canceled because of the rain.

[Omi]

We had a small anarcho demonstration to call for organization and action in the years of crisis, not in celebration for a struggle we havn't won yet!

http://www.indymedia.nl/img/2009/05/59185.jpg

http://www.indymedia.nl/img/2009/05/59186.jpg

And for a short time we entered a shopping mall in the centre of the city to make a point about commercialization and consumerism.

http://www.indymedia.nl/img/2009/05/59192.jpg

http://www.indymedia.nl/img/2009/05/59190.jpg


They wanted to arrest some people who sprayed graffity and attacked some banks, but they couldn't figure who did it and eventually only one person was arrested, who was obviously not guilty. In the evening people held a small sound-demonstration at the police station and he was released shortly after the noise began, because they were unable to interrogate him properly due to the noise!
All in all a great day!

[Sugar Hill Kevis]

Djehuti, you guys had guys had ace weather!

I couldn't afford to go down to London, so I went to the Norwich may day carnival which actually had a pretty good turnout (a few hundred, and considering the fact it's a small city, that was cool). There was a may pole that the hippies danced around and some live bands - a bit of a family day out :lol: sucks we had grey sky though:thumbdown:

[cyu]

he was released shortly after the noise began, because they were unable to interrogate him properly due to the noise!

LOL, does that actually happen in real life? :lol:

Maybe it was just the excuse they used since they knew they couldn't actually pin anything on him without looking like idiots or monsters (or idiot monsters =).