May Day in Sevastopol: demonstrators chanted “The changer resign!”
About 35 thousand people, representing labor collectives of enterprises, state and public organizations, as well as ordinary citizens, gathered for the traditional May Day procession in the center of Sevastopol. In the festive column there was also a place for those who protested both against the authorities and against the holiday itself.
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The festive column started from the Black Sea Fleet Officers' House and finished on Lazarev Square. The festive procession was attended by civil servants, representatives of industrial and municipal enterprises and city institutions, representatives of trade union organizations, social activists, schoolchildren, a military orchestra and ordinary citizens.
According to the city administration, the festive procession attracted about 35 thousand people.
Traditional slogans accompanying the march participants - “Peace! Work! May!”, “Trade Unions for Social Justice” and others. Near the Sevastopol Hotel, the demonstrators were greeted by the Governor of Sevastopol Sergei Menyailo and the head of the Legislative Assembly Alexei Chaly, with whom many stopped to take photographs. And if the governor willingly accepted such proposals, it was clear that Chaly tried to express emotions as little as possible. However, in response to a question about his attitude towards the proletarian holiday, he admitted that he “has a normal attitude.”
“Tradition is tradition. Well, you see how many people there are. The most important holiday is still in eight days,” said the head of the Legislative Assembly.
Sergei Menyailo also turned out to be a man of few words.
"1st of May. People are in a cheerful and cheerful mood. It’s a traditional May holiday, so I congratulate everyone on May 1st. How it was for us - peace, labor, May. Therefore, happy holidays, happiness, love and good weather to everyone. All the best,” he said.
Against the background of the standard festive cheers and greetings of government officials by demonstrators, there were also those who expressed their protest. A group of social activists “Let’s Defend Sevastopol”, passing by officials, chanted the slogan “Menimailo resign”, and the local anarchists who brought up the rear of the procession, although they were more restrained in their exclamations, but, as they later admitted, stood in a column to remind that May Day - not at all “a day of general drinking and fraternization of loyal subjects with their beloved government.” This is generally “not a holiday, but a way of people’s self-organization.”
“Let’s return the meaning of protest to May Day!” – said in the official statement of the Sevastopol anarchists.
English version :: Read in English May Day in Sevastopol: demonstrators chanted "Menyailo resign!"