Cops, Protesters Clash at May Day Rallies

By the Associated Press

Posted May 1, 2009 10:22 PM CDT

(AP) – Hundreds of thousands of European workers feeling the pinch of the economic crisis rallied at May Day protests today from Moscow to Berlin to Istanbul. Violence and clashes between police and angry protesters disrupted some events, including in Greece, Germany, and Turkey. But overall participation fell short of what many countries' unions had hoped for on May Day, a public holiday that celebrates the achievements of labor movements.

Many of the protesters complained about rising unemployment and lost benefits, but few specifics appeared to emerge from the demonstrations about what governments should be doing to fight the global crisis. In Paris, fractious French labor unions came together for the first time in decades to stage a joint march. "Exasperation is rising," said a French Anticapitalist Party rep. "Why should the people pay for a crisis for which they are absolutely not responsible?"

Demonstrators dance on burning dustbins during a May Day demonstration in Berlin on early Saturday, May 2, 2009. (AP Photo/Gero Breloer)

A German riot police officer tries to extinguish a burning dustbin during a May Day demonstration in Berlin on early Saturday, May 2, 2009. (AP Photo/Maya Hitij)

Protestors burn a U.S. flag during a Labor Day rally in San Jose, Friday, May 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Kent Gilbert)

Police forces arrest a demonstrator during clashes at a May Day demonstration in Berlin, Germany, on Friday, May 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Fabian Bimmer)

German riot police arrest a man during a May Day demonstration in Berlin on Friday, May 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Gero Breloer)

Riot police officers carry a demonstrator injured during a Labor Day rally in Caracas, Friday, May 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

A demonstrator is detained by riot police officers during a Labor Day rally in downtown Santiago, Friday, May 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Roberto Candia)

A demonstrator gestures in front of riot police during a Labor Day rally to demand better labor conditions in downtown Santiago, Friday, May 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Roberto Candia)

Supporters of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez attend a rally as he delivers a speech during Labor Day in Caracas, Friday, May 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

German riot police is seen on a cross road during a May Day demonstration in Berlin on Friday, May 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

A couple stands in front of riot police in the district of Kreuzberg late May 1, 2008 in Berlin, Germany. (Getty Images)

Riot police stand in the smoke of a little fire following clashes with May Day revellers and demonstrators in the district of Kreuzberg late May 1, 2008 in Berlin, Germany. (Getty Images)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Sarkozy: Change—or Kiss Eurozone Goodbye

At odds with Germany over ECB, deflation, budget enforcement

(NEWSER) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy yesterday called for changing the eurozone treaty to make a tighter, stronger union, and demanded more budget discipline, increased help for foundering economies, and replacing countries' veto rights with qualified majorities, reports Reuters . He also called for the European Central Bank to be more interventionist and fight possible deflation. "Let us not hide it, Europe may be swept away by the crisis if it doesn't get a grip, if it doesn't change," he warned. "We don't have the right to let such a disaster happen." More»

Belgium Bails Out Failing Dexia

Belgian division to be nationalized; Belgium, France offer guarantees

(NEWSER) - Leading Franco-Belgian bank Dexia has agreed to a government rescue plan—making it "the biggest euro zone bank failure in quite some time," one analyst tells the New York Times . The plan will nationalize Dexia's Belgian banking division in a $5.4 billion government buyout; meanwhile, Belgium, France, and Luxembourg are providing the bank with $121 billion in guarantees, Reuters reports. Belgium will cover 60.5% of the guarantees, with France providing 36.5% and Luxembourg the rest. More»

Latest Culprit in E. coli Crisis: Egyptian Seeds

And contaminated ones may still be out there: officials

(NEWSER) - A new culprit has emerged in the deadliest E. coli outbreak in recorded history: Egyptian fenugreek seeds. Experts had already tracked the crisis to sprouts ; now, “tracing back is progressing and has thus far shown that fenugreek seeds imported from Egypt either in 2009 and/or 2010 are implicated” in both German and French outbreaks, European officials said in a statement. Forty-eight people have died and another 4,000 have gotten sick. More»

Nuclear Protests Turn Violent

Demonstrators against nuclear power attack police, face water cannon

(NEWSER) - Protesters railing against the use and storage of nuclear materials in Germany became violent yesterday, lashing out against police with sticks and pepper spray, CNN reports. Police responded with mounted officers and water cannon. Anger was prompted by a train carrying nuclear waste to Germany from France for storage. The protests follow an unpopular government plan to keep nuclear plants running 12 years longer than originally scheduled. More»

Deadly Storms Swamp France

Dozens perish after violent winter storm devastates western Europe

(NEWSER) - Dozens died this weekend as devastating storms swept across western Europe, destroying seawalls, uprooting trees, and causing widespread flooding. France bore the brunt, with as many as 50 people killed, including 25 in the town of l'Aiguillon sur Mer, 300 miles southwest of Paris on the Atlantic coast. Deaths were also reported in Spain, Portugal, and Germany. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Cops, Protesters Clash at May Day Rallies

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Germany • Europe • France • protests • May Day • labor unions

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Sarkozy: Change—or Kiss Eurozone Goodbye

At odds with Germany over ECB, deflation, budget enforcement

Belgium Bails Out Failing Dexia

Belgian division to be nationalized; Belgium, France offer guarantees

Latest Culprit in E. coli Crisis: Egyptian Seeds

And contaminated ones may still be out there: officials

Nuclear Protests Turn Violent

Demonstrators against nuclear power attack police, face water cannon

Deadly Storms Swamp France

Dozens perish after violent winter storm devastates western Europe

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?

Cops, Protesters Clash at May Day Rallies

Bookmark & Share

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Germany • Europe • France • protests • May Day • labor unions

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Sarkozy: Change—or Kiss Eurozone Goodbye

At odds with Germany over ECB, deflation, budget enforcement

Belgium Bails Out Failing Dexia

Belgian division to be nationalized; Belgium, France offer guarantees

Latest Culprit in E. coli Crisis: Egyptian Seeds

And contaminated ones may still be out there: officials

Nuclear Protests Turn Violent

Demonstrators against nuclear power attack police, face water cannon

Deadly Storms Swamp France

Dozens perish after violent winter storm devastates western Europe

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?