Once again this year, on the working class’s day of struggle, thousands of workers and laborers around the world filled the streets to stand up for their rights through a variety of means. Young people, in particular, stepped forward and made it clear that they see no future in the imperialist-capitalist world order. In addition to the central demands of the working class, anti-imperialist issues also played a prominent role in the demonstrations. Workers and the oppressed around the world are witnessing the escalation of wars and preparations for a new imperialist world war. The demands are clear: Stop the warmongering! Stop the rearmement! Stop the arms shipments! These are the imperialists’ dirty wars, not those of the workers!

In numerous countries, solidarity was expressed with the people of the Middle East, whose livelihoods are threatened by the U.S.-Israeli war alliance. Imperialist interventions in Venezuela and Cuba were also on the agenda. Overall, it was evident that the struggles on May 1 were strongly internationalist and anti-imperialist in character.

Friedrich Engels, co-founder of scientific socialism, described May 1, 1890, as the day on which the proletariat “parades its forces.” International reports on the May 1 actions show that the international proletariat was able to demonstrate its strength. Here are some impressions from various countries:

Argentina

Thousands of people took to the streets in Buenos Aires on May 1. The demonstrations focused on demands for better working conditions, higher wages, and social justice. The protests had a strongly anti-fascist character. They were explicitly directed against President Javier Milei’s neoliberal and anti-worker policies.

Cuba

On May 1, hundreds of thousands of Cubans demonstrated in Havana against the U.S. embargo and the threats made by the U.S. government under President Donald Trump. More than 500,000 people took part in the rally in front of the U.S. Embassy. Trump had previously threatened on several occasions to take tougher action against Cuba and had openly spoken of a possible “takeover.” Just hours after the rally, the U.S. government tightened its sanctions against Cuba. The demonstrators marched five kilometers through the city from Revolution Square, chanting slogans such as “Cuba sí, bloqueo no!” (“Yes to Cuba, no to the blockade!”) and expressing their demand for peace and an end to the blockade through songs and banners. International delegations also participated in the rally in solidarity.

Ecuador

In Ecuador, the May Day protests were directed, among others, against President Daniel Noboa. The frequently chanted slogan “Fuera Noboa, fuera” (“Out with Noboa, out with him”) underscores the political mood. A nationwide petition is currently underway aimed at removing him from office. The demonstrations were monitored by soldiers and tanks, a sign of the state apparatus’s growing fascist tendencies. Economic and social demands were also at the forefront, particularly the protection of the 8-hour workday against plans to extend the daily workday to up to 10 hours. In Cuenca, environmental issues also took center stage: With banners reading “Sin oro se vive, sin agua se muere” (“You can live without gold, but you die without water”), people protested against destructive mining. Resistance to the genocide in Palestine was also part of the demonstrations. The Marxist-Leninist Communist Party of Ecuador (PCMLE) played a key role in organizing the protests.

Bolivia

In Bolivia, the Central Obrera Boliviana (COB) brings together unions representing miners, farmers, and teachers. Among other demands, the COB is calling for an increase in the minimum wage, which President Rodrigo Paz has so far refused to grant. Since April 8, farmers and indigenous groups have also been marching on the capital, La Paz, to protest Law 1720, which is intended to reorganize the distribution of land ownership. They criticize the law for favoring agribusinesses and promoting land concentration and deforestation.

The COB is attempting to coordinate and politicize the various struggles. On May 1, Mario Argollo announced in El Alto that an indefinite strike would continue “until all demands are met.” At the same time, he issued an ultimatum to the government: if it does not yield, it must “step aside.”

USA

On May 1, thousands of people across the United States took part in nationwide protests and a so-called “economic boycott.” Under the slogan “No School, No Work, No Shopping,” approximately 3,500 actions took place, including strikes, demonstrations, and blockades in numerous cities.

Workers, public sector employees, teachers, students, and immigrants took to the streets under the common slogan “Workers Over Billionaires.” The nationwide day of action was organized by the “May Day Strong” coalition. More than 500 unions and mass organizations supported the mobilization, including the National Education Association (NEA), the Chicago Teachers Union, sections of the United Auto Workers (UAW), the AFL-CIO labor federation, local chapters of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), and revolutionary parties such as the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) and the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FSRO). In addition, around 200 regional chapters of the Indivisible movement participated, coordinating the protests under the slogan “No Kings.”

