This year, May Day, or International Workers Day, will fan the flame of resistance even further. Thousands of us from across the globe will convene to celebrate our victories for workers rights and, more importantly, renew our commitment to winning social justice. That first commemoration has very deep roots in the labor movement of the late 19th century. Today, it’s a stage to address today’s challenges—a particularly relevant theme here in the United States, where protests will highlight the harmful policies of the Trump administration.
The history of May Day goes more than one hundred years back to the labor movement upheavals of the 1880s. At such a pivotal moment in U.S. history, unions were instrumental in campaigning for an eight-hour workday. Their indomitable spirit inspired massive protests and general strikes all over the country. The rally became infamous when someone threw a bomb into the crowd at the May 1886 Chicago labor rally. Almost immediately, police retaliated to the shooting with gunfire, deepening the pandemonium. This bloody confrontation ended in multiple fatalities, and in the wake of that violence, four people were hanged. In memory of these fallen workers, unions would go on to declare May 1 as a day of remembrance.
A sculpture located in Chicago’s Haymarket Square commemorates the events of that fateful day, featuring an inscription that reads: “Dedicated to all workers of the world.” Today, more than 140 countries observe May Day as a public holiday. The largest celebrations occur in France, Kenya, Russia, and China.
In the United States, May Day has become a home to many kinds of activism. In recent years, there has been an unprecedented wave of global protests. Unions are leading the charge on everything from workers’ rights to supporting other movements expressing economic grievances and demanding an end to catastrophes such as the war in Gaza. This year’s People’s Climate Marches—from Tokyo to Chicago—will likely be the largest in history, bringing tens of thousands of participants together.
In New York City, May Day actions will address the escalating violence on college campuses where pro-Palestinian students have organized tent encampments. These occurrences have at worst led to the arrest of thousands of demonstrators and increased concerns about the fate of free speech and non-violent activism. Major events including one on the steps of Philadelphia City Hall with Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders joining striking workers to fight for their rights will be impossible to ignore. Protests will explode at the Colorado State Capitol, and in cities including Los Angeles, Seattle, and Washington, D.C.
This year’s protest organizers were frank about the numbing impact of strict immigration enforcement measures that began under the Trump administration. As Jorge Mujica, an activist who helped direct the organizing campaign, told me, “Everybody is under attack right now. The focus of May Day rallies in the U.S. notably shifted towards immigration in 2006 when approximately one million individuals participated in protests against federal legislation that would have criminalized living in the country without legal permission. Eight hundred thousand marched nationally, with nearly half a million in Chicago alone.
In 2023, Chicago organizers intend to take their efforts even further, beyond the usual May Day celebrations. They are set to begin a week of escalated actions this Thursday. These actions will feature boycotts and walkouts, running up to Cinco de Mayo, all intended to help promote their message.
Annapolis, Maryland, is preparing for its 70th May Day Basket Competition. This wonderful event is now firmly placed on the May Day calendar produced by the city’s colorful, progressive traditions. Residents and local businesses will be challenged to design the most spectacular floral creations, which will bring out the community spirit in combination with more general labor-focused activism.
“We’re organizing for a world where every family has housing, health care, fair wages, union protection, and safety — regardless of race, immigration status, or zip code.” – American Civil Liberty Union of New York
