ALSA 2025 meeting

The celebration of International Labor Day on May 1, 2025, across various cities in Indonesia was overshadowed by incidents of excessive force and violence employed by police officers against protesters, medics, and journalists who were documenting the demonstrations. The persistence of police violence can be attributed to the lack of accountability for both the individual officers involved and their superiors in prior incidents. This failure to impose consequences has fostered a culture of impunity within law enforcement agencies, allowing aggressive and unlawful behavior to go unchecked. As a result, the systemic issues that contribute to police brutality remain entrenched, creating an environment where officers may feel emboldened to act without fear of repercussions. This cycle not only undermines public trust in the police but also perpetuates a narrative of violence that affects communities disproportionately. This paper examined the lethal violence perpetrated by police during May Day rallies in Indonesia from the legal semiotics perspective through the language and actions used by police officers. By scrutinizing the language utilized by police officers in their interactions with protestors, alongside their non-verbal signals and physical behaviors, the research aims to reveal how these elements legitimize aggressive police actions. Our analysis draws on video footage from the demonstrations on May 1, 2025, alongside firsthand accounts from journalists present during the events, examining how excessive force was used to repel the demonstrators.