Workers demonstrate on May Day, in photos

People across Asia kicked off May Day with large marches and protests as many workers grapple with rising energy costs and shrinking purchasing power tied to the Iran war. Also known as International Workers’ Day or Labor Day, the holiday highlights the struggles and achievements of workers worldwide. Thousands are taking to the streets from Asia to Europe and beyond calling for stronger labor protections, higher wages and greater equality while drawing attention to stagnant incomes and the rising cost of living. __ This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors. People gather at Union Square park for a May Day rally in New York, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura) People gather at Union Square park for a May Day rally in New York, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Read More Protesters burn an effigy of U.S. President Donald Trump during a May Day rally in Manila, Philippines on Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) Protesters burn an effigy of U.S. President Donald Trump during a May Day rally in Manila, Philippines on Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Read More Members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions shout slogans during a rally on May Day in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, May 1, 2026. AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) Members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions shout slogans during a rally on May Day in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, May 1, 2026. AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Read More Protesters march in the teargas during the May Day demonstration in Lyon, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani) Protesters march in the teargas during the May Day demonstration in Lyon, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Read More A man holds a poster with an image of former Soviet leader Josef Stalin as he and other Russian Communist Party supporters gather to mark Labor Day, also known as May Day, at the monument to 19th century German philosopher Karl Marx, near the Red Square in Moscow, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) A man holds a poster with an image of former Soviet leader Josef Stalin as he and other Russian Communist Party supporters gather to mark Labor Day, also known as May Day, at the monument to 19th century German philosopher Karl Marx, near the Red Square in Moscow, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Read More Activists of Bonded Labour Liberation Front Pakistan (BLLF) hold placards during a May Day rally, in Lahore, Pakistan, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary) Activists of Bonded Labour Liberation Front Pakistan (BLLF) hold placards during a May Day rally, in Lahore, Pakistan, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Read More A person holds an American flag upside down before a May Day rally in Chicago, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) A person holds an American flag upside down before a May Day rally in Chicago, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Read More A family watch people march to mark International Workers’ Day, also known as May Day, in Sydney, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft) A family watch people march to mark International Workers’ Day, also known as May Day, in Sydney, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Read More Members of trade unions take part in a May Day rally in Tsakane, east of Johannesburg, South Africa, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Members of trade unions take part in a May Day rally in Tsakane, east of Johannesburg, South Africa, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Read More People demonstrate during the May Day protest in Santiago, Chile, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Luis Hidalgo) People demonstrate during the May Day protest in Santiago, Chile, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Luis Hidalgo) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Read More People attend a concert organized by Italy’s main national labor unions to mark May Day, in Rome, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) People attend a concert organized by Italy’s main national labor unions to mark May Day, in Rome, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Read More Supporters of the Iraqi Communist Party holds a symbolic hammer and sickle as they take part in the May Day celebration in Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban) Supporters of the Iraqi Communist Party holds a symbolic hammer and sickle as they take part in the May Day celebration in Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Read More People march to Washington Square Park during a May Day rally in New York, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura) People march to Washington Square Park during a May Day rally in New York, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Read More A person is taken into custody at Union park during a May Day rally in Chicago, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) A person is taken into custody at Union park during a May Day rally in Chicago, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Read More Members of the Moroccan Labor Union (UMT) celebrate May Day during a rally in Casablanca. Morocco, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Akram Oubachir) Members of the Moroccan Labor Union (UMT) celebrate May Day during a rally in Casablanca. Morocco, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Akram Oubachir) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Read More Demonstrators rally near the National Mall during a May Day protest Friday, May 1, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul) Demonstrators rally near the National Mall during a May Day protest Friday, May 1, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Read More A protesters holds a fuel pump during the May Day demonstration in Rennes, western France, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo) A protesters holds a fuel pump during the May Day demonstration in Rennes, western France, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Read More Protester take part in a rally to mark May Day in Athens, on Friday, May 1, 2026 (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) Protester take part in a rally to mark May Day in Athens, on Friday, May 1, 2026 (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Read More Marine One with President Donald Trump aboard, departs from the South Lawn of the White House as demonstrators rally at the National Mall during a May Day protest Friday, May 1, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) Marine One with President Donald Trump aboard, departs from the South Lawn of the White House as demonstrators rally at the National Mall during a May Day protest Friday, May 1, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Read More Demonstrators chant slogans demanding greater labor rights during a May Day rally in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) Demonstrators chant slogans demanding greater labor rights during a May Day rally in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Read More Workers celebrate Labour Day in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Diomande Ble Blonde) Workers celebrate Labour Day in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Diomande Ble Blonde) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Read More People dance during a march marking International Workers’ Day at Jose Marti Anti-Imperialist Square in Havana, Cuba, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa) People dance during a march marking International Workers’ Day at Jose Marti Anti-Imperialist Square in Havana, Cuba, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Read More Taiwanese workers take part in a May Day rally in Taipei, Taiwan, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying) Taiwanese workers take part in a May Day rally in Taipei, Taiwan, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Read More People stand under the Venetian Walls of city as they watch a gathering of Turkish and Greek Cypriots marking May Day inside the U.N. buffer zone at Ledra Palace hotel in the divided capital of Nicosia, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) People stand under the Venetian Walls of city as they watch a gathering of Turkish and Greek Cypriots marking May Day inside the U.N. buffer zone at Ledra Palace hotel in the divided capital of Nicosia, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Read More Protesters shout slogans during a May Day rally in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana) Protesters shout slogans during a May Day rally in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Read More Demonstrators take part in an International Workers’ Day march marking May Day in Panama City, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix) Demonstrators take part in an International Workers’ Day march marking May Day in Panama City, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Read More Members of trade unions and workers shout anti-government slogans during an International Labor Day march in New Delhi, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup) Members of trade unions and workers shout anti-government slogans during an International Labor Day march in New Delhi, Friday, May 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Read More Union members carefully step through rain-formed puddles to participate in a May Day rally in the rain Friday, May 1, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) Union members carefully step through rain-formed puddles to participate in a May Day rally in the rain Friday, May 1, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Read More window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({ appId : '870613919693099', xfbml : true, version : 'v2.9' }); }; (function(d, s, id){ var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) {return;} js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); Source link