Mass and Enthusiastic May Day Events and Commemoration of May Martyrs in Switzerland
May Day, the day of unity, solidarity, and struggle of the international 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 this year’s May Day, masses took to the streets with growing anger against imperialist aggression, exploitation, rising militarism, and racism, at a time when the imperialist-capitalist system is mired in crisis and resorts to wars to overcome it. It was emphasized that the imperialist system is shifting the burden of its crisis onto workers and laborers; that purchasing power is declining due to price hikes and the rising cost of living; and that violations of rights are increasing. It was stated that the root of these problems lies in the exploitative capitalist system. With this awareness, broad masses of workers, laborers, refugees, locals, and migrants took to the streets on May Day with an internationalist spirit, raising their demands.
Alongside organizations from Turkey and Kurdistan, trade unions, anti-fascist, and anarchist groups also participated in the march. Banners and flags carried included the TKP/ML banner reading “Long Live Proletarian Internationalism!”, AIL banners, Partizan flags, as well as AGEB, Mor-Kızıl Collective, and İTİF flags. The crowd marching behind the Antiimperialist League (AIL) bloc was observed to be larger compared to previous years.
During the march, the AIL May Day statement and leaflets from the Swiss Platform for Solidarity with Revolutionary Prisoners were distributed. The resistance in Taksim was saluted, and attacks of fascism were protested. Throughout the enthusiastic march, slogans such as “Long live our Party TKP/ML!”, “From İbrahim to Mehmet, greetings to the Party!”, “A thousand greetings to those who fall and fight in India!”, “Long live May Day!”, and “Biji Yek Gulan!” were frequently chanted.
Zurich May Day Festival Area
As 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.
Thousands visited the festival area, where book, newspaper, and food stands were set up. İTİF and the Zurich Youth Cultural House organized a food stand, while Partizan opened a book and newspaper stand.
As part of the three-day activities, posters and tickets were distributed for an event to be held in Zurich on May 17 by Partizan, marking the anniversary of the killing of communist leader İbrahim Kaypakkaya.
Additionally, a banner signed by Partizan was hung in the area to salute and promote the founding congress of the Antiimperialist League (AIL), and AIL promotional stickers were widely used.
A banner reading “Long Live May Day” in German was also hung in the area by TKP/ML militants.
Commemoration of May 4, May 6, May 18 Martyrs and Kaypakkaya
Today, on May 2, a rally and a march were held in the May Day festival area at 20:00.
Before the speeches, a moment of silence was observed for all martyrs of the revolution, in the persons of Deniz Gezmiş and his comrades, Hakkı Karer, the “Dörtler,” and İbrahim Kaypakkaya, who was killed on May 18, 1973.
Behind a banner reading “Resist with the Spirit of ’38,” signed by MLKP, a statement supported by revolutionary organizations was delivered, noting that the gathering was also held on the anniversary of the Dersim Massacre. It was stated that massacres against the Kurdish people have continued from 1938 to the present day, and that even fundamental rights such as recognition of identity and education in the mother tongue are still denied across all parts of Kurdistan. It was emphasized that one of the fundamental duties of communists is to stand with the Kurdish people and defend their demands, and that this struggle must be strengthened. It was also stated that the Rojava Revolution is being targeted for destruction, executions continue in Rojhelat, and policies of repression, bans, trusteeship, and massacres persist in Bakur Kurdistan—these policies were condemned.
Following this, statements were made in memory of İbrahim Kaypakkaya on the 53rd anniversary of his killing, and a march was held. A joint statement was read on behalf of Sınıf Teorisi and Partizan, and a speech on behalf of Partizan emphasized that Kaypakkaya’s revolutionary line remains a guiding force today and highlighted the importance of upholding his ideological and political legacy.
A march supported by revolutionary organizations took place behind a banner signed by Partizan reading “In the 53rd year of his assassination, his courage is our example.” During the march, slogans such as “Our leader İbrahim, İbrahim Kaypakkaya!”, “Revolt against fascism, Partizan leads the people!”, “Long live our Party TKP/ML!”, and “Long live revolutionary solidarity!” were chanted.
The march concluded after returning to the starting point, with a call to attend the Kaypakkaya commemoration event to be organized by Partizan in Zurich on May 17.
AHM Zurich
May 2, 2026
