05/01/2026
When it comes to human rights, nothing has been freely given. And nothing has been given by asking nicely. Rights have always been fought for.
Today is International Workers Day, aka May Day or Labor Day. However, in the US, we do not recognize this holiday. Instead, we celebrate Labor Day in September along with Canada. Even though the holiday has American roots, everyone else in the world celebrates it today. The biggest capitalist country in the world wants to divorce itself from a united international working class. Why? Because an untied working class is capitalism’s biggest threat.
In 1886, brave workers stood up and went on strike in Chicago demanding an 8 hour work day. This is what is known as the Haymarket Affair. Unfortunately, the police turned violent and began brutally attacking the demonstrators. Some were killed and many were injured. A bomb went off and 8 demonstrators were arrested. 4 men were hung. To honor the Chicago workers, the International Socialist Conference in 1889 named May Day a labor holiday, and today is known as International Workers’ Day. Since then, May Day demonstrations continued throughout the years by various organizations with various demands, eventually granting the labor rights we have today, such as the 40 work week, the lunch break, and child labor laws.
In 1894, Grover Cleveland established Labor Day in September in response to the Pullman Strike and the Cleveland May Day Riot. Later, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, in height of the cold war, declared May 1st in the US as “Law Day”-dedicated to the principles of government under law. And thus, the history of May Day purposefully attempted to be erased by our own government.
This is why I believe it is important to spread the message of May Day. Whether you are participating or not, talk about to your friends, family, coworkers. Talk about the options we have when injustices go too far.
Power to the people! No war but class war. No one is free until we all are free.