UPDATES: Occupy: May Day is Marked Around the World with Demands for Stronger Labor Rights

[sabrina 1]

Last edited Wed May 2, 2012, 03:02 AM - Edit history (4)

The Occupy protest movement has urged May Day action spanning the globe.

UPDATE #2 Tuesday Evening:

Occupy Wall Street Blog

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Union Square just after 6 PM


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Broadway just after 6 PM

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Oakland, CA Looking like a War Zone as usual

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Chicago, IL

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Los Angeles, CA

UDATE #1 Tuesday Morning: Crowds gather in the rain in NYC as the rallies around the US begin:

Tim Pool doing a great job as usual filming live in NYC:

Timcast

There will be live streaming on FSTV also:

Free Speech TV

Coverage from The Guardian:

May Day Occupy protests - live coverage




A rainy start to the day in Bryant Park in New York. Photograph: James Fassinger



Occupy protesters in midtown from the Tim Pool Timcast.

Rallies have already begun around the world. While the US rallies have not yet begun, here are a few photos from different countries, celebrating Labor Forces and demanding better conditions for workers everywhere:

May Day is marked around the world with demands for stronger labor rights



Indonesian workers shout slogans during a rally to mark May Day in Jakarta on May 1, 2012. Thousands of Indonesian workers staged the rally demanding the government raise the minimum wage and reject outsourcing.



A man carries a poster reading "Putin is our President!" during the May Labor Day rally of the Russian Trade Unions and United Russia party in Moscow on May 1, 2012. Russia's president-elect Vladimir Putin and outgoing head of state Dmitry Medvedev on Tuesday joined over 100,000 people in a Soviet-style mass march through Moscow.



Protesters dance around the burnt effigy of Philippine President Benigno Aquino III during a May Day rally near the Presidential Palace in Manila on May 1, 2012. Thousands of workers marched under a brutal sun in Manila to demand a wage increase amid an onslaught of oil price increases, but the Philippine President rejected a $3 daily pay hike which the workers have been demanding since 1999 and warned may worsen inflation, spark layoffs and turn away foreign investors.



Bahraini Shiites attend a demonstration celebrating Labor Day in the village of Muqsha'a on April 30, 2012. Many Shiite employees were either dismissed or indefinitely suspended from their jobs in the wake of a brutal crackdown by the Bahrain government.



Indian sex workers hold candles and posters as they march in a May Day rally asking for their rights and the recognition of their profession in Kolkata, late on April 30, 2012.




Visitors takes picture in front of Tiananmen gate in Beijing, China, on May 1, 2012. Tens of thousands of visitors flock to the area around Tiananmen Square to enjoy a public holiday to mark May Day.



Garment workers attend a rally to mark May Day at Paltan in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on May 1, 2012. Different workers organizations have arranged programmes inluding a rally, seminars and cultural events as they demand the establishment of workers' rights.

Europe focus of global May Day labour protests



Greek communists rally in Thessaloniki. May Day comes against a backdrop of key elections

Labour demonstrations marking May Day are taking place across the world, with the main focus on Europe and its backdrop of unpopular austerity measures and rising social unrest.

Greece, Spain and Portugal are set to hold large nationwide demonstrations.

At a Paris rally, National Front leader Marine Le Pen is expected to tell her supporters who they should vote for in Sunday's presidential run-off vote.

In the capital, Athens, buses and trains came to a halt in a 24-hour strike, and there is a four-hour stoppage on the ferries.

Occupy London opens May Day with flower power

Spring is here. The first of May has traditionally been a day in which workers express their solidarity and celebrate what they have gained through collective action. This year, May Day will be marked on a grand scale by the global Occupy movement as it rises into its second phase.

“People were matching the flowers to their outfits. Others were coming up to us and asking for them. Even the policemen ended up putting them in their lapels. It’s crazy how something so simple can have such an enormous impact. It was really moving.

“The way people reacted was really interesting. So many people thought we were trying to sell them something, but when they realised that we weren’t, their reaction changed dramatically.”

The distribution of flowers at Liverpool Street is just the first act of a day that will see supporters of Occupy London demonstrating their solidarity with trade unionists and campaigners against workfare.

Did someone say that May Day would not be a success? Lol!

And the day is just beginning!

It's going to be a long day. Note that so far there have been no reports of the people being beaten up by the police.

Let's hope that in the Land of the Free the people will be allowed to demonstrate peacefully, as is their right, without what has become customary, police violence against the people!

Feel free to post updates as the day progresses.

Go Occupy!

UPDATES FROM THE US:

Occupy Wall Street


#MayDay: The Whole World is Waking! Live Coverage of #M1GS
Posted 0 minutes ago on May 1, 2012, 9:07 a.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

TODAY IS MAY DAY! INTO THE STREETS!

Resources

Twitter Hashtags: #M1GS | #GeneralStrike | #MayDay
In NYC: #M1NYC | @OWSMayDay | @StrikeEverywher
Elsewhere: @OccupyGenStrk | @OccupyGenStrike | @BayAreaStrike | @oo_mayday
NYC Resources: Live May Day Radio NYC | Live May Day Protest Map
Other live-blogs: The Occupied Wall St Journal | Village Voice | The Nation
Live Updates

8:20am ET: Pop-up Occupation at Bryant Park, NYC still growing, handing out free programs. Scouts report 20 police vehicles on either side of the park. Rallies in Madrid also now live.

8am ET: Picket lines have formed at LAX Airport in Los Angeles. Airport workers, LA labor unions, community and religious organizations, and Occupiers are protesting against unfair labor practices. Protesters will picket various terminals from 3am to midnight Pacific time. Delays are expected. At least 1200 United Service Workers West will demonstrate and march starting at noon at the Tom Bradley International Terminal. Century Boulevard will be closed from noon until 4 p.m. between Airport Boulevard and the LAX Central Terminal Area.

