Mass Gatherings of Left-wing Protesters in Berlin and Hamburg, Germany
Revolutionary May 1st hits Berlin and Hamburg again, but this time peacefully, for the most part!
Over 10,000 protesters marched through Kreuzberg and Neukölln in Berlin, leaving a trail of fireworks, and a few arrests in their wake. Pro-Palestinian slogans echoed, with graphic images and smoke bombs adding to the drama. Some even wore masks to conceal their identities. One highlight was a message read out from imprisoned former RAF terrorist Daniela Klette, who critiqued capitalism, Israel, and showed solidarity with "illegal" people.
Left and extreme left-wing groups called for this heavily anticipated event, with principal organizers stemming from pro-Palestinian and anti-Israeli initiatives. In contrast, around 1,800 individuals took part in a satirical demonstration through Grunewald villa district earlier in the day.
On a similar note, Hamburg hosted over 9,000 participants across multiple left and extreme left-wing demonstrations. While the Red Construction, known for its violent orientation, had close to 2,500 participants, the "Wer hat, der gibt" alliance saw the highest turnout with approximately 6,000 attendees.
Anarchist alliance Schwarz-Roter 1. Mai started the festivities with around 800 protesters. Fortunately, the demonstrations remained peaceful, with only some pyrotechnics adding a touch of excitement.
As for trade unions, the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) also had their traditional May rallies, with 9,000 participants in Hamburg and 6,500 in Berlin.
In North Rhine-Westphalia, there were isolated incidents. A physical altercation broke out between a left-wing group and individuals associated with the AfD, at a former coal mine site in Dortmund. At a right-wing demonstration in Gelsenkirchen, police used batons to prevent left-wing activists from breaching barriers, temporarily arresting around 20 individuals. In both locations, one police officer was slightly injured.
These annual May 1st protests, often referred to as "Revolutionary May Day" in Berlin, have a long history of gatherings, particularly in Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain districts. While the exact details of 2022's events are not specified, similar protests in recent years have seen left-wing activism, including anti-capitalist, anti-fascist, and pro-Palestinian movements.
- The demonstrators in Hamburg, largely a part of the left and extreme left-wing groups, displayed their solidarity in multiple protests, with approximately 9,000 participants.
- One of the organizers of these demonstrations was the Red Construction, known for its sizeable presence of around 2,500 people.
- Interestingly, the "Wer hat, der gibt" alliance saw the highest turnout in Hamburg, with around 6,000 attendees.
- Meanwhile, the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB), a key player in general-news and politics, held their annual May rallies in both Berlin and Hamburg, with over 6,500 participants in Berlin and 9,000 in Hamburg.
