1st of May
Labor Day: Numerous demonstrations across Germany
Left-wing groups marched to Gesundbrunnen train station on Walpurgis Night yesterday under the motto “For peace and social justice”. photo
© Christoph Soeder/dpa
As every year, the police in Berlin and Hamburg face challenging operations. Numerous groups and unions have registered demonstrations.
The security authorities in Berlin and Hamburg are prepared: Numerous demonstrations are expected again in both cities on May 1st. In Berlin alone, the police say they have more than 5,500 officers on duty, including forces from other federal states and the federal police.
Yesterday evening there were the first protest marches for Walpurgis Night, which were mainly organized by left-wing women’s groups in both cities. In Berlin, pyrotechnics and eggs were occasionally thrown at a demonstration in the Friedrichshain district. According to a police spokeswoman, there were no injured police officers and no arrests.
The annual “Revolutionary May 1st Demonstration” has been announced for the evening in the capital, which, according to the organizers, will also take place this time through Sonnenallee in Neukölln, which is known, among other things, for its Arabic-style shops and restaurants. According to the police, the route was specifically chosen with a view to the Gaza war in order to attract as many pro-Palestinian demonstrators as possible.
Violence has declined significantly in recent years
The Berlin police are hoping for a peaceful outcome, but are also expecting aggressive demonstrators. In addition to strong police forces, clearing vehicles, water cannons, a police helicopter and light poles are available to illuminate the streets, especially in Kreuzberg and Neukölln. Since 1987, there have been repeated riots by left-wing autonomous groups, especially in Kreuzberg. However, violence has decreased significantly in recent years.
Demonstrations involving left-wing autonomous groups are also expected in Hamburg. Among others, the anarchist alliance “Black-Red May 1st” from the left-wing autonomous Red Flora group called for a demonstration.
According to the police, around 800 participants want to march from the Sternschanze train station to the Altonaer Balcony in the early afternoon under the motto “Solidarity. Self-determination. Free of domination”. A short time later, the “Whoever has, gives” alliance wants to walk with 2,500 demonstrators from the Dammtor train station to the Eppendorfer Baum. On today’s “Labor Day”, as every year, there are demonstrations across the country, some of which are organized by left-wing to left-wing extremist groups – but above all by employee-friendly unions.