http://gangbox.wordpress.com/2009/05/02/around-the-world-millions-of-workers-march-on-may-day/ Posted in Uncategorized by gangbox on the May 2, 2009
from the WORLD SOCIALIST WEB SITE:
Workers march in May Day demonstrations around the world
By our reporters
2 May 2009
Millions of workers marched in May Day demonstrations around the world Friday, celebrating international proletarian solidarity.
In Greece, 6,000 people marched in a peaceful demonstration in Athens. In central Athens, 4,000 policemen were deployed, as authorities feared a possible replay of the December riots that followed the shooting death of 15-year-old Alexis Grigoropoulos. Police fired teargas at a group of demonstrators from Athens Polytechnic, which had been at the center of the December demonstrations.
An estimated 1 million people (450,000 according to police) marched in hundreds of demonstrations in France. The demonstration in Paris drew 165,000 marchers, carrying banners reading “Sarko
promised us, Sarko lied” and “We won’t pay for the bankers.” (See “France: Up to a million people on May Day protests”)
There were also marches in big cities in Spain, burdened with the highest unemployment rate in Europe — 17 percent. More than 65,000 people, according to organisers, gathered in the centre of Madrid in a demonstration run by the country’s two largest trade unions.
In Italy, union leaders shifted rallies from major cities to the earthquake-stricken town of L’Aquila, as a sign of solidarity with the thousands who have lost their jobs since last month’s deadly quake.
FULL story at link. Also this at link: France: Up to a million people on May Day protests