2009 May Day protests
The 2009 May Day protests were a series of international protests that took place across Europe, Asia and in the other parts of the world due to the 2008 financial crisis and the resulting Great Recession. Several May Day marches, which are traditional events, had turned violent in Germany, Turkey and Venezuela as riot police battled protesters in their respective countries. Banks and shops had been attacked in Turkey.
Further marches had taken place in Russia, Ukraine, the Philippines, Japan and Hong Kong, Cuba, Italy and Spain.
Americas
Canada
Approximately 1,000 radicals and anti-capitalists demonstrated peacefully in front of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec building in Montreal. In 2009, the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal didn't intervene with riot police to disperse violently the demonstration like it did in 2008.United States
In San Francisco, more than 50 people rioted through Union Square and the financial district, attacking upper-class storefronts.Venezuela
Parallel marches consisting pro- and anti-government unions and organizations took place around the country. An opposition protest of a few thousand in the capital was dispersed with tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons, after organizers expressed their intentions to pass through the barricades, set up several blocks away from the National Assembly -the opposition's intended destination- to deliver a document denouncing supposed actions against labor unions by the Chávez government. Once dispersed, marchers damaged a Pdval food distribution point.Asia
Cambodia
Over 1,000 textile and hotel workers marched through Phnom Penh to the location of Chea Vichea's 2004 assassination. Vichea led Cambodia's biggest labour union before he was killed in January that year.Hong Kong
Several hundred workers marched peacefully through Hong Kong in protest against job cuts and reduced working hours. Two protests were organised by pro-government and opposition labour unions.Japan
In Japan, approximately 36,000 people demonstrated about social welfare benefits in Tokyo's Yoyogi Park. Some people also protested high military spending, about US$48.8 billion in 2008.Macao
Protesters marched to the Government House on issues such as illegal workers and public housing. With the election of the Chief Executive approaching, some protesters raised the banner "Against Businessmen Ruling Macao".South Korea
8,000 workers and students participated in a rally in a park in Seoul, calling for an end to layoffs and wage cuts.Taiwan
Despite clashes between protesters and police in Taipei, no arrests were reported. In one of the largest May Day protests there in recent times, 10,000 people marched against record high levels of unemployment nearing 6%.Europe
Austria
A large crowd gathered at Vienna's city hall. According to the Social Democratic Party of Austria, 100,000 people attended the rally. On the Ringstraße, a march organized by the KPÖ took place. Some three to five hundred people showed up. The final rally was held in front of the parliament. There were also other minor marches in Vienna.At a march in Linz, also organized by the KPÖ, police and protesters clashed. On both sides, people were injured. Five people were arrested.