The 2014 May Day protests were a series of international protests involving millions of people that took place worldwide on May Day (1 May 2014) over the ongoing global economic crisis including austerity measures and poor working conditions.
| 2014 May Day protests | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | 1 May 2014 | ||
| Location | Worldwide | ||
| Caused by |
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| Methods |
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| Status | Ended | ||
| Parties | |||
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| Number | |||
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| Casualties | |||
| Death(s) | 0 | ||
| Injuries | 90 in Istanbul 5 in Phnom Penh | ||
| Arrested | 142 in Istanbul | ||
Africa
editMorocco
editTens of thousands of Moroccans marched demanding better wages and condemning a new 10 percent salary hike to the minimum wage in the private sector as insufficient.[3]
Asia
editBangladesh
editThousands of workers in Bangladesh, including many from garment factories, took to the streets demanding the execution for the owner of a building that collapsed last year, killing more than 1,100 laborers in the worst disaster the garment industry had seen.[4]
Cambodia
editNearly 1,000 factory workers and supporters of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party gathered outside the Phnom Penh's Freedom Park, which had been sealed off with barbed wire with hundreds of police on guard.[4] At least five people were injured after security forces armed with sticks and batons turned on protesters.[5]
Hong Kong
editAccording to organisers, up to 5,000 workers in Hong Kong joined the Labor Day march, calling for improved working conditions and for the government to restrict the number of working hours.[4][5]
Indonesia
editA major protest was held in Jakarta, where 33,000 people marched peacefully through the city centre. According to Rikwanto, police spokesman, 18,000 police officers were deployed on the streets to avoid conflicts.[5]
Iran
editIranian President Hassan Rouhani told thousands of laborers gathered to celebrate International Workers' Day in the capital, Tehran, that he supports the establishment of unions "free of any interference by the state".[4]
Iraq
editDozens of people, mostly members of the Iraqi Communist Party, held a rally near the party headquarters in downtown Baghdad, raising Iraqi flags and those of the former Soviet Union.[4]
Malaysia
editThousands of Malaysians held a peaceful protest on the streets of Dataran Merdeka, in downtown Kuala Lumpur, against a looming goods and services tax that they fear will increase the cost of living.[4] During the protest, there were reported several minor scuffles started by fringe youth groups.[6]
Philippines
editIn the Philippines, thousands of workers marched peacefully in Manila to protest low wages and employers' practice of replacing regular employees with temporary hires who get low pay and little or no benefits. They also decried what they said was the failure of President Benigno Aquino III to deliver on his anti-corruption and pro-poor reforms.[4]
Taiwan
editMore than 10,000 workers marched to the labor ministry in Taiwan's capital Taipei demanding wage hikes and a ban on companies hiring cheap temporary or part-time workers.[7]
Turkey
editPolice intervened with water cannons and tear gas to disperse hundreds of demonstrators that tried to defy the interdiction to meet on 1 May in Taksim Square, Istanbul, emblematic for anti-government protests in Turkey.[8] Riot police assaulted, using vehicles equipped with water cannons, demonstrators who tried to force the barrages in Beşiktaş district to reach the neighboring Taksim Square.[9] Areas around the European centre of Turkish metropolis were transformed into fortified camp and tens of thousands of police officers – up to 40,000 according to Turkish media – were mobilized to prevent access.[10] According to the Istanbul Governor's Office, at least 142 protesters have been detained by police and 90 people, 19 of whom are police officers, have been injured during the protests.[11] Similar demonstrations took place in more than 30 provinces of Turkey, including the capital Ankara.[12]
Europe
editFrance
editAccording to authorities, nearly 100,000 people attended the Labor Day rallies in France, with the biggest rallies in Paris and other major cities such as Bordeaux and Toulouse. The demonstrations targeted the savings plan of 50 billion euros announced by Prime Minister Manuel Valls.[5]
Greece
editNearly 20,000 Greeks marked May Day by demonstrating against government reforms which they say have hurt workers through layoffs and wage cuts.[13]
Italy
editIn Turin, scuffles broke out between police and hundreds of protesters. Activists lobbed smoke bombs at police, who charged demonstrators in the northern industrial city, which has been badly hit by a two-year recession. It was less violent in Rome, where 300,000 people packed into a huge, free May Day concert organized by trade unions.[3] Thousands of people also took part in a peaceful demonstration called by the main trade unions in Pordenone near Venice, where the closure of a nearby washing machine plant owned by Sweden's Electrolux has put 1,300 jobs at risk.[14]
Russia
edit.JPG)
Over 100,000 attended a protest march from the Red Square to the State Historical Museum in Moscow, reviving a tradition last seen before the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.[5] The event was organized by the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia.[citation needed] Labour union organisers said that a total of 2 million people had attended similar rallies around the country.[6]
Serbia
editVarious labour groups staged a protest in Belgrade in order to voice their concern over the expected austerity measures announced by Serbia's new government.[15]
Spain
editRallies were held in more than 70 Spanish cities. In Madrid, thousands marched through the city centre waving signs demanding an end to austerity measure and criticising the government over a perceived lack of focus on job creation.
