{"id":26054,"date":"2025-05-04T18:52:56","date_gmt":"2025-05-04T15:52:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tkp.org.tr\/?p=26054"},"modified":"2025-05-05T15:10:20","modified_gmt":"2025-05-05T12:10:20","slug":"we-were-in-the-streets-of-europe-on-may-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tkp.org.tr\/en\/agenda\/news\/we-were-in-the-streets-of-europe-on-may-day\/","title":{"rendered":"We Were in the Streets of Europe on May Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

Marches in Many Cities across Germany<\/b><\/p>\n

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On May Day, t Day of Unity, Struggle, and Solidarity of the International Working Class, TKP organizations in Germany participated in demonstrations held in Aschaffenburg, Berlin, Darmstadt, Hamburg, Cologne, Mainz, Munich, and Stuttgart. In many of these cities, TKP organizations marched alongside the German Communist Party (DKP) and the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), forming joint marching corteges. Besides the marches, TKP also set up information stands to spread the call for struggle.<\/p>\n

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In Berlin, TKP members and their fellow supporters gathered at Strausberger Platz Square in Berlin and marched to Alexanderplatz, concluding the demonstration in front of the Rotes Rathaus (Red City Hall).<\/p>\n

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In Stuttgart, TKP participated in the demonstration organized by trade unions at Marktplatz Square. Speeches were followed by a march that ended in the same square. Socialist organizations then gathered at Clara Zetkin Haus. TKP\u2019s Stuttgart organization also participated in the event with information stands.<\/p>\n

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In Cologne, the TKP organization joined the march and later set up an information stand at Heumarkt, providing information about TKP’s activities, and engaging with party supporters.<\/p>\n

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TKP\u2019s Hamburg organization also took part in the May Day march and subsequently set up an information stand at the rally area.<\/p>\n

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In Munich, the march began in front of the Agentur f\u00fcr Arbeit with slogans and chants, proceeding to Marienplatz, one of the city’s main squares, where it ended with a rally.<\/p>\n

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In Mainz, TKP organization gathered with fellow supporters in celebrating \u201cRed May Day\u201d in front of Mainz Train Station. Following speeches that emphasized exploitation and the threat of war, the march led by the Communist Party and the Socialist German Youth Workers arrived at the German Trade Union Federation building. Political messages were delivered, calling for trade unions to take a more militant stance. The march ended at a square in the city center.<\/p>\n

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May Day March in Amsterdam: United and Strong Bloc by TKP and NCPN\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

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May Day was celebrated in Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, with a spirited march and rally. Organized by the country\u2019s trade union, the FNV, the event saw participation from numerous progressive and revolutionary organizations. TKP and the New Communist Party of the Netherlands (NCPN) marched together, forming an impressive, disciplined, and resolute contingent.<\/p>\n

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Throughout the march, powerful slogans echoed through the streets, including: \u201cWorkers to the party, party to power,\u201d \u201cNo to plunder, yes to socialism,\u201d \u201cFactories, lands, political power\u2014everything will belong to workers\u201d and \u201cNo to sharia, no to fascism, no to darkness!\u201d<\/p>\n

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Participation in this year’s May Day was significantly higher than the previous years. This increase is largely attributed to the political strikes and protests over the past year\u2014particularly those organized by university communities in solidarity with Palestine. Protests demanding the severance of academic and commercial ties with Israel have played a pivotal role in politicizing the labor movement. Additionally, austerity measures implemented across all levels of education, rising military expenditures, and a new budget structure favoring corporate profits over social rights have further intensified public discontent.<\/p>\n

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The current far-right government\u2019s oppressive policies, including increased discrimination felt accutely by immigrant communities, were among other important factors that increased interest in this year\u2019s May Day.<\/p>\n

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Prior to the event, TKP Netherlands and the N\u00e2z\u0131m Hikmet Cultural Center Netherlands conducted a large-scale mobilization campaign. The day concluded with a concert by the NCPN Peace Choir, where members of the TKP and NCPN united in singing \u201c the Internationale,\u201d marking a spirited end to May Day celebrations.<\/p>\n

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May Day in Southern and Central Europe<\/b><\/p>\n

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In addition to large-scale May Day events in Germany and the Netherlands, TKP organizations abroad took part in demonstrations in Austria, France, Spain, Portugal, and Italy with their members and volunteers.<\/p>\n

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In Vienna, TKP marched together with the Part of Labor of Austria (PdA), the Communist Party of the Workers of Spain (PCTE) in Madrid, various labor unions in Lisbon, the Communist Front in Florence and the Communist Revolutionary Party of France (PCRF) in Paris.<\/p>\n

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In Vienna, the march organized with PdA and KKE highlighted slogans such as, \u201cI was, I am, I shall be,\u201d in honor of Rosa Luxemburg, \u201cSolidarity International\u201d and\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cFreedom for Palestine.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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In Madrid, slogans against NATO and war were accompanied by the slogan of \u201cA Country for the Working Class.\u201d<\/p>\n

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In Florence and Lisbon, anti-war statements, solidarity with Palestine, and demands of the working class were prominent.<\/p>\n

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TKP\u2019s Switzerland organization welcomed May Day in Zurich. Following a march that began at Helvetiaplatz with joint TKP and KKE contingent, TKP members set up an information stand at Kasernenareal, which stays up during May Day events in Zurich until May 3rd.<\/p>\n

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Salute to Spanish Civil War Volunteers in Stockholm on May Day<\/b><\/p>\n

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May Day demonstrations in Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, began with a commemoration of volunteers who died in the Spanish Civil War, most of whom were communists, before the La Mano Monument. The commemoration was organized by the Swedish Trade Union Confederations (LO) and attended by numerous left-wing organizations, including a delegation from the TKP Scandinavia organization.<\/p>\n

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Subsequently, TKP\u2019s Scandinavia organization participated in a rally held at Stockholm’s S\u00f6dermalmstorg organized by the Communist Party of Sweden. In addition to the TKP, representatives from Tudeh, KKE, the Communist Party of Bolivia, the Communist Party of Iraq, and the Communist Party of Syria were also present at the demonstration.<\/p>\n

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The speeches highlighted the dangers of wars triggered by the crises of capitalism and emphasized that the only solution is to intensify the class struggle.<\/p>\n

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The rally ended with the reading of the May Day statement written by the European Communist Movement, of which TKP is one of the founding members, following a march to the La Mano Monument. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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TKP members and their fellows marched with slogans such as \u201cWorkers’ unity will defeat capital,\u201d \u201cWe will not bow down to bosses, tyrants or sects\u201d and \u201cDown with NATO, down with the EU, down with imperialism!\u201d<\/p>\n

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Joint May Day in Cyprus<\/b><\/p>\n

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TKP\u2019s Cyprus organization attended in May Day rally in buffer zone. Workers from Northern Cyprus gathered at Ku\u011fulu Park in Nicosia and marched to the buffer zone, where they met with workers from Southern Cyprus who had gathered at Freedom Park.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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This year’s May Day also held special significance as it marked the 100th anniversary of the first May Day celebration on the island in 1925.<\/p>\n

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The agenda of the socialist organizations from Northern Cyprus focused on the reactionary policies being pursued. During the march, slogans such as \u201cAKP, hands off our children\u201d and \u201cLong live revolution and socialism\u201d were frequently chanted. The rally concluded with the singing of anthems in Greek and Turkish.<\/p>\n

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