May Day 2024 began in Sheffield amidst escalating tensions in the Middle East.
At the University of Sheffield’s Student Union a Pro Palestine protest took place yesterday involving groups such as the World Socialist Website.
World Socialist Website members voiced their concerns over the Middle East region, where there are ongoing plans for a military action in Rafah, where 1.6 million people are seeking refuge.
The organisation fears ‘a catastrophe of a war between Israel and Iran’.
Tony Robson from the World Socialist Website described May Day as the day of workers’ international solidarity.
He urged people to partake in an organised online rally on the 4th of May, handing out leaflets which stated ‘mobilise the working class against imperialist war’.
He said: “We have been holding this rally consecutively for many years now because we feel as though the internet provides the means to hold a May Day rally correctly.
“It is a global rally, and the issues are universal in character, of course, politics differ from country to country, but the issue millions of people are outraged by is the situation in Gaza.”
Since tensions in the Middle East escalated after October 7, protesters believe not enough has been done to prevent more conflict and civilian casualties.
Mr Robson said: ‘It has been seven months, and millions have come out onto the streets, we have to be frank, it hasn’t changed anything, if anything it has got worse.”
He expressed his disappointment following recent events in the United States and Germany where students protesting regarding the Israel-Gaza conflict were faced with violence from the police.
He added: “Over 900 people were arrested in America, and they are talking about bringing in the army to deal with them.”
He believes the incidents were an attempt to silence the protesters and he said that must end.
“The only people that can make a change, are the people, the social forces, the global working class to we have to keep going,” he said.