May Day 2012 - discussion and updates

http://libcom.org/forums/organise/occupy-may-day-general-strike-15012012

NYPD raid activist's homes http://gawker.com/5906500/nypd-raids-activists-homes-before-tomorrows-occupy-wall-street-protests

Soapy, thanks very much for helping with this, look forward to your updates! (I'm trying to make this the lead article but having some technical problems with the new theme)

My pleasure

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-17881920

A Worker's Memorial Day Rally, has been held in Manchester, to remember all the workers who have died in industrial accidents cos not attention has been paid by employers to health and safety issues.

There was a march from the CIS Buildings to Albert Square.

reports of pickets and marches across NYC

main march in NY is swelling in numbers constantly with a few other marches still going around the city. Cops have just repelled protesters trying to storm a Chase bank. Also, Tom Morello is going to lead something called a "guitarmy" at 2pm.

Cops are being pushy in NY, keeping everyone on the sidewalk. Ferry service in San Francisco has been shut down due to ferry workers going on strike.

Machinists at a Caterpillar plant in Joliet, Illinois have walked off the job this morning after their contract expired at midnight
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-catepillar-awaits-union-move-as-strike-deadline-passes-20120501,0,866921.story

protester tackled and arrested for jaywalking in NY

the Nazi demo in Neumünster/Germany did not take place because the most of the arriving Nazis left the train at the wrong railway station

http://www.pinneberger-tageblatt.de/nachrichten/home/top-thema/article//neonazis-steigen-am-falschen-bahnhof-aus.html

Front page news across America

"Five suspects, some of whom describe themselves as anarchists, were arrested after allegedly conspiring to blow up a bridge near Cleveland, the FBI said Tuesday."
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/01/justice/ohio-bridge-arrests/index.html

students in the portland public schools system have gone on strike.

The occupation of the golden gate bridge has been cancelled due to police closure of the bridge. The police claim that they closed the bridge because of a traffic accident.

From Quebec: Early May Day successes: Las CLASSE reports Cegep de Sherbrooke (for the 3rd time) and Cegep de Maisonneuve closed down by mass demos despite court injuctions! Put that in your pipe and smoke it judge!

Regardless of the union bosses trying to cancel the bridge action, the cops and CHP are all over both sides of the bridge.

Reports of roaming workfare demo shutting down McDonalds and BHS in London:

Now this is just plain stupid. I mean, the news itself. I have my serious doubts when it comes to "covert agents".

Having read that CNN report it sounds like they were set up. But having read anarchistnews.org comments before I wouldn't be surprised if there was a grain of truth in it...

the fucking sucks. everybody's mayday activities in my town have been cancelled.

http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/pdf/Wright_complaint_affadavit_050112.pdf

Any more updates from the workfare pickets?

David Ferraira wrote on twitter:

"#Turin major had to be escorted by riot police during May Day event, manic street clashes.#Italy#NoTav http://t.co/Vs6BdfaF"

"in a previous video I shared, looked like some union marshals were pointing out NoTav protesters to police"

It seems to be over just looking at twitter.

Mayday Workfare Demos Shut Ox St. Stores - report

May Day in Lexington, KY was not that great, it mainly consisted of people socializing outside of the main branch of the Chase Bank. There is supposed to be a bigger rally at a UBS bank for their support of coal, but I had to miss that.

Incredibly petty "sick-outs" ftw! Nothing is happening where I am as far as I can tell. I am withdrawing my labor in a personal capacity though

Update in Portland: http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2012/05/arrests_in_downtown_portland_p.html

just got back from the Amsterdam mayday march, police kettled the march minutes after it began. The police then sent in undercover snatch squads who made violent arrests while police began hitting demonstrators with batons. Local residents gathered around the kettle and after the kettle ended many locals joined the march.

Boston MA; I can't remember being able to find any black & red flags or banners from Boston last year.

Cross post from the Quebec thread.

The May Day demo in Montreal has started now and has been declared illegal apparently with reports of tear gas and rubber bullets. Shit loads of riots police. Follow the hastag #manifencours on twitter.

Black Bloc taunting police with donuts lol!

huge march underway in NY, anarchists have made smashy smashy in Seattle. Reports of some kind of tank seen on the streets of San Francisco and Oakland