7:30am ET: Livestream now live at Bryant Park, NYC. Large police and mainstream media presence. Streamers report numbers are ¨doubling by the minute.¨

7:25am ET: Now on livestream: Large demo in Hamburg, Germany.

6:40am ET: Lots of police barricades, a few cops on hand by the Brooklyn Bridge. via @Occuweather: ¨Tracking the heavy rain across the area. Next hour should be light, then another thunderstorm or two around 9.¨ Its supposed to be 73F and sunny by this afternoon though!

6:20am ET: May Day NYC Radio is live! Occupy the airwaves! Members of the Transport Workers Union talking now. Meanwhile, Occupiers in Greece, the Netherlands, and elsewhere in Europe are also getting May Day events underway.

6am ET: May Day rallies streaming live from Istanbul, Turkey. Occupy London is around Liverpool St station handing out free roses with tags reading: "Love, breathe, hope, create, OCCUPY. There is something better out there."

5:15am ET: Check out this awesome video of May Day in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia via #OccupyDataran!

3:30am ET: May Day festivities are underway at Occupy London on GlobalRev livestream! Occupy Sydney events are also underway (live here).

12 midnight ET: Occupiers in Union Square and in the Freedom Cage on Occupied Wall Street cheer to ring in #MayDay!
2 Comments

8.04 PM West Coast Time: I will post updates on activities around the country in the comments section. Lots still going on. People arrested, some injured in different cities. NYPD getting ready to arrest people, they say.

[sabrina 1]

1. From Nepal:

Members of trade unions affiliated to the Unified Communist party of Nepal listen to a speech in Kathmandu

[sabrina 1]

2. From Korea:

Workers from the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions sing during a rally at City Hall Plaza in Seoul

[sabrina 1]

3. From Sydney Australia:

Livestream, no photos yet:

http://www.livestream.com/occupysydneyhq

[sabrina 1]

4. Updates from NYC:

http://occupywallst.org/

9:55am ET: About 200 people at Bank of America picket, 6th Ave and 50th St. March making its way through Times Square, as both protesters and police numbers grow rapidly.

9:35am ET: Mobile picket teams forming to head to various banks throughout the city. Hundreds already gathered. Live at ustream.tv/OccupiedAir. Also, small crowd picketing in front of 1375 Broadway.

9:30am ET: from @May1StreetTeam: ¨on our way to Bryant Park with homemade baked goods for #maydaymutualaid. Be there in an hour.¨

9:15am ET: A march is approaching Times Square. United Auto Workers are pamphleting and handing out coffee and donuts. Over at Union Square, police have set up barricades all along the Square. The rain has stopped in NYC.

9:05am ET: Occupy Bushwhick and Occupy Williamsburg leaving Maria Hernandez Park for morning commute from Brooklyn to Manhattan. Hundreds assembled at Bryant Square pop-up Occupation. Others participating in various pickets across NYC, including at Fox News.

8:50am ET: The 99 Pickets are underway! Occupiers are playing music and chanting in solidarity with various labor struggles throughout the city, now on livestream.

8:20am ET: Pop-up Occupation at Bryant Park, NYC still growing, handing out free programs. Scouts report 20 police vehicles on either side of the park. Rallies in Madrid and Barcelona also now live.

[sabrina 1]

5. NYC Cops Guarding BOA:

Last edited Tue May 1, 2012, 10:45 AM - Edit history (1)

Protesters are marching towards Chase Bank. It's raining in NYC.

Edited to correct that. The photo is of BOA, but the protesters are headed for Chase.

[sabrina 1]

6. Livestream from SF, LA, NYC and Portland:

Occupy Unity

[randome]

7. So Occupy has co-opted May Day now?

Doesn't seem fair.

[sabrina 1]

10. Why is it unfair? People all over the world are suffering. Besides, Occupy hasn't

coopted it, they've joined the festivities in solidarity with the workers of the world.

[randome]

12. Eh. I withdraw my remark.

[sabrina 1]

16. Okay, sorry, I was just wondering why it would be unfair. They have to take every opportunity

they get to keep their message out there. I guess they remembered the very successful protests in 2006 when immigrant workers went on strike and called May Day 'A day without immigrant workers'. The was a great success, made people realize how much they were needed. Anyhow, no problem

[socialist_n_TN]

13. I don't understand your question...........

May Day is a celebration of worldwide worker solidarity. Occupy's raison d'etre is economic equality. The two seem to dovetail nicely.

[2ndAmForComputers]

29. Weak.

Try harder.

[HiPointDem]

85. May Day was the old labor holiday, & still is in Europe. Occupy is taking it back.

On May 1, 1886, Chicago unionists, reformers, socialists, anarchists, and ordinary workers combined to make the city the center of the national movement for an eight-hour day. Between April 25 and May 4, workers attended scores of meetings and paraded through the streets at least 19 times. On Saturday, May 1, 35,000 workers walked off their jobs. Tens of thousands more, both skilled and unskilled, joined them on May 3 and 4. Crowds traveled from workplace to workplace urging fellow workers to strike. Many now adopted the radical demand of eight hours' work for ten hours' pay. Police clashed with strikers at least a dozen times, three with shootings....

Inspired by the American movement for a shorter workday, socialists and unionists around the world began celebrating May 1, or “May Day,” as an international workers' holiday. In the twentieth century, the Soviet Union and other Communist countries officially adopted it... American observance was strongest in the decade before World War I. During the Cold War, many Americans saw May Day as a Communist holiday, and President Eisenhower proclaimed May 1 as “Loyalty Day” in 1955...

http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/571.html

[Egalitarian Thug]

8. And to think it all started here. K&R. n/t

[sabrina 1]

11. Well, in a way, we in the US were late to get started. It started in Spain with the Indignados

and spread across Europe in the form of major protests against their Government's austerity programs. Protests I mean, but the Indignados were the ones to first camp out in the public square and refuse to leave. I remember reading blog posts wondering why Americans were not protesting when the center of the problem, Wall St., was right here.