According to estimates, about 500,000 people were actively participating in street protests, strikes, or boycotts. The actual number is likely even higher, as many quietly supported the school and shopping boycotts. It is particularly noteworthy that May 1 is not an official holiday in the U.S., making these actions—especially the strikes—an important expression of the labor struggle and the movement’s growing mobilization.

Turkey

This year’s May Day protests in Turkey were large and militant. The largest demonstrations took place in Istanbul, where an alliance of revolutionary forces chose the historic Taksim Square—a symbolic place for the workers’ movement—as the site for their march. Despite years of bans by the fascist regime, socialist and revolutionary organizations refused to be intimidated and marched to Taksim Square. This move, however, led to massive repression: approximately 500 people were taken into custody, accompanied by significant police violence. May Day celebrations also took place in other districts of Istanbul, such as Kadıköy and Kartal. Furthermore, there were protests in Ankara, Izmir, Çanakkale, Antalya, Adana, Antep, Samsun, Eskişehir, Balıkesir, and many more.

Northern Kurdistan

In Northern Kurdistan, too, people poured into the streets and squares: there were demonstrations in cities such as Wan, Dersim, Amed, Nurhak, and Malatya. In Wan, for example, thousands took to the streets on the eve of May 1 under the slogan “Bread, Work, Freedom.” The focus was on the consequences of the impoverishment crisis, caused by massive exploitation and rising unemployment. At the same time, political repression in Northern Kurdistan was a central issue: democratically elected Kurdish mayors remain imprisoned, despite the “reconciliation process” between the fascist state and the Kurdish national-democratic movement.

Rojava

Rallies were also held in Rojava this year on May 1. The events focused on the threat to Kurdish autonomy posed by the political-Islamist “transitional government” of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Despite the challenging conditions, communists demonstrated their determination to highlight the struggles of Kurdish workers and laborers even in these difficult times. Rallies were held in various cities, featuring militant speeches.

Syria/Heseke

Philippines

In Manila, thousands demonstrated at Malacanang Presidential Palace. The police had set up barricades along the sides to prevent demonstrators from deviating from the authorized route. Clashes broke out in front of the U.S. Embassy under the slogan “U.S. troops out now.”

India

The May 1 demonstrations in India focused particularly on the living conditions of day laborers and contract workers, who in many cases face extremely precarious working conditions and low wages. In the northern Indian metropolis of Srinagar, a large number of women were among the protesters, vociferously demanding more rights and protections for female workers.

Indonesia

Iraq

Germany

In numerous cities across Germany, workers took to the streets to protest against war, rearmament and the current cuts to social services, which are specifically targeting the living conditions of the working class. Young people played a particularly important role in these protests: many youth groups participated in the union demonstrations or organized their own revolutionary demonstrations, where they presented messages of class struggle. In Berlin and Hamburg, these demonstrations drew more than 10,000 participants.

France/Rennes

Italy

On May 1, Italy’s three major labor unions—the Confederazione Generale Italiana del Lavoro (CGIL), the Confederazione Italiana Sindacati Lavoratori (CISL), and the Unione Italiana del Lavoro (UIL)—presented a united front. Together, they represent nearly twelve million people. At the heart of their rallies and demonstrations were demands for social justice, security, and a future without war, as reported by the CGIL’s Collettiva platform.

Greece

In Greece, numerous unions called for a nationwide general strike on May 1, which brought much of the country’s transportation to a standstill for 24 hours. In Athens, union groups such as ADEDY and PAM organized protests against “crisis management” measures that come at the expense of workers. They demanded higher wages, better working conditions, and lower rents in gentrified Athens. The struggles surrounding the squatted Prosfygikas neighborhood, which is set to be evicted soon, were also present on May 1. Around 400 people from various countries live in this self-managed residential neighborhood, which serves as a hub of political resistance.

Spain

This is just an incomplete overview; there were also actions in many other countries around the world, such as Japan, South Korea, Chile, New Zealand, Indonesia, and many more. This diversity illustrates that revolutionary developments are taking place all over the world and that the labor movement as well as the revolutionary youth movement are taking shape. For us, this means that in the coming period we must engage even more with revolutionary organizations and coordinate our struggles.