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mayday2004vilnius

saluto el comrado!
It was the first time the 1st. of May was celebrated here, in lithuania, after the USSR splitted up. It is really hard to explain people that the history and meaning of MayDay has nothing to do with stalinist bureaucrats and soviet spectacle on communism. Most of them are afraid of any leftist activities, because after the long years of soviet propaganda and not so long years of lithuanian right wing propaganda they are able to view lefties only closely connected with soviet regime, KGB, "red russians", Lukoshenko and stuff like that.
That's why it is important to reclaim real meaning of MayDay up here. So we tried to do our best and we had:

about 30 people involved in performance, critizicing EU in front of the very Seim, during ceremony of rising up flag of EU.
a little, but quiet loud march down Gedimino prospect (in the very centre of the city).
about 1000 leaflets distributed during march.
d.i.y. picnic and football after the march in local park.
fire show in the evening at the Cathedral (in the very centre on the city).
about 500 leaflets distributed during fire-show.
after-party benefit gig in local pub-squat, called "Pergale" with local ska monsters Dr.Green involved and video of the mayday 2004 action screening during the concert.

This May Day was also the day of 10 more countries joining EU, so the city was overwhelmed with cops. We were affraid of some possible repressions, because we were not only celebrating MayDay, but also protesting against the fortress Europe, but as we had expected they were not about arresting us in the very centre of the city in front of the celebrations of joining EU. They asked us to unwear the masks, so we could be filmed by national security agents, dressed as citizens (the fascist law demanding to unwear masks during demonstrations proceeds here as well). After that they followed us during march and asked of organisers of the whole action. No organisers seemed to occur. Only mistical L.i.L.o. collective and that`s it.
The atmosphere was nice and sunny. Of course, as usually we got old man trying to spit at us, but besides we got more positive reactions, than negative ones. So we are very happy that we managed to reclaim the tradition of celebrating MayDay here, in lithuania and we didn't face any repressions yet.
amigos adios!

L.i.L.o. collective