May Day and Commemoration of the Martyrs in Switzerland
We hereby share an unofficial translation of a May Day report from Switzerland published by Avrupa Haber on 2nd of May.
Massive, Lively May Day Events and Commemorations of the May Day Martyrs in Switzerland
May 1st, the day of unity, solidarity, and struggle for the global working class, was celebrated in many cities across Switzerland. The largest event took place in Zurich. The march, attended by approximately 20,000 people, began at 11:00 a.m. at Helvetiaplatz.
At the May 1st event, as the imperialist capitalist barbaric exploitation system struggles through a crisis and resorts to wars to overcome it, the masses took to the streets on this May 1st to express their growing anger against imperialist aggression, exploitation, rising militarism, and racism. It was emphasized that the imperialist system has shifted the burden of its crisis onto workers and laborers; purchasing power has declined due to price hikes, rising living costs, and increasing prices, while violations of rights have intensified. It was stated that the root of these problems lies in the exploitative capitalist order. With this awareness, broad masses comprising workers, laborers, refugees, indigenous people, and migrants took to the streets on May 1st in the spirit of internationalism to voice their demands.
In addition to Turkish and Kurdish organizations, trade unions, anti-fascist, and anarchist groups also participated in the march. Along with the TKP/ML’s banner bearing the slogan “Long Live Proletarian Internationalism!”, International Anti-imperialist League (AIL) banners, and Partizan flags, the march also featured flags from AGEB, the Purple-Red Collective, and İTİF. It was observed that the crowd marching behind the AIL contingent was larger than in previous years.
Throughout the march, the AIL May Day statement and the Swiss Platform for Solidarity with Revolutionary Prisoners’ statements were distributed. The Taksim resistance was saluted, while the attacks of fascism were protested. During the lively march, slogans such as “Long live our party, the TKP/ML!”, “Greetings to the Party from Ibrahim to Mehmet!”, “A thousand greetings to those who have fallen and are fighting in India!”, “Long live May 1st!”, and “Biji Yek Gulan!” were frequently chanted.
Zurich May Day Festival Grounds
As is customary every year, a three-day festival area was set up in Zurich. The festival took place on Thursday, April 30, Friday, May 1, and Saturday, May 2.
Book, newspaper, and food stalls were set up at the festival area, which was visited by thousands of people. While ITIF and the Zurich Youth Cultural Center set up a food stall, Partizan opened a book and newspaper stall.
As part of the three-day event, posters and tickets were distributed for a night organized by Partizan in Zurich on May 17 to mark the anniversary of the assassination of communist leader İbrahim Kaypakkaya.
In addition, a banner bearing the Partizan logo was hung at the venue to celebrate and promote the founding congress of the AIL; AIL promotional stickers were widely distributed.
Also at the venue, TKP/ML activists hung a banner with the slogan “Long Live May Day” in German.
Commemoration of the Martyrs of May 4, May 6, and May 18, and Kaypakkaya
Today, May 2, a rally and a march were held at the May 1 festival grounds at 8:00 p.m.
Before proceeding with the speeches, a moment of silence was observed in memory of Deniz Gezmiş and his comrades, who became martyrs in May, as well as Hakki Karer, the Four, and all revolutionary martyrs, including İbrahim Kaypakkaya, who was martyred on May 18, 1973.
In a statement issued under the banner “Resist with the Spirit of ’38” and signed by the MLKP—with support from revolutionary organizations—it was noted that the statement was delivered at the May 1st Square to mark the anniversary of the Dersim Massacre. It was stated that massacres targeting the Kurdish people have continued from 1938 to the present day, and it was emphasized that even today, in the four parts of Kurdistan, the Kurdish people’s most fundamental right—the recognition of their identity—and rights such as education in their mother tongue are not recognized. It was stated that one of the fundamental duties of communists is to stand by the Kurdish people and defend their demands, and that this struggle must be intensified. It was noted that the Rojava Revolution is being suppressed, executions continue in Rojhelat, and policies of repression, bans, trusteeship, and massacres persist in Bakur Kurdistan, and these policies were condemned.
Following that, statements were issued and a march was held in memory of İbrahim Kaypakkaya on the 53rd anniversary of his assassination. A joint statement on behalf of Class Theory and Partizan was read aloud, and a speech was delivered on behalf of Partizan; it was emphasized that the revolutionary line of the communist leader Kaypakkaya continues to serve as a guiding principle today, and attention was drawn to the importance of upholding his ideological and political legacy.
“On the 53rd anniversary of his assassination, may he be an example of courage to us”—a march supported by revolutionary organizations was held behind a banner bearing the Partizan’ signature. During the march, slogans such as “Our Leader Ibrahim, Ibrahim Kaypakkaya!”, “Rebellion against fascism, Partizan as the people’s leader!”, “Long live our party, TKP/ML!”, and “Long live revolutionary solidarity!” were chanted.
The march concluded with a call to attend the memorial event for Kaypakkaya, to be organized by Partizan in Zurich on May 17, following the return to the starting point.
AHM Zurich
02 May 2026
