May | 2008 | MelbourneProtests 2007-2011

As in previous years, the Victorian Trades Hall Council and Melbourne May Day Committee organised a march and festival on the first Sunday of May, rather than marking May Day itself … However that may be, here are some photos of the scene outside trades Hall before and after the march – which apparently was uneventful except for the unprecedented attempt by a small group of self-style “National Anarchists” – otherwise better known as fascists – to tag along at the end. They reportedly made a hasty retreat when it was suggested what might happen to them if they didn’t. (There is a report of the day’s proceedings on the website of the Socialist Party – http://www.socialistpartyaustralia.org/archives/2008/05/05/may-day-in-sydney-melbourne/
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The march was preceded as usual by a pipe band – The Ringwood RSL – but pride of place was given to the Aboriginal and Eureka flags side by side at the head of the march proper. Amongst the many stalls were representatives of Union Solidarity: Dave Kerin, one of leading figures in the movement, spoke after the march, outlining the dispute at Boeing that has led to his facing six months imprisonment if he refuses to rat on his associates – see http://www.unionsolidarity.org/actions/ and http://www.unionsolidarity.org/irnews/2008/05/defend-dave-kerin.html

Food not Bombs provided a great alternative to the hot dogs, and there were fun rides for the younger participants. Krautungalung elder Robbie Thorpe welcomed those present, but stopped short of a formal “Welcome to Country” as something inappropriate while Aboriginal people were still “at war” with the occupiers of their land. The Victorian Trade Union Choir gave their familiar renderings of old Union songs, and leaflets, badges, papers and the like were exchanged or sold as the case might be…

Some of the stalls:

Latin American Solidarity Network