Thousands of people took part in left-wing demonstrations for International Workers’ Day in Berlin, Hamburg and other German cities on Wednesday.
The traditional rallies by workers and activists this year took place against the backdrop of tensions surrounding the war in Gaza.
Germany has banned or restricted pro-Palestinian demonstrations over the past seven months, often citing fears they could incite hatred and anti-Semitic speech.
According to police, a demonstration organized by the German Trade Union Confederation in Berlin was temporarily interrupted because pro-Palestinian chants and banners were repeatedly displayed.
There was a heavy police presence at the rallies, many of which were organized by unions to demand greater social justice and rights for workers.
The Berlin police said they were accompanying a total of 19 meetings with 5,600 officers. There were no major reports of violence as of early Wednesday evening.
Water cannons, a helicopter and street lighting poles were also ready in case the situation got out of control in the evening
But there was a convivial atmosphere in the Kreuzberg district, a traditional bastion of the German capital’s radical underground culture.
When they weren’t marching, many people were simply partying, playing music, and hanging out in parks and public spaces with a drink in hand.
In the southwestern city of Stuttgart, a demonstration by the left-wing scene in the city center was broken up after attacks on police officers. The officers responded with pepper spray and batons.
According to the police, the demonstration “against social cuts” and “for a society based on solidarity” was organized by an individual.
In the northern port city of Hamburg, more than 6,000 people took to the streets in various demonstrations by left-wing and anarchist groups. Some of the marches led through the posh districts of Harvestehude and Pöseldorf and called for a redistribution of wealth.
