Numbers were up on last year, partly no doubt because the day fell on a Sunday, allowing the May Day Committee to fall in line with the rest of the world, but also boosted by the arrival of a large contingent marching under the banner of Middle East Solidarity and demanding democracy in Syria:

A spokesman for the Syrian community appeals for Australian support

As always, the march was led by the Ringwood RSL Pipe Band, and followed the traditional route down Russell Street to LaTrobe, Swanston Street to Collins, and so back to Trades Hall via Russell Street. Proceedings began with a Welcome to Country from Indigenous activist Sharon Firebrace:

and ended with more speakers, and performances by the Victorian Trade Union Choir:

These photos represent the three stages of the event, beginning with the stalls in Lygon Street and preparations for the march. Most require no comment:

http://www.migrante.org.au/about.shtml

Tuning up

On the march:

http://pawagabrielawomen.blogspot.com/2010_08_01_archive.html

Returning to starting place

Brian Boyd

Outstanding amongst the speakers at the end of the march was anti-Intervention campaigner Barbara Shaw of the Intervention Rollback Action Group in Alice Springs:

This took things up to 3pm, which is when Melbourne Protests’ reporter had to leave … As always there was no shortage of leaflets on offer; one of these, from Melbourne Anarchist Communist Group entitled simply ‘May Day’, has been made available for this post: May Day 2011