Switzerland
editIn Switzerland's financial capital Zurich, about 14,000 people turned out in support of a move to fix the minimum wage at 4,000 Swiss francs ($4,500, €3,300) which will be put to a referendum this month.[3]
Ukraine
edit
In Odesa, May Day rallies have turned into anti-government protests. Clashes have broken out between protesters and police in Donetsk as separatists attempted to storm the prosecutor's office.[16]
United Kingdom
editThousands of activists attended a May Day rally in honour of veteran political campaigner Tony Benn and rail union leader Bob Crow who died within days of each other in March.[17]
North America
editUnited States
editThousands of community advocates and immigrant rights supporters marched for worker rights and immigrant justice in downtown Los Angeles. Three different May Day marches were planned by three different groups. As a result of the marches, some downtown streets were closed.[18]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Over 50k throng anti-GST May Day rally". Malaysiakini. 1 May 2014.
- ^ "Mayday 2014: reports from around the world". Libcom.org. 1 May 2014.
- ^ a b c "Tear gas at Turkish May Day protests, Red Square rally draws 100,000". The Cairo Post. 1 May 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g "May Day rallies demand reform; 5 hurt in Cambodia". Associated Press. 1 May 2014.
- ^ a b c d e "Protests mark May Day around the world". Aljazeera. 1 May 2014.
- ^ a b Mark Tran (1 May 2014). "Tear gas fired in Istanbul as May Day rallies held around world". The Guardian.
- ^ "Turkish police clash with May Day protesters". The Times of Israel. 1 April 2014.
- ^ "Turkey May Day protests hit by tear gas near Taksim Square". BBC News. 1 May 2014.
- ^ "Demonstrators insisting on Taksim clash with police". Daily Sabah. 1 May 2014.
- ^ Dilay Gundogan (1 May 2014). "Thousands to defy May Day ban on Turkey's Taksim Square". The Daily Star.
- ^ Ayla Jean Yackley, Evrim Ergin (1 May 2014). "Riot police clash with May Day protesters in Istanbul". Reuters.
- ^ "Police use water cannons, tear gas and rubber bullets in Istanbul's tense May Day". Hürriyet Daily News. 1 May 2014.
- ^ "Greek workers use May Day to protest against reforms and austerity". Euronews. 1 May 2014.
- ^ "Thousands protest against unemployment in Italy". New Straits Times. 1 May 2014.
- ^ "Photos: May Day and International Labour Day". Canada.com. 1 May 2014.
- ^ "Ukraine May Day Protesters Fight With Police". Sky News. 1 May 2014.
- ^ Rob Williams (1 May 2014). "May Day: Activists in London honour Bob Crow and Tony Benn as International Workers' Day protests turn violent in Turkey and Cambodia". The Independent. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022.
- ^ Samia Khan, Toni Guinyard (1 May 2014). "Thousands Expected to Attend Downtown LA May Day Marches". NBC Southern California.