Report on the Activities of the Red League for the First of May 2025

We hereby share an unofficial translation of a report published by Dem Volke Dienen.

In various parts of the country, activists of the Red League have carried out a wide range of actions. There were flag hoistings, and (independent) demonstrations as well as rallies were organized and participated in. Under the slogan “Down with Wage Slavery!” the comrades this year emphasized participation in union demonstrations to spread revolutionary propaganda among the organized segments of the working class. At the same time, a focus was placed on the work in the proletarian neighborhoods. Overall, the activists are very satisfied with this year’s First of May activities.

Hamburg

The flag of Partizan flew at the DGB demonstration in Hamburg alongside those of the International Communist League (ICL) and the Red League. The ICL First of May statement was distributed to many organizations and groups, while the Red League conducted agitation via megaphone against the new government, in support of the fighting Brazilian people and the Palestinian resistance.

Flags, posters, and post-ups were previously placed in Billstedt, Mümmelmannsberg, and Steilshoop, as well as along the demonstration route in Barmbek.

Bremerhaven

Although no traditional demonstration was organized in the Goetheviertel this year, activists of the Red League also participated in the DGB demonstration here. Flags were hung up in the Goetheviertel and along the edges of the demonstration route.

Bremen

The activists of the Red League at the DGB demonstration defied the threats from the “security” of the yellow union, which sought to prevent solidarity with Palestine at the demonstration by prohibiting the wearing of keffiyehs. Numerous copies of the Red Post were sold for this purpose.

In the afternoon, the rally at Schweizer Eck at the entrance to Tenever developed into a small but combative neighborhood festival, with many, primarily women, among the Syrian and Palestinian residents of the area. Powerful agitation was carried out around the entire square, dozens of copies of the Rote Post were sold, stickers were put up by children, and pro-Palestinian music was played and sung, while board games were played, and significant sympathy for the Red League was expressed by the proletarians from Tenever. One of the agitation contributions was directed for Lorenz, who was recently murdered in Oldenburg, and echoed the demand raised by various forces: “Justice for Lorenz!”

Flags and posters were hung in Tenever, above the Mercedes factory, and in the Steintor district along the DGB route.

Leipzig

More than 2,000 people participated in the Revolutionary First of May demonstration. After several speeches, the demonstration marched along Karl-Liebknecht-Straße through the city center and continued along Eisenbahnstraße to Rabet. In the Internationalist Block, which also included activists from the Red League, slogans were chanted loudly in support of the freedom struggle of oppressed peoples and nations. The Palestinian resistance was particularly highlighted here. When the demonstration met the Syndicalist First of May demonstration at Wilhelm-Leuschner-Platz, antifascist slogans were shouted together.

Despite the demonstration being very peaceful, it was repeatedly harassed by the police. The pretext for this was smoke pots that were ignited in the Socialist Block, an art action involving some police officers, and alleged masking. Sunglasses and caps in 25-degree heat and sunshine were too much for them. The demonstrators were not deterred by this. Demonstrators from the Internationalist Block obstructed the police from filming and prevented arrests. As the demonstration turned into Rabet, the police attempted to arrest individual participants, which was thwarted by quick action.

Following the demonstration, a park festival took place in Rabet, featuring additional speeches, information booths, live music, and food. An activist from the Red League also gave a speech on the crisis of imperialism and the resistance of the proletarians and peoples of the world.

The park festival was heavily disrupted by the police, who patrolled among the groups of demonstrators, playing children, and grilling families until the end of the event, obstructed individuals leaving, and arrested some.

Cologne

In Cologne, the Red League participated in the local DGB demonstration. Together with many friends from the political scene and comrades from the Red Youth of Cologne, a combative demonstration block was spontaneously formed. With loud slogans and various speeches, the corporatist character of the yellow unions and the false worker leaders were denounced, while also highlighting the role of revolutionary women in building a red women’s movement and supporting People’s Wars and national liberation struggles. A provocative group of supporters of the Zionist genocide on the sidelines was met with a strong verbal response, and the subsequent attempted repression by the Cologne police against anti-imperialist agitation was rendered ineffective.