But then, we not only started, but inspired the world with the way they went about it. The idea came from an ad blog in Canada, but no one can say Americans didn't pick up the challenge and end up inspiring dozens of other countries to join in. We are often the last to get started, sort of like 'the sleeping giant'. But once you wake the American people, they must be given credit for creativity, energy, passionate commitment and excellent execution of an idea even if it was not solely their own. I think the world is thrilled that we are now leading the way in many ways.

[socialist_n_TN]

14. True. But May Day as a worker's celebration ..........

started here.

[sabrina 1]

17. Yes, I was reading a little about the history of the Chicago massacre

and it made me think how much we owe all those people who had to fight and someties die for what we take for granted.)

Edited as I just read your post again. Oops, you were responding to my post about Occupy. I meant that OWS was based on what the Spanish Indignados did to protest their government. Rather than just protest for one day, they decided to camp out instead. And they took their ideas from someone else before them.

Sorry, I wasn't clear in that post. :-

[socialist_n_TN]

18. EXACTLY! That's something I said to my wife last night.........

Reclaiming this as a worker's holiday, in part, is REMEMBERING the workers who died at Haymarket. And if you're not a Bolshevik like I am , you STILL need to honor them because they actually were protesting for an eight hour day. Something we all take for granted now.

As I told the Ms, people DIED in order for us to have an 8 hour day. And not a ONE of the victims were the capitalists of the time. Imagine that.

[sabrina 1]

37. I think people should be constantly reminded of what it took just to get an eight hour day.

Too many people are far too willing to throw it all away again. And if that happens, it would take decades if not more to restore those laws. But the Capitalists left the country and are exploiting workers in third world countries. Which is why it is so exciting to see the people of the world unite.

Also, no big Corporation who goes overseas to exploit workers should get any kind of tax break if they do not abide by the same labor laws we have here. Cynthia McKinney tried to get a bill passed years ago that would have made that the law. But naturally it made too much sense for ordinary people. And she made enemies by even trying.

[freshwest]

107. I liked McKinney. Unfortunately she was running in a red state with little respect for her views.

She was a voice of dissent who was widely slammed for asking questions that no one else would. I'm encouraged by the fact that she was kept in office as long as she was in Georgia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cynthia_McKinney

[freshwest]

62. Although it was in June, this event always comes to mind for me:

The Battleship Potemkin Uprising

The ship was made famous by the Battleship Potemkin uprising, a rebellion of the crew against their oppressive officers in June 1905 (during the Russian Revolution of 1905). It later came to be viewed as an initial step towards the Russian Revolution of 1917, and was the basis of Sergei Eisenstein's silent film The Battleship Potemkin (1925).

Following the mutiny in 1905, the ship's name was changed to Panteleimon after Saint Pantaleon, but restored to Potemkin in 1917, before a final rename to Boretz za Svobodu (Fighter for Freedom) later in that year.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battleship_Potemkin_uprising

By 1917 the Russians had legal May Day celebrations:

May Day was celebrated illegally in Russia until the February Revolution enabled the first legal celebration in 1917. The following year, after the Bolshevik seizure of power, the May Day celebrations were boycotted by Mensheviks, Left Socialist Revolutionaries and anarchists. It became an important official holiday of the Soviet Union, celebrated with elaborate popular parade in the centre of the major cities. The biggest celebration was traditionally organized on the Red Square, where the General Secretary of the CPSU and other party and government leaders stood atop Lenin's Mausoleum and waved to the crowds. Since 1992, May Day is officially called "The Day of Spring and Labour", and remains a major holiday in present-day Russia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Workers%27_Day#Russia

[sabrina 1]

104. Thank you for those links. I did not know that history re Russia.

A lot of demonstrations were held in Europe, Australia, Canada, South America (some violence there but didn't have time to add those events).

Anyhow, thank you for the information.

[Egalitarian Thug]

21. May Day, or International Worker's Day began here in the U.S.

It started in 1890 to commemorate the anniversary of the Haymarket Massacre in 1889.
Although May 1st has been a traditional celebration of Spring, fertility, and the beginning of the new year going back millennia, what we know today is rooted in that police riot.

[sabrina 1]

24. Yes, I know. I was talking about Occupy. Should have been more clear. I responded to the comment

that said it 'all started here', meaning Occupy. Europe started protesting before we did, in France, England, Greece, and in Spain the Indignados decided to emulate an earlier tactic of occupying public places in order to be more effective. The original Tea Party, a guy who now does not want to be associated with them btw, did stage a few protests in NY against Wall Street, but it didn't take off until Occupy came along and did what the Indignados did, came and refused to leave.

[Egalitarian Thug]

28. IOC, NP. Happy for another opportunity to kick this excellent post again. n/t.

[sabrina 1]

30. Thanks, I just heard that Tom Morello is going to lead a march in NYC, don't know if it started yet

as I actually had to get some work done. Thanks for the kick though, I will try to follow all the events. I also think there has been at least one arrest, but have to check on that.

[Egalitarian Thug]

38. I heard that, too. The worst part of living in an indifferent, reddish state is

missing out on so much of what's going on in the civilized world.

[sabrina 1]

46. I don't envy you.

I miss NY, although CA is okay except I'm in a pretty conservative area. Still, I have met lots of people who are very involved in OWS and most are Democrats, at least the people I've met so far. A few are probably not, but are decent people so I avoid discussing politics with them.

At least you can follow things online and there are a lot of people who are involved in helping even if it's just spreading the word through emails etc. when they need anything.

