1st of May

France

May Day marches see workers in many European cities protest over pay

Workers across Europe marked May Day by calling for better pay and conditions at a time of crippling inflation.

01/05/2023

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Police detain May Day protesters in Istanbul

Turkish police prevent demonstrations and detain dozens of protesters in Istanbul on International Workers’ Day, also known as May Day.

01/05/2022

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Deprived of an audience, Paris orchestra plays to the statues

At the Musée d'Orsay, empty of spectators because of Covid-19, the Orchestre de Paris has recorded a concert that will be broadcast on 1 May. This is an opportunity for conductor Pablo Heras-Casado to fulfil his "mission" by bringing "the museum and music into the home".

29/04/2021

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Police keep close eye on May Day gatherings in Germany

In Berlin's Kreuzberg district, anti-capitalist demonstrators try to gather, while 5,000 police officers were mobilised throughout the German capital to enforce the ban on demonstrations involving more than 20 people

02/05/2020

France

'We feel useful': Meet the workers keeping Lyon going during lockdown

Most of those forced to risk their health to serve food, man cash-desks or drive buses do so for minimum wage and some don't receive state aid.

01/05/2020

France

French minister rows back on claim protesters attacked Paris hospital

Paris' prosecutor has begun a probe after May Day protesters allegedly entered a famed Paris hospital and tried to force the door to its intensive care unit.

02/05/2019

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May Day protests turn violent in Paris despite tight security measures

May Day protests in Paris have erupted into violence as police met demonstrators with tear gas. French police said it had made 165 arrests by early afternoon and had conducted more than 9,000 searches.

01/05/2019

France

Macron’s former security officer defends himself before Senate

Alexandre Benalla was fired after a video showed him beating May Day protesters.

19/09/2018

France

May Day marches turn ugly in Paris as anarchists crash party

Car and businesses burn as riot police face over 1000 "Black Bloc" activists called out onto the streets via social media.

01/05/2018

Greece

May Day: Greek workers march through Athens

Thousands of Greek workers marched through the centre of Athens on Tuesday - one of a series of protests marking May Day.

01/05/2018

United Kingdom

Jingle Bells: May Day Morris dancing in England

Clashing sticks, waving handkerchiefs and jangling bells are all part of a cherished British tradition celebrated on May 1st

01/05/2018

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Filipino May Day protesters burn effigy of President Duterte

Thousands of people marched to the Philippines' presidential palace in Manila on Tuesday to mark Labour Day.

01/05/2018

Turkey

Turkish trade unions angry at corralled May Day protests and blockade of Taksim square

Scuffles and a number of arrests in Ankara and Istanbul mark the May Day workers' marches, as the authorities try to take the sting out of the day by banning people from the symbolic Taksim square.

01/05/2018