International Workers’ Day and How It’s Observed in La Phoenikera
May 1, aka May Day, is known to most of the world as Labor Day and, officially, International Workers’ Day. The U.S. doesn’t celebrate it as such, but actions are held in many places in the country, including La Phoenikera, to commemorate the occasion. Because of that, we figured we’d come up with a handy-dandy timeline of how May 1 became International Worker’s Day since Phoenikerxs don’t just live in the U.S. but also the world at large, so it would serve us to gain some international knowledge. We also figured we’d let people know what was happening in La Phoenikera that day if they felt compelled to participate.
May Day in the world
The late 1880s: Labor movements across the U.S. strengthened their demands for shorter workdays without a pay cut because they had started asking for this since the 1870s, and nobody was listening!
May 1, 1886: About 200,000 U.S. workers hold a strike to demand an 8-hour work day (how dare they?!).
Also, on May 1, 1886, There was a major union demonstration in Chicago in support of the 8-hour workday.
May 4, 1886: Demonstrations continue in Chicago, and a peaceful meeting is held at Haymarket Square, but shit hits the fan. About 180 policemen showed up to disperse what was left over from the meeting (a few hundred people). Unfortunately, a bomb exploded close to the policemen, wounding 67 of them and killing seven. Police retaliated against the peaceful protesters, killed some, and injured 200 others. This becomes known as The Haymarket Affair.
1889: The International Socialist Conference declared May 1 an international holiday for labor… International Workers’ Day, in commemoration of The Haymarket Affair.
May Day in the U.S.
1917: After the Russian Revolution, May 1 is declared “Americanization Day” in opposition to Communism (Remember, socialists declared May 1 International Workers Day, and in the U.S. socialist/communist, what difference does it make, right?).
1949: Americanization Day turns into Loyalty Day.
1958: President Eisenhower signed a resolution declaring May 1 Loyalty Day “a special day for reaffirming loyalty to the United States of America and the recognition of the heritage of American freedom.” (Around this time is when the U.S. is freaking out about all things “Commie.” Remember the blacklist?)
May Day 2017 in La Phoenikera
Photo courtesy of Puente.
Puente Human Rights Movement and a coalition of organizations, including the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), Planned Parenthood Arizona, Living United For Change in Arizona (LUCHA), and environmental group CHISPA, are hosting a May Day march.
They are marching to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office 4th Avenue Jail to demand that new Sheriff Paul Penzone remove federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents (ICE) from the facilities.
You may ask why there is an immigration-related march on International Workers Day. Maria Castro from Puente says, “Our communities are international workers, and they deserve dignity and liberation. We will continue fighting until we have achieved that.”
It’s no secret that there is a significant undocumented workforce in our state. These workers sometimes face labor abuse such as unpaid wages, lower than minimum wage pay, and long work hours without overtime pay. On top of that, they have to live with the fear of raids and deportation.
MARCH DETAILS
WHAT: Take ICE Out of 4th Avenue Jail March
WHEN: Monday, May 1, 2017, at 4 p.m.
WHERE: The march will start at the State Capitol, 1700 W. Washington St., Phoenix
