THE streets of the world exploded on Wednesday as workers and students, marchers and protesters, sent May Day calls and, in several cities, clashes erupted over local needs and international concerns.
Echoing the universal calls on Workers day, the twin labour centres stated unequivocally: “ War does not benefit workers and the masses. It is mainly workers and the people that die in wars! These wars are therefore not for the protection of the people of the world and neither in our interests. It is purely driven by those who profit from wars- the bourgeoisies either in the West or in the East.
In the United Kingdom, workers marched on the Trade Department in London and blockaded arms factories in Lancashire, Wales and Scotland, demanding that arms export licences to Israel should be revoked. There were pickets at Barclays and BNY Mellon banks in Manchester for investing in Ebit System. The company produces 85 per cent of the land and air munitions used by the Israeli military.
Clashes broke out in some French cities. In Paris, the clashes led to a number of injuries. The victims included a dozen policemen. The workers led by the labour confederation, CGT, protested for better cost of living, reform of unemployment benefits and, against the genocide in Palestine. In Istanbul, where thousands took on security forces with 210 persons detained, the protests were over inflation, demands for higher wages, labour rights and for a free Palestine.
In Lebanon, the workers marched against the economic crises which had also involved banks insolvency, and against the genocide in the Palestine. The crowds poured into the streets of Sri Lanka, a country that declared bankruptcy two years ago. The protests mainly focused on rising prices, especially of electricity and higher taxes.