[myrna minx]

9. K&R - thanks for posting. n/t

[steve2470]

15. k&r nt

[fascisthunter]

19. Wow... looks like a "Bust".... some here won't be happy.

Thanks for the pics, and bravo to workers around the globe.

[sabrina 1]

20. It's still early here too. They are in Denver, LA, Portland, Chicago, NY and many other cities in

US alone. Here on the West Coast it's still only 8.45 so they haven't even started yet

Just heard on Tim Cast that Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine is going to be in NYC. I love that guy he's a great speaker, very articulate. Would love him to run for Congress. It's still only 10.45 in NYC so a lot could happen. But they seem to have some good crowds already, despite the rain.

Lol, yes, I'm sure a few people are not going to be happy about this. Very odd to see such negativity here, this is the only hope for people really and something we all wished for for so long.

Don't have any news yet from France either. They are having elections soon and it looks like the Rightwingers there were at a rally telling people they will not 'endorse either party'. I hope Sarkozy is defeated, that would be a start in terms of improving things.

[pinboy3niner]

27. CNN reports ferries to SF from Larkspur and Sausalito shut down by striking workers

In L.A., union workers are picketing at LAX for higher wages and against non-union contracts.

With a little luck, Fire Walk With Me, U4iklefty, Mr. & Mrs. coalition unwilling, and I will meet up at the big Occupy L.A. rally downtown and later join in an immigrants' rights march, followed by more rallies.

There also was an Occupy Our Homes action this morning and other events that I've been too busy to stay on top of.

[sabrina 1]

31. Oh thank you for that pinboy. Wish I could be there, or in NYC. Glad to hear they succeeded in

shutting down the ferries. Say hi to Firewalk and coalition unwilling AND U4iklefty, (very clever handle btw) some of my favorite DUers. I had to leave for a while, work gets in the way So trying to catch up.

But if you all can post from the march, that would be awesome. It's hard trying to keep up with everything that is going on. I heard there may have been arrests in NYC already, but have to double-check on that. Wouldn't surprise me though, the NYPD always acts true to form.

[pinboy3niner]

66. Fire, Lefty and coalition say 'Hi' back. WOW--what a day!

Thousands of marchers converged in downtown, coming from the four cardinal compass directions. In addition to these four 'Winds,' picketing union workers at LAX formed a fifth Wind.

It was hard to get an accurate picture of the size of the event, as there were concurrent marches and rallies throughout the day. I estimate that there were easily more than 2,000 strung out for what seemed to be a half mile in one Occupy L.A. M1GS march alone, while one of the immigrants' rights marches moved in parallel a block over and police prevented the two from merging. (VERY heavy police presence, including six helicopters hovering overhead at one point.)

I met coalition unwilling and his wife for the first time, approaching them because I recognized the style of their signs from posts here. U4iklefty soon joined us before the main march kicked off. Later, Lefty and I joined Fire Walk With Me and we took a break to share some coffee and cookies. (That turned into a long walk, as most of the businesses in the area had closed.)

There also was a series of actions in the financial district, where the local HQ buildings of major banks were cordoned by police in riot gear. (The BofA building also was protected by a long line of metal barricades.)

Have to finish uploading my pics. Normally I take about 30 at an Occupy event, but this time I ended up with about 80.

This turned out to be a very exciting day--for a 'flop.'

[sabrina 1]

69. Great post, I was thinking about you all today and wondering how things were in LA.

There are a few pics in the thread somewhere, maybe the OP. It did look like a lot of people were there and I'm so glad the turnout, everywhere, was so fantastic.

Can't wait to see your pictures and an OP, I hope. It sounds like the strategy was similar in NYC and elsewhere regarding the different groups meeting up at certain points. Sounds like they planned well in advance.

It gives me chills to see so many people out on the streets around the world, united in their goals.

I'm so glad you all met and had company while there.

Big thank you for all you do, all of you! and big to the Occupiers from DU!

[pinboy3niner]

86. My photo album from Occupy L.A. M1GS (May 1st General Strike):

I put 68 photos in this album. It was a long day, and I'm too wiped out to post more. Feel free to repost the link, or to post any of the photos themselves, to support the Occupy movement.

http://s948.photobucket.com/albums/ad321/pinboy3niner/M1GS%20Occupy%20Mayday%20General%20Strike%202012/?albumview=slideshow



P.S.--Obviously I didn't strictly adhere to the "No Buy" rule for M1GS. I had to buy train fare to L.A. (discounted fare, $13 round-trip), the cookies were $1.25, and the coffees were $4.something (including one for a Skid Row resident who only had a few coins in his pocket--and when he got his donated coffee, he put his coins into the donation box for Ronald McDonald House. ).

[sabrina 1]

94. I'm going to look at the photos. Thank you for posting them. Didn't have time last night

You really should write an OP as it is so great to hear from the people who were actually there. I would do it, but I would love to read your own first hand experiences along with the photos.

I loved this part of your comment:

P.S.--Obviously I didn't strictly adhere to the "No Buy" rule for M1GS. I had to buy train fare to L.A. (discounted fare, $13 round-trip), the cookies were $1.25, and the coffees were $4.something (including one for a Skid Row resident who only had a few coins in his pocket--and when he got his donated coffee, he put his coins into the donation box for Ronald McDonald House.

Paying it forward, that was such a beautiful gesture from him, as I am sure he could have used that money himself. Not to worry about the few dollars you spent. I at least managed to not spend anything or drive but it doesn't make up for not being there.

[ananda]

22. from The Guardian

Great liveblog of Mayday Occupy!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/may/01/may-day-occupy-protests-live?fb=native

[sabrina 1]

32. Thanks, that is a good blog. Thanks for posting it.

I wonder how much coverage the US MSM. I almost hope they do not cover it as I'm sure they will focus on the 'white powder' which btw, was apparently corn starch. Sounds like an attempt to connect to OWS to 'terror'. Perception management.

