Festive May Day in DC

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)A giant dragon wove down 14th Street to the White House yesterday evening as hundreds of protesters took to the streets in celebration of May Day, or International Workers’ Day. Protesters chanted “don’t just watch us! Come and join us!” as onlookers waved and snapped pictures, accepting hand-outs about the history of May Day. The march was preceded by an afternoon May Day Festival in Meridian Hill Park featuring carnival games, a black and red maypole, songs from the DC Labor Chorus, and teach-ins on the history of organized labor and May Day. At the White House protesters were greeted by labor leaders from across the globe, in town for the “Democracy and An Economy for All” forum, including Gerry Rivera, President of the Philippine Airlines Employees' Association, who has been occupying an airport with protesting workers in the Philippines. Rivera told the cheering crowd “I am so inspired at what you’re doing. I will take back to the Philippines what I have experienced today." - photos: (clockwise from top left) dragon puppet, maypole, a festival-goer plays the "Corporate Personhood Challenge" carnival game, Rivera addresses protesters, workers show solidarity from a crane above the march, march; report/photos by Julia Kann