Thousands rally on May Day

People attend the traditional May Day labour union march, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Paris, France on Saturday. (Reuters)

Thousands rallied yesterday across France and Spain to hold May Day rallies in the midst of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic as police scuffled with protesters in Paris and fired tear gas. A police source told AFP that far-left “black bloc” protesters had repeatedly tried to block the trade union-led march in the French capital, with 34 people detained. Some protesters smashed the windows of bank branches, set fire to dustbins and threw projectiles at police, who responded with volleys of tear gas and stingball grenades. Some 5,000 police were deployed in Paris, a police source said. The CGT union said nearly 300 May Day protests were planned around the country. It later claimed a total national turnout of 170,000, with 25,000 rallying in the French capital. The French interior ministry put the national figure at 106,000 and the Paris turnout at 17,000. The crowds held placards with different demands, ranging from the end of the nighttime curfew in place as part of coronavirus restrictions, to a halt to unemployment reforms due to come into force in July. “We have many reasons to come and rally – the health and social situations and the general impoverishment of society,” said Ivan Gineste, 50, who works in a high school in the southeastern city of Lyon. Members of the “yellow vest” anti-elite movement, which rocked Emmanuel Macron’s presidency two years ago before largely fizzling out, could also be spotted at protests up and down the country. “There are so many motivations for a revolt that are building up – the management of Covid, the so-called reforms that are going to take away people’s ability to live, job-seekers who are going to lose their benefits,” said a pensioner who gave her name as Patricia. “We absolutely need to express ourselves,” the 66-year-old said. Thousands also rallied in more than 70 cities across Spain in the first Labour Day demonstrations since the pandemic began. Wearing masks and observing social distancing, demonstrators marched through the streets waving banners although in many places, numbers were capped to ensure anti-Covid measures were respected. The main demonstration that took place in Madrid, which was limited to 1,000 people, began at midday under the slogan “Now it’s time to deliver” with the participants marching from the town hall to the city’s Puerta del Sol square. Seven government ministers attended the march, including Labour Minister Yolanda Diaz as well as representatives of the three left-wing parties running in Tuesday’s regional election in Madrid. At the rally, union leaders Pepe Alvarez of the UGT and the CCOO’s Unai Sordo urged the government to honour commitments delayed by the pandemic, such as repealing a controversial labour reform, raising the minimum wage and approving a law on equal pay. Addressing the march, Diaz said employment was key for overcoming the crisis. “The crisis has made us face up to an outdated labour model, based on casual work, seasonal employment and inequality ... which is exactly what the labour ministry has started to change,” she said. In Berlin, about 5,000 people rallied according to police following a call by left and far-left groups. Some 5,600 police were deployed in the city where over 20 rallies were scheduled to be held over issues ranging from rising rents to Germany’s immigration policy and opposition to coronavirus curbs. Turkish police meanwhile detained more than 200 demonstrators after scuffles broke out at May Day marches yesterday amid a coronavirus-related curfew, according to the Istanbul governor’s office and Reuters witnesses. Riot police and plainclothes officers jostled with union leaders and other demonstrators and threw some to the ground before detaining dozens of them near Istanbul’s Taksim Square, Reuters video and images showed. The governor’s office said some labour unions were allowed to hold memorials to mark the annual holiday, while others who had “gathered illegally” in violation of the lockdown, and ignored calls to disperse, were detained. State-owned Anadolu Agency said 20 protesters were also detained in the western city of Izmir. Turkey this week adopted a 17-day partial lockdown, including stay-home orders and the closure of schools and some businesses, to curb a wave of coronavirus infections. Local media reported efforts by police in Istanbul and Ankara to block reporters from filming the May Day demonstrations and detentions, with officers citing a new police circular. On Friday, Turkish media reported that officers were instructed to prevent people from filming or recording security forces on smartphones while they are on duty, a move critics called unlawful and a threat to citizens’ rights. Turkish police have not commented on the reports. The DISK press union said on Twitter that journalists filming the May Day events “are being blocked by police”, adding “a police circular cannot prevent” coverage.