[SidDithers]

23. Are you sure they're Occupy May Day rallies and not 99% Spring May Day rallies?...nt

Sid

[sabrina 1]

25. Yes.

[SidDithers]

26. Here's a good picture from Madrid...

Oh, wait. Sorry.

That was May Day 2011. It shouldn't be included with all the May Day ralliies that Occupy has inspired this year.

Sid

[sabrina 1]

34. And they all are in solidarity with OWS. What is your point?

Did you see the huge Global Rallies in November btw? That really was something. Not that OWS actually organized all of them, but like this day, the people of the world joined together in order to show they are united. Why do you think they chose this day and worked with so many other groups to join with them? As the Egyptian revolutionaries said to the US MSM, who like you, never has understood or don't want to, when they said that OWS was nothing like the 'Arab Spring', 'not so, we are all in this together' and they went on to explain, very patiently to the US MSM why they got it so very wrong.

Sorry you are not really informed about this movement. Maybe ask questions of those who are before posting what you intend to be 'gotcha' posts which only emphasize your lack of knowledge and understanding of the movement. It makes you look bad.

You are welcome to join and to help but if you'd rather take the side of the 1% that's your choice. The numbers are growing all over the world, it is very exciting to see.

Btw, why does OWS upset you so much?

[DisgustipatedinCA]

39. Sabrina, there are some people whose only contribution is to caterwaul and make noise

They're some of the most useless individuals in any society, and I hope you don't spend much time worrying about what they think. I am referring to Republicans, of course.

[sabrina 1]

52. Hi Disgustipated, no, I don't waste time with Republicans, I used to, but that was before I knew

Last edited Wed May 2, 2012, 05:43 AM - Edit history (1)

that it was a waste of time. I wish Democrats would stop worrying about what the far right thinks, I've been saying that for years. Just do what is right and you cannot go wrong. I think it's going to be a really great Summer as the movement grows and joins forces with people from all over the world. It's about time the people went Global. The Corps have been Global for decades.

Thanks for your post, off to find out what is going on tonight, lots of marches and activities planned all over the country

[girl gone mad]

45. I'll take this opportunity to remind DUers that most Canadians don't suck.

http://rabble.ca/news/2012/04/quebec-students-ignite-popular-imagination

[sabrina 1]

48. Lol, I love Canadians! That is a wonderful photo, thank you for posting it.

Wow, look at those crowds!! I guess it wasn't a bust after all!

I'm trying to find out what is going on in Oakland. I've heard that the Oakland PD are inciting violence again and that there have been arrests. I'll post some photos and try to find out what the PD has done this time.

[suffragette]

49. GMTA

See my post below.

[SidDithers]

50. Is Occupy going to coopt demonstrations of Quebec students protesting tuition hikes too?...nt

Sid

[sabrina 1]

54. Generally what happens is groups ask Occupy to back them up. Then it is discussed at a General

Assembly. If a consensus is reached to join, in this case, the students, as happened here all over the country today and is continuing into the evening, then they will join the students as requested.

Glad this time you asked, it was students who were the most active in OWS from the very beginning and here in the US, had you been following their activities over the winter, those students, many of them Occupiers themselves, have been protesting Student Loans on many campuses as part of the Occupy Movement.

Do you have any examples of the process I just outlined not being adhered to and OWS 'coopting' any group without, 1) being a part of that group themselves, and as I said, a huge part of the movement IS made up of students, I know several of them, and 2) raising the issue at a General Assembly. If you do, that can be easily fixed at the next General Assembly.

But I have followed OWS throughout the winter in most of the cities of the US and Europe. I have never seen or heard of an instance of OWS coopting any group. I'm sure it could happen, nothing is perfect, but then it would be dealt with at a GA.

I hope that answers your question.

[Egalitarian Thug]

59. Very true, most are genuinely nice people. Of course you do have your

CEO's, mining and oil, an assortment of plunderers. and their sycophantic minions.

[suffragette]

47. Here are good pictures from Canada

Live blog from Montreal

http://live.montrealgazette.com/Event/Montreal_May_Day_demonstration_2012



http://metronews.ca/news/ottawa/126455/public-service-union-brings-protest-to-prime-ministers-office/

Public service union brings protest to Prime Minister’s Office
Thousands of students, citizens and members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada gathered Tuesday outside the Prime Minister’s Office to rally against the austerity cuts in the March 29 federal budget.
When you destroy public services you destroy Canada,” Larry Rousseau, PSAC’s Executive VP for the National Capital Region, shouted to a cheering crowd. “All we do is provide good quality public services.”

~~~
The May Day demonstration began at 11:30 at Confederation Park where union members were joined by Occupy Ottawa protesters and other activists.


Nice to see the solidarity and action by so many up north.

Looks like Vancouver has its march later today.


The National Post of course chose to post a RW screed against May Day and activists in general - hmmm.

http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2012/05/01/kelly-mcparland-join-us-at-may-1-days-of-rage-no-experience-necessary/

[sabrina 1]

75. Canada had a great turnout, love the photos, thank you for posting them in the thread, suffragette!

[Rex]

33. AH I now see why the "I hate liberals and protestors' crowd

is foaming at the mouth...they are wrong and look like losers now. THANKS!

[sabrina 1]

35. Lol, Rex, they've been wrong since September, the first week of this movement. I keep wondering if

they will get tired of being wrong. I thought we were past the 'first you ignore or dismiss them stage' and on to the 'the you mock them' stage, but I guess not

[Rex]

36. Not as long as they can make people jump on command.

You and I both know that normal people can rise above these easy obstacles and move on. Not so for the diehard crowd that loves to hate the common man/woman.

[sabrina 1]

63. Very true!

[ellisonz]

40. K & R

[deutsey]

41. www.kpfa.org covering protests in San Francisco live

There have been some clashes between protestors and police and tear gas used

[sabrina 1]

78. Same thing in Oakland also, thanks for the tip, I tried to listen to all of the streams but there

was so much going on, and some of it just ended here on the West Coast.

[PotatoChip]

42. Thanks for the links

I was unaware of your thread when I began my thread. Was asking for some workable links in my post. This will hopefully help. Thanks again. Great OP. rec'd

[sabrina 1]

82. Hi PotatoChip, no problem the more OPs the better, take the links also if you need them.

I wanted to post more, but didn't have time. So maybe other people got a different angle, or more information on some of the other cities, here and elsewhere.

It was a great success. Especially for the middle of the week. On to the next, which will be very interesting!

[suffragette]

43. K&R

[girl gone mad]

44. What a colossal flop!

[Uncle Joe]

51. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, sabrina.

[Autumn]

53. I heard it was going to be a FLOP

doesn't look like it to me. REC

[sabrina 1]

55. I know, that's what I heard also. Check the updates I just posted, but dial-up warning. I can't

post all of it, there is just too much going on still, all around the country.

Going to post some more updates below this comment as I think the OP cannot take any more.

I hope we flop like this all Summer! Oh, and the little rolling on the floor guy

[sabrina 1]

56. Roundup of activities from around the country. It is still going on with tense situations in NYC and

Oakland. I will post the latest in the comment under this:

Occupy Wall Street

6pm: 1000s still trapped in a labyrinth of police barricades trying to march from Union Square to Wall Street. Broadway is packed, stretching for blocks for the permitted march. Some people report being stuck in the same place for 45+ minutes. Chants: ¨Let us march!¨ Large union presence. Chants at front: ¨Obama, escucha! Estamos en la lucha!" "One struggle, one fight! Workers of the world, unite!" Reports that Occupy Oakland is being kettled. Los Angeles airport (LAX) has been closed for the day. (See info below.) Occupiers in San Francisco tweet: ¨#888Turk reoccupied #sfcommune¨

5:50pm: Many marchers still trapped behind police barricades, some becoming frustrated. Police with metal and plastic cuffs and batons drawn line up around march. Taxi Workers Alliance leading march out of the Square. Meanwhile, Occupy Oakland is being surrounded by three lines of riot police, trapping them in the street and threatening to use more chemical weapons.

5:40pm: In NYC, protesters are being kept behind police barricades and many are stuck in Union Square and unable to move out due to police interference. In Oakland, police have declared an ¨unlawful assembly¨ and issued a dispersal order.

5:30pm: Massive march headed by unions and immigrants rights groups leaving Union Square now, headed to Wall Street! Watch one of many streams live from NYC here. Protesters are reviewing basic march tactics: ¨Keep moving, keep on sidewalk. Don't engage or make contact with cops.¨ @NYCLU reports at least 30 arrests so far today. In Oakland, heavily armed police continue to aggressively attack protesters currently engaged in a stand-off. Oakland police have used tear gas twice already.

5:15pm: As riot police tear gas peaceful protesters in U.S. cities, CNN is covering a surprise 2am (local time) visit to Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan by President Obama. We are still having a party in Union Square! Join us and see for yourself!

5pm: Calls made at Union Square to "cancel student debt, stop foreclosures, provide jobs and healthcare." Across the country, after police fire tear gas, protesters in Oakland are marching on City Hall, which is now being surrounded by riot police. Huge marches forming in Chicago, SF, Seattle, Boston, DC, Philly, Miami, LA...

4:50pm: via Occupiers in Chicago on Twitter: ¨We are having another Direct Action vs the Banks at 4PM [Central]! Want to join us? Come to 180 W Lake St!¨ Others in Chicago enjoying music in Federal Plaza. In NYC, Das Racist is taking the stage at Union Square.

4:40pm: Between music acts at Union Square, speakers from labor movement call for union rights, end to stop and frisk. Undocumented immigrants speaking now: "No human being is illegal! All workers have a right to organize, to unionize!" Crowd chants ¨We are one!¨ Immortal Technique up soon.

4:20pm: In Chicago, riot police on horses are on the scene as march reaches Federal Plaza on Dearborn.

4:05pm: Tom Morello and friends taking the stage now at packed Union Square singing "Worldwide Rebel Song." Watch live! Crowds have been estimated over 10,000 and growing.

4pm: Anti-capitalist march in full effect in Seattle. Occupy Detroit is ready to re-occupy. #M1GS is live in Los Angeles.

3:40pm: Confirmed that police in Oakland have used tear-gas and grenades on crowds including children, elderly, and people with disabilities peacefully demonstrating. Watch on livestream. In NYC, we are still gathering peacefully for a permitted march at Union Square and getting ready to march to Wall Street at 5:30! The Square is packed!

