Tuesday marked International Workers Day - known more simply around the world as Labor Day or May Day. And on the first day of May, workers came out in protest in cities across the globe. As CGTN's Roee Ruttenberg reports some demonstrations were peaceful. Some turned quite violent.

French officials are condemning May Day vandals who wreaked havoc Tuesday on the streets on Paris. Mayor Anne Hidalgo blamed the violence on, QUOTE hundreds of masked individuals. Police eventually used tear gas to break-up the crowds -- estimated around 20-thousand people -- marching in support of workers' rights. Many of them said they opposed plans by French President Emmanuel Macron to end some protections for workers.

Marine Le Pen - leader of France's National Front - gathered with other far-right party bosses from Europe in the South of France. She laid a wreath at a statute of French icon Joan of Arc. Most in the group were staunchly anti-immigration. And, are trying to make a big showing ahead of next year's European Parliament elections.

MARINE LE PEN FRANCE'S NATIONAL FRONT LEADER "Very clearly today, across Europe there's a powerful upswing of a revolt against the policies implemented by the European Union, economic policies, migration policies. This prison-like Europe, this Europe of conflicts that's only working with blackmail and threats."

Meanwhile, protesters blocked several main avenues in Chile's capital Santiago. They started fires and threw rocks before police used tear gas and water cannons to clear the streets. The marches were organized by two of the country's largest unions, who are opposed to the center-right government of Sebastian Pinera.

In Moscow, one hundred thousand people took the streets for the traditional May Day parade that starts in Red Square. Few of them were criticizing the government there. But a smaller rally in St. Petersburg drew protesters angry over the Kremlin's ban of a popular messaging app.

In Manila, 5-thousand people rallied by the presidential palace. They burned an effigy of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. They say he's failed to fulfill a major campaign promise to crack down on unprotected short-term employment.

JULIAN PERALTA FILIPINO UNITED LABOUR UNION SECRETARY-GENERAL "Until now, he has been beating around the bush and fooling us workers. We can no longer tolerate this. Enough with promises that get broken."

In Turkey, government-sanctioned rallies were led by major trade unions. But in Istanbul, about two dozen people were arrested trying to make their way to Taksim Square. Authorities closed the area to May Day protests, citing security concerns. It's where forty-one years ago, 34 people were killed during a May Day event when shots were fired into the crowd. To this day, the square holds symbolic value for the country's labor movement.

And in Spain, there were marches in 70 different cities. The biggest was in the capital, Madrid, with chants of time to win. Protestors called for gender equality, higher salaries, and pensions. They say: now that the country's economy is back on track, worker-friendly changes should be implemented.

ROEE RUTTENBERG WASHINGTON "Tuesday's May Day protests really spanned the globe. Hong Kong, India. Even here in the U.S., there were demonstrations from New York to Florida and California. Most were unabashedly critical of President Donald Trump. Their message: Vote him and his policies out. Roee Ruttenberg, CGTN, in Washington."