Later in the afternoon, the comrades, along with thousands of other participants, also took part in the revolutionary demonstration in Cologne-Kalk. Together with comrades from “ROSA” from Düsseldorf, a powerful contingent was formed here as well, which, during the course of the demonstration, made a strong statement with pyrotechnics under the loud echo of the slogan “The FRG is not our state – all power to the proletariat!” At the end of the demonstration, some fascists attempted to provoke the gathering, but the demonstrators made it clear that they were ready to firmly stand up to both the police and the Nazis. Subsequently, the police dissolved the demonstration over trivial matters and attempted to harass and attack demonstrators in the side streets of Kalk, but a larger encirclement by the police was successfully prevented

Ruhr Area

In the Ruhr area, activists of the Red League participated in the DGB demonstrations in Essen and Bochum. In Duisburg, a demonstration organized by various forces took place, marching from the Hamborn Town Hall to the DGB festival. Here, the police conducted identity checks in the Palestine block and attempted to pull some demonstrators out of the demonstration. This was prevented by the strong and solidary support of many participants who left other demonstration blocks to join the Palestine block.

In the afternoon, the Red League NRW held its first own activity for First of May in NRW. Together with local residents and shop owners in the Nordviertel, and supported by the Palestine Café, activists of the Red League organized a rally. With speeches, music, slogans, and information tables, the First of May was celebrated in a combative, proletarian manner.

Freiburg

On the First of May, a contingent of the Red League participated in the annual union demonstration in Freiburg as part of the Socialist Block. In excellent weather, the demonstration, shaped by numerous bourgeois organizations, parties, and unions, marched from Stühlinger Platz over the Blue Bridge, past the main train station to Fahnenbergplatz, and from there back to Stühlinger Platz via the UB. Throughout the march, slogans were chanted, and the murder of the Black youth Lorenz, who was killed by the police in Oldenburg, was loudly denounced. The activists of the Red League drew attention to themselves with loud slogans such as “Do not believe the lies of the exploiters – It is right to rebel!” which were chanted along by many participants, even from the anarchist block.

The demonstration ended at Stühlinger Kirchplatz, where numerous organizations, bourgeois parties (including the Greens, Left Party, MLPD), and unions were present in a festive atmosphere. The activists of the Red League took the opportunity to engage in conversations with interested individuals and sold the latest edition of the Red Post, which generated significant interest. This led to some interesting discussions and the establishment of new contacts.

Berlin


On 1^st of May, activists from the Red League participated in the revolutionary May Day demonstration, joining the socialist bloc. The demonstration, which saw around 30,000 people in attendance, had a combative character and was accompanied by loud slogans as well as fireworks and pyrotechnics. After being initiated by a concert, the march proceeded from Südstern to Hermannplatz and back to the starting point, receiving a warm welcome along the way. Time and again, slogans like “Viva Viva Palestina!” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!” rang out, embraced by the crowds despite all supposed prohibitions.

During the demonstration, the police maintained a relatively restrained approach and did not launch major attacks on the participants, aside from a few minor confrontations. However, this did not stop them from making arrests after the demonstration ended, targeting those who had previously taken to the streets with determination and defiance. Among other actions, police officers attempted to arrest participants from the socialist bloc. They tried to gain access to a youth center in the neighborhood by prying open the door, assaulting those present in the stairwell, and spraying pepper spray into the interior. Despite their aggression and brutality, they were unable to get inside. The attack was repelled. A rally in support was quickly organized in front of the building until the police ultimately withdrew without achieving their objectives. We would like to express our appreciation for the determination shown in fighting to prevent arrests on 1^st of May and send our solidarity to all those affected by repression in the course of these struggles.