May Day Rally In Gaza City 2008
Photo Khaled Safi PalestineFreeVoice Images

"The protesters in the May Day rally in Gaza City today, held banners and placates calling in desperation to the world: "Buy my organs and give me food, please" others held banners saying " Where is the human rights to save us from hunger?" and “This siege is illegal and must end immediately”....

Hiyam Noir

MAY DAY April 1st 2008 8:15 pm EST

Today the First of May ( The Day of Labor)rallies and celebrations are held all over the world including in the Palestinian territories.On Gaza Strip thousands of workers gathered in the Gaza City Square,in celebrating of the Day of Labor.Some of the participants in the rally, have been without work since 8 years back.Over 10.000 Gaza Strip residents have lost their income, over 3.500 factories have closed because of the siege imposed on Gaza Strip.

The protesters in the May Day rally in Gaza City today, held banners and placates calling in desperation to the world: "Buy my organs and give me food, please" others held banners saying " Where is the human rights to save us from hunger?" and “This siege is illegal and must end immediately” In a symbolic action, some of the participants,burned their tools they used in their professions and prayed over the death of their jobs.

In Sweden Stockholm, central streets and avenues are closed . The May Day rallies use to bring 100.000 of thousands of participants.In solidarity with the Palestinian people and workers, also Palestinian flags were carried together with the Swedish flag and in tradition,flags with the hammer and the sledge.The left wing party ”Vänsterpartiet", the Swedish Communist Party, the Social Democratic Party, and the Swedish Syndicalist Union are the organizers of this years May Day celebration.

In Russia Moscow,over 30.000 rallied and called for economic equality,Members of the Kremlin political party, United Russia marched carrying banners reading "Economic Growth Not Just For The Wealthy," "Putin and Medvedev are the Saviors of Higher Education" And "Say No to Higher Prices!".The Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov, meanwhile, led a procession of the old red, hammer-and sledge flags, portraits of Lenin and Stalin were carried over the bridge towards the Kremlin.

In Cuba Havanna,the people hope the new president will make some economical changes. Hundreds of thousands of Cubans were expected to participate in the celebration of the Labor Day.

In Germany, Italy, Spain, France and elsewhere in Europe,May Day is known as the official International Workers' Day, rallies and demonstrations are also held every year as a tradition.In Germany on the eve of Labor May Day, anti-capitalism protests in Hamburg turned to violence after provocations by the police.

In Istanbul Turkey, May Day celebrations have been banned since 1977, when in a shootout over 30 people was killed.Today six police officers were injured and 467 demonstrators were detained.The police used tear gas and water cannon to break up the crowds of workers and students trying to reach a main square for a Labor Day rally that had been banned by the government.

In Bankok Thailand,thousands of workers rallied on the May Day Laborers' holiday on Thursday, demanding the government to give the people minimum wages.Protesters, were waving flags and carrying banners outside the office of the Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej’s compound, called for the minimum wage to be raised to 233 baht (US$7.36: 4.74) a day and for price controls on commodities.

In Canada,Toronto and in the York Region, Labour Council, held Canada's largest and oldest labour arts festival. The festival was built on the premise that workers and artists share a common struggle for decent wages, healthy working conditions and a living culture.

In England,London, May Day have been celebrated since the 1880s. The celebrations have maintained the traditions of unity and solidarity.The Greater London Association of Trades Council's,London May Day Organizing Committee has ensured this key day of international solidarity is marked every May 1st.

In United States,New York, in the Hudson Valley the Protest Song ensemble The Flames of Discontent (John Pietaro and Laurie Towers) will host the only May Day event occurring in the New York area.. In addition to the arrangements of labor and protest standards, there will also be a performance of original May Day songs and spoken word pieces.Many guests have been invited. It is time for the activists in the USA to reclaim May Day, the original day of the workers, in a time when radicalism is more important than its been in a long time.