Austria: 1st of May against rearmament and militarization

Featured image: “1^st of May 2024: Fight opportunism and revisionism: For the reconstitution of the KPÖ!”, Vienna, Austria, 1^st of May 2024. Source: Rote Fahne

Rote Fahne has published more detailed reports on activities in Vienna and Linz on the 1^st of May. We have previously reported on the first impressions of the 1^st of May in Austria. The central demands of this year’s demonstrations included the fight against rearmament, militarization and warmongering, as well as solidarity with the people of Palestine.

1^st of May in Vienna

While the SPÖ used its 1^st of May rally for its election campaign and sabotaging the social struggles, the internationalist demonstration was full of slogans against the imperialist wars and for Austrian neutrality. The Action for the Democratic Rights of the People (ADRV) participated under the slogan “Unite against warmongers! Defend neutrality, social and democratic rights”.

For the first time in a long time the police tried to directly attack the 1^st of May demonstration in Vienna this year. The police surrounded a pro-Palestinian block, but had to withdraw when the rest of the demonstration showed solidarity with them and the mood got heated.

Revolutionaries also participated under the slogan “1^st of May 2024: Down with opportunism and revisionism: For the reconstitution of the KPÖ!”[Communist Party of Austria].

1^st of May in Linz

In Linz the demonstration marched powerfully and combatively to the city square. The demands that were loudly brought to the streets included an increase in unemployment benefits, the struggle against the increase of work hours, and the defense of democratic and social rights and restoration of neutrality. The ADRV participated under the same slogan as in Vienna.

The demonstration received strong support from passers-by. The banner with the slogan “Fight opportunism and revisionism, for the reconstitution of the KPÖ!” was especially well received.

The police attempted to bring a premature dispersal of the demonstration, however the participants successfully repelled them.

At the end of the demonstration the ADRV made a speech criticizing warmongering and war preparations and called for the restoration of Austrian neutrality. The speech was received by enthusiasm, loud applause and raised fists.