"August Spies, one of the Haymarket martyrs, stated, 'If you think that by hanging us, you can stamp out the labor movement... expect salvation-if this is your opinion, then hang us! Here you will tread upon a spark, but there, and there, and behind you and in front of you, and everywhere, flames will blaze up. It is a subterranean fire. You cannot put it out.'"
"May Day was first sanctified in the U.S. on May 1, 1889, as part of the fight for the eight-hour day and commemorated the third anniversary of a general strike."
May Day originated in the United States, established on May 1, 1889, to honor the fight for the eight-hour workday and commemorate the Haymarket martyrs. Despite its American roots, the significance of May Day is often ignored or suppressed in the U.S., reflecting a broader lack of awareness about labor struggles. Activists continue to uphold the May Day tradition through grassroots protests, maintaining its relevance in advocating for workers' rights and social justice.
Read at The Nation
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