May Day demonstrations around the world varied in cause and degrees of violence. In Washington state, police claim they arrested 17 people on grounds of assault and property damage Wednesday evening, after an anti-capitalism protest turned destructive.
Protestors hurled rocks, bottles and fireworks at police as they broke shop windows on the streets of Seattle, marking the second year in a row that May Day has brought violence to the city, reports CBS News.
Eight officers and countless demonstrators sustained cuts and bruises from the brawl that broke out after a non-violent rally for immigration reform earlier that day.
Citizens nationwide marched for an overhaul of immigration laws on May Day-in what has become an annual crusade for both worker and immigrant rights.
The demonstrations this year come at a crucial time, as Congress is looking into legislation that could usher most of the estimated 11 million people living without citizenship in America out of the dark.
Numerous countries worldwide rallied for a slew of causes, including workers' rights and calls for government assistance.
Some grew violent, escalating in a similar manner to the Seattle demonstrations.
In Germany, protestors clashed with police officers in Frankfurt, who were outfitted in full GSG 9, (Border Police Group 9, akin to SWAT teams) regalia, including shields, helmets, and bulletproof attire. The country has recently been hit by low living standards and record-high unemployment rates.
More than 10,000 Taiwanese workers in Taipei rallied in protest of a government reform that will cut pensions, to alleviate the country's steadily mounting financial issues.
Enraged by the recent building collapse that killed hundreds and injured thousands, Bangladeshis flooded the streets of Dhaka for worker's rights. The condition of the former factory building, they say, was unsafe and not up-to-date.
Greek protestors opted for quiet and controlled demonstrations, wear of the European Union that they claim has created both fiscal and cultural problems in Athens. Participants burned EU flags and staged sit-ins.
Protestors in South Korea who rallied for the improvement of working conditions for temporary workers were met by steady streams of tear gas.
See a slideshow of some of the protests that erupted around the world here.
