May Day protests globalize: workers' grievances collide with anti-war and anti-Western rhetoric

May Day demonstrations across Europe and Asia expanded from traditional labor grievances to broader political battles, intertwining inflation and wage concerns with anti-American and anti-Israel sentiment and Middle East conflict. From Paris and Madrid to Istanbul, Manila and Seoul, protesters linked living costs to U.S. foreign policy, while experts warn of a growing convergence between labor activism and ideological movements, leading to clashes with police and widespread political messaging.