May Day

Every year, on the first of May here in Berlin there is a demonstration including marching, concerts, beer drinking, tischtennis (ping pong), drum and bass and of course a little friendly night-time rioting. Katherine and I meandered over to the demo early this afternoon, making sure to finish our beer in the park next to the gathering. Apparently glass bottles and masks concealing the face are illegal.
Strolling through the park are several Polizei in green get-ups carrying shiny white riot helmets. Its quite a bizarre scene, this degree to which riot police (thank god for the 'Anti Konflikt Team') presence and fashionable, protesting young Berliners square off. It seems to have taken on a party air in the days since the late 80s and 90s when riots occurred pretty regularly. Of course we hear during the day that leftists have successfully beaten back Neo-Nazis in Friedrichshain, and as the march begins from Lausitzer Platz towards Oranienstrasse and Mariannen Platz things are pretty dull.
Trucks roll on a preordained march path down Skalitzer Strasse blasting drum and bass from huge speakers while somewhat lethargic revellers dance and follow behind. The scene almost reminded me of going to Warped Tour back in Buffalo as a teenager: lots of punks, people dressed in black, drunks with beers, the smell of marijuana wafting through the crowds. Surprisingly Sean Paul made an appearance. I suppose the main differences would have to be the rancorous speeches before the march and the banners screaming political slogans instead of skateboard and soft drink company logos. My housemate Pierre designed banners promoting the march that reminded me of the i-Pod ads that with the silhouette'd dancers.
I ended the evening at Katherine's place, far away from the hubbub of riots and broken glass and drum and bass. We watched Battle Royale and I had some yogurt.

Then, on my way home as I crossed Wrangelstrasse to Sorauer Strasse I heard a ruckus. A car drove up quickly and by the time I was 15 feet down the street (5 meters?) I heard loud yelling. I wasn't sure if the cops and protesters were finally going at it, but I was excited to see some action. I kept on my way home, away from the action, but stopping every minute or two to look around and catch a glimpse. Punch! Yell! Car door slam. By the time I saw the punch I'd decided to just go home. More yelling and it looked like someone hunched over got herded into the car which then peeled out. Pretty exciting action, too bad it probably involved some girl problems instead of some state problems - a shame on May Day - but it kind of made sense post-Battle Royale.