May Day...A Worker's Day of Rights and Struggles

I could write so very much about this day which commenced as a National Holiday in the United States in recognition of worker's rights. The very first May Day was in Chicago, and other large cities, in what was the United States in 1886. It is amazing to believe that at that time Chicago was an obscure Mid-West town. Yet, on this day it became famous world wide, know as the Haystack Riot.

Labor Unions were beginning to organize and fight for the rights of hard working men and women, mainly new immigrants who were always the new low-wage supply of workers for companies and corporations.  This was certainly just as true on May 1st, 1886 as it is today, Unions and "the people" organizing are, and were, a threat to the powers that be.

A large riot broke out in Chicago with a bomb being thrown at the crowd, many were killed, including woman and children. Police and proletarians were also among those wounded and killed. At this time Union Organizers were generally considered Anarchists and Communists, very bad words in our country. Yet, if one were to read the works of Karl Marx and the Communist Manifesto with an open mind, I believe, many would see Socialism and Communism in a different light.

I shall also take this moment with you to honor my great-grandfather and my father who were both labor union leaders. My grandfather was in very dangerous times to be as such, especially in the state of Kansas. He was a business agent and an organizer for the Plaster and Cement Masons, just as my father. I feel my grandfather to have been of the greatest courage to be a fighter of worker's rights in turmoil times.

My father, as well faced some harrowing times. He had his arms broken on a picket line and he was pushed down several flights of stairs in San Francisco,  CA working as a Union Local President. My father was in the Union for just over 60 years, and the impact this had upon my life, was