3:35pm: Marchers in Chicago taking a knee in the street in moment of silence for those who fought for the 8 hr day. In Oakland, reports emerging that police have used flash bang grenades and tear gas. via @BootsRiley: ¨The police have tried to arrest several people during bank shutdowns. All have been physically freed by the crowd.¨ via @OccupiedOakTrib: ¨Young woman being treated for a head wound, blood dripping down side of her face¨

3:30pm: The #Guitarmy has reached Union Square.

3:27pm: Speeches taking place on livestream around the Maypole at Union Square.

3:15pm: Multiple marches of thousands are continuing to enter Union Square for the permitted Solidarity Rally and March with performances from Immortal Technique, Das Racist, Tom Morello, and many more! Come hang out and see a free concert! Occupy Denver, Occupy San Francisco, and many other May Day events are being livestreamed.

[woo me with science]

57. Bringing tears to my eyes.

People standing up.

Thank you for posting this.

[Rex]

58. Hey looky here!

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-05-01/occupy-wall-street-starts-may-day-protests-amid-soaking-rain.html

But that's just bloomberg now, means nothing who are they?



But you know hey...maybe next time and all that...SPUTTER COUGH...

Little cross reference here so nobody is confused.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002628984

[Egalitarian Thug]

61. That one can never make a prediction again.

[sabrina 1]

64. Lol, too funny. And that Bloomberg article is excellent. They really covered it very fairly and

objectively. It's long also, that's not just a little blurb! Thanks for the link.

Re your other link? Telling the future is not easy, but sometimes it's best not to even try!

[Rex]

88. It's just odd how that particular poster

gets on to people that pronosticate...maybe a little jealously cause he is bad at it?

[sabrina 1]

92. Lol, hard to tell. But when you make a spectacularly wrong prediction like this, it's probably best

to refrain from doing so again. Although I will say this, when someone makes such a prediction and the exact opposite happens, I will look forward to the next prediction for the upcoming protests. You can use such predictions to determine the eventual outcome, just assume the opposite of what the prediction is.

[Rex]

95. His little buddies had fun

so I guess it was all worth their public embarrassment.

[RZM]

60. Are the Moscow pics really necessary?

With a pro-Putin banner to boot?

United Russia is an authoritarian party, completely antithetical to what OWS stands for (aside from opposing US foreign policy, though for completely different reasons). And May Day in Russia has nothing at all to do with Occupy anyway. It's a holdover from Soviet days, now co-opted by United Russia.

I've got no problem with celebrating May Day and no problem with showing what's going on in Russia. But put the two together and you get a heady illiberal cocktail.

[sabrina 1]

65. Well, most of the news did show those photos. Like Sarkozy, Putin and other world leaders

like to get their faces shown on days like this. The day is a remembrance of an American event, btw, one we do not normally celebrate for some reason, when workers died trying to get an eight hour day for all workers. So if Putin wants to celebrate Americans who died for the cause of workers' rights, while our leaders would rather forget it, what can we do? It's an upside down world!

[joshcryer]

68. Where is picture of the Sarkozy poster and right wing UMP propaganda?

And you are wrong, American's have celebrated May 1st since before many countries have. The key is that most other countries have made their Labor Day May 1st but the US oligarchs have prevented any and all efforts to make May 1st Labor Day.

The first countries to co-opt May day were countries like the Soviet Union and North Korea which purport to be pro-worker but in reality are not.

[sabrina 1]

72. No, you are wrong. Most Americans don't even know what happened on that day, it's not exactly a big

holiday here. As several people on the news today asked 'why did America choose an entirely different day to celebrate workers, than everyone else?' Not one of them had an answer, and neither do you.

Imitation is the highest form of flattery, if the Soviets and others want to coopt a day when American workers died for the rights of workers, go for it. Sorry, I'm not all scared of 'commies' like I'm supposed to be. Not scared of anyone, frankly. The people of the world are not my enemies, and no government is going to make me view them that way.

If you have photos of Sarkozy's little attempt to coopt the limelight with his very own May Day group, feel free to post them. I do have other things to do, so sorry I could not post every single photo from around the world. I know what he did, it was typical of him, the little rightwing weasel that he is.

[joshcryer]

84. It's not a "big holiday" because the oligarchs made it "Loyalty Day" in order to suppress dissent.

The labor movement in the United States has celebrated May 1st since 1886.

http://www.thenation.com/blog/160304/more-100-us-may-day-protests-planned-international-activists-arrested

http://gothamist.com/2010/05/01/millions_to_protest_arizona_immigra.php#photo-1

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?id=6792278

http://voices.yahoo.com/may-day-protests-making-us-presidential-candidates-1430357.html?cat=7

It is a very bright history in American activist circles, and just because it doesn't get covered does not make it not a real thing.

The Soviets wanted to co-opt it because during the Great Depression the US was having an internal labor uprising that FDR killed, of course they decided that it was a good anti-imperialist message to send.

But just because groups "celebrate it" does not magically mean they are pro-labor.

[sabrina 1]

89. Thanks for the links ~

[shcrane71]

91. Well said sabrina1! Americans don't celebrate May Day because

we're woefully ignorant about any sort of labor history. It says something about the supposed freedom of our "fourth estate" (or free press), that the history of May Day hasn't been communicated to Americans.

It's odd how much patriotic fervor can be whipped up over even benign things, like consumer goods, but it's taboo to feel patriotic about worker's rights.

[sabrina 1]

93. Yes, and that is why Occupy choosing May Day has educated Americans regarding that history. A lot

now know what it took to get the workers' rights we all take so for granted. In that sense alone, their participation was a huge success.

[shcrane71]

97. That's wonderful. It gives me goose bumps.

It's great to be reminded of movements that have affected every working American's life.

[joshcryer]

67. Thank you. United Russia and Putin should not be allowed to co-opt the movement.

May Day has already been co-opted by so many anti-labor groups out there.

[MattSh]

71. God, I hope that's sarcasm...

They've only been celebrating May Day there for what, 95 years?

I don't think there was a United Russia and a Putin for that long.

[sabrina 1]

73. I know, I was hoping it was sarcasm also. As I said in response, if they want to celebrate Americans

who died for workers' rights, which I doubt is what they are doing, but IF they were, I think it would be great. And as I said above, the people of the world are not our enemies, even if the government, ours and theirs, would like us to believe they are. All this 'terror' and 'commie' nonsense is nothing but propaganda to keep the war machine running.

