Below is an excellent essay examining leftist and anarchists relations to violence which has powerful connections to the events of May Day.

Against the Corpse Machine: Defining a Post-Leftist Anarchist Critique of Violence
by Ashen Ruins

WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?

Sometimes anarchists are slow learners. Disregarding the famous, definitive and prognostic Marx-Bakunin split in the First International near the end of the 19th century, anarchists overall have continued to cling to the obsolete notion that anarchy is best situated within the otherwise statist Leftist milieu, despite the bourgeois democratic origins of the Left-Right spectrum. Since then communists and Marxists, liberals and conservatives alike have had us right where they want us - and it's shown in our history. In continuing to view ourselves as Leftists, despite the glaring contradictions in such a stance, we have naturally relegated ourselves to the role of critic within larger movements, and often found ourselves either marching towards goals which stand in direct opposition to our own interests or suckered by counter-revolutionary appeals to anti-fascist or anti-capitalist unity.

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On May 1 in Olympia, WA a group of about two hundred people had a rally in solidarity with the immigrants’ rights and anti-war movements. The rally was followed with a march to the capital where activists gathered outside of the governor’s door, making their presence known and urging her to support the proposal of making Olympia a sanctuary city for undocumented immigrants. After the capital the march continued downtown, where rocks were thrown through the windows of Bank of America and US Bank, two banks notorious for their social and environmental injustices. A scuffle ensued in which protestors clashed with the police. Pepper spray and pellet guns were used on the protestors and six people were ultimately arrested. The names of the people arrested are Daniel Busby, Forrest Student, Stephanie Gottschalk, Bryan Riggins, Randall Hunt and Daniel Wilson. Busby and Student were arrested on suspicion of riot and 2nd degree theft. Gottschalk was arrested on suspicion of riot without a deadly weapon and 3rd degree assault. Riggins, Hunt and Wilson were all arrested on suspicion of 1st degree malicious mischief and suspicion of riot.