Every year May Day is used to mark many things – from the coming of spring in the Northern Hemisphere to the fight for workers’ rights. This year many rallies have been scaled back because of coronavirus lockdowns, although some have taken place on the streets and online.
Here are some of the events that have marked the day.
Image captionMembers of the Greek Labour Union (PAME), wearing protective masks and respecting the social distances, protest in front of the Greek Parliament in AthensImage captionThe Greek government asked groups to delay public rallies by more than a week, but leading union GSEE called for a general strike to coincide with May DayImage captionIn Turkey, several demonstrators were arrested as they marched towards Istanbul’s symbolic Taksim Square to mark May Day in defiance of the government’s coronavirus lockdownImage captionGatherings in Germany are currently limited by authorities to a maximum of 20, which means many small May Day protests are taking place instead of traditional, large-scale marchesImage captionPeople wearing face masks walk in the almost deserted Piazza San Giovanni square on International Workers’ Day in Rome, ItalyImage captionA red ribbon is tied to a lamppost in Rome where the streets would usually be full of protestersImage captionIn Thessaloniki, Greece, a woman holds a placard that reads: “No to robbing people for the profit of capital”Image captionIn Vienna, Austria, protesters hold a banner reading: “Organise the masses in the duty of the proletarian world revolution”. There are 15 different registered demonstrations and gatherings across the cityImage captionAt one of those Vienna protests, participants painted circles on the floor to keep their distance as they demonstrated against the government measures to slow down the spread of coronavirusImage captionIn Hong Kong riot police set up a cordon as pro-democracy activists gather outside a shopping centreImage captionTrade union members in Barcelona, Spain, hold up placards in front of the emergency admissions of a medical centre, calling for better working conditions and more protective equipmentImage captionIn Beirut anti-government demonstrators and supporters of the Lebanese Communist took part in protests against the reform plans of the government announced by Prime Minister Hassan Diab.Image captionIn Moscow the traditional May Day celebrations were cancelled and in an empty Red Square a lone worker was seen making repairs to the paving stones.Image captionIn Nantes, Western France, a woman walks down a street decorated by dozens of handmade garlands as the lockdown in continues.Image captionChina is loosening its nationwide restrictions after months of lockdown. Labour Day in the country began with an extended holiday. Here a family wearing protective face masks enters the Nanluoguxiang alley, a famous tourist spot at Hutong area of Beijing.