[joshcryer]

77. United Russia and Putin are not friends of liberals or progressives.

[joshcryer]

76. United Russia is a right wing group.

[MattSh]

70. Looks like the American propaganda machine is rolling right along...

What's with all the anti-Moscow, anti-Russian shit anyway?

Oh yeah, with the planned "withdrawal" from Afghanistan sometime in the next few years, America and American's are gonna need another enemy to blame for their problems. Can't be blaming the rich, the bankers, and their cronies in Congress, can we? Gotta prime the pump, gotta have another enemy up and running for when the US government can no longer blame a few Afghans in a cave for their multitude of problems.

Hey, the Russians were good enemies before. Let's have an encore! Meet the new enemy, same as the old enemy!

[sabrina 1]

74. Thank you, I was thinking the same thing. You took the words right out of my mouth, see above,

typed almost the same thing. I love that the people of the world are uniting in a common cause. It would be so much more difficult for the War Machine to gin up fear and hatred if the people of the world got to know each other and refused to kill each other to make other people rich. Seeing the cooperation since the beginning of Occupy among people across the globe, it gives me hope. There isn't much anywhere else.

[joshcryer]

81. We're only criticizing Putin and his right wing party.

They are not one of us.

[joshcryer]

80. Oh, I guess you support the Russian oligarchs crushing the Russian protesters.

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/884051-police-attack-protesters-in-russias-election-riots

http://articles.cnn.com/2011-12-04/world/world_europe_russia-elections_1_ruling-party-united-russia-party-parliamentary-election?_s=PM:EUROPE

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/dec/06/russian-election-anti-putin-protests

Putin sent his United Russian right wing thugs to stifle dissent.

[RZM]

87. Yeah, that's it

Criticizing that regime is all a big plot to distract everybody from the bankers. I get my talking points from the head Bilderberger/Illuminati/Mason himself. His name is Craig. He's actually an ok guy.

[NuttyFluffers]

79. yay! ba-da...

bump!

[Zorra]

83. Those images have obviously been photoflopped. nt

[Rex]

96. ROFL!!!

It is a conspiracy of the 1% I tells ya!

[WorseBeforeBetter]

90. K&R

[coalition_unwilling]

98. I'm a bit late to this parade, but here is my report of

a small slice of Occupy Los Angeles from yesterday.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002636816

This is a great thread, btw, and thank you very much for putting it together.

[U4ikLefty]

99. What a glorious day!!!

God bless all who put their time & effort into this difficult endeavor.

This wasn't easy, we had to (as a young movement) build this from the ground up. They put so much of their time & effort into this one day...awesome people.

My mind is still swimming with all that happened in L.A. alone.

Coming out of Union Station to meet the other winds was anxiety-ridden for those of us involved in coordinating M1GS. Would we make it to downtown without police interference? What would downtown look like, would there be enough people? And to come out of Union Station to be greeted by thousands of people was inspiring. They even had a line of high-fives waiting for us as we arrived, with music and festivities abound. The whole day was a beautiful display of people power.

I haven't even uploaded my pics yet, but I will share them soon.

Thank you all so much for making this a day to remember.

Peace, Love & Solidarity
-U4ikLefty

[sabrina 1]

100. Congratulations on your success, U4ikLefty

This sounds awesome:

And to come out of Union Station to be greeted by thousands of people was inspiring. They even had a line of high-fives waiting for us as we arrived, with music and festivities abound.

You must have been so thrilled when that happened.

I will look out for your OP and photos, you must be tired. It was a huge success. I can't believe all the people who came out all over the country, and the world.

Thank you for everything you did in LA

[pinboy3niner]

102. And thanks to you for all your hard work to make Occupy L.A. M1GS a huge success!

I know you did a lot in the planning and outreach, and when I saw you there MayDay you were doing additional duty all day as an OLA Legal Observer.

We were marching together, but you kept running off with your camera to document what the police were doing. It was a long march, but yours must have been 3 times as long as mine (and I was HURTING!). The next day, when my body was aching all over, I thought of you...

And I know that you also had no time for respite; you'd already taken 2 days off from work for this, so you had to be back at work the next morning.

Great work, Lefty, and I was proud to march with you once again!

NO RESPITE FOR YOU!





Love & Peace & Solidarity,
pinboy3niner

[U4ikLefty]

101. K&R

Thanks for the great thread sabrina

[Fire Walk With Me]

103. Great thread, thanks for it! Brilliant work compiling the text and international photos!

Special kudos to the Occupier judo of U4ikLefty and Pinboy3Niner!

LA was infested with police who were utterly determined both to keep us from taking any route we wished as we wished (which means we're not free), and police who repeatedly forced themselves into the mass of the march on foot, bicycle, and motorcycle. Provocation, pure and simple. I can't imagine how much it cost the citizens to fund this.

Early on cops swarmed our downtown convergence point at the gateway to Skid Row (we fed the locals and passed out clothes). One was smiling and waving around a shotgun (not a "less-lethal", no green stock etc.) while other cops cuffed and frisked two locals.

Others were also offering up antics...notice that the only people anywhere near the cop are photographers:

[sabrina 1]

106. That's a great photo, did you take it? What a shame to look at photos from all over the world

and even most of the US, and to see these kinds of pictures which we would expect to see in some third world dictatorship, right here in the US.

I saw Pinboy's photo stream showing the overwhelming presence of police. As you say, how much is that costing tax-payers, and it is just so unnecessary.

From Pinboy's photo stream showing the oppressive police presence:





And another from Pinboy's stream:



I don't know the answer to this, but has there ever been a Global Workers' movement before? We know the employers have been Global for a long time, exploiting workers everywhere, and I know I always wished that the people would unite to help stop that exploitation. So it's good to see it happening at last. Just wondered if it's the first time in history to have such a growing Global solidarity movement.

Edited to replace wrong photo. Still can't get the one I wanted, guy with the 'Workers of the World Unite' for some reason.

Anyhow, thanks for all you are doing. The day was a huge success thanks to everyone who participated!

[MineralMan]

105. Nice compilation of photos. Lots of work.

May Day is a wonderful day for labor demonstrations.