May Day in Cuba 2008, Photo by Bill Hackwell
Why May Day? – Lest we Forget
In Australia May Day means celebrations of International Workers’ Day, or even Labour Day. The idea for a “workers holiday” began here in 1856 with the 8 Hour Day (now cunningly transformed to Moomba, or Myers day) but the idea spread around the world. Then May 1st became a commemoration by the Second International for the people involved in the 1886 Haymarket affair.
The Haymarket affair occurred during the course of a three-day general strike in Chicago, Illinois that involved common labourers, artisans, merchants, and immigrants.
Following an incident in which police opened fire and killed four strikers at the McCormick Harvesting Machine Co. plant, a rally was called for the following day at Haymarket Square. The event remained peaceful, yet towards the end of the rally, as police moved in to disperse the event, an unknown assailant threw a bomb into the crowd of police. The bomb and resulting police riot left at least a dozen people dead, including seven policemen.
A sensational show trial ensued in which eight defendants were openly tried for their political beliefs, and not necessarily for any involvement in the bombing.
Haymarket Martyrs
The trial lead to the eventual public hanging of four anarchists.
The Haymarket incident was a source of outrage from people around the globe. In the following years, memory of the “Haymarket martyrs” was remembered with various May Day job actions and demonstrations.
May Day has become an international celebration of the social and economic achievements of the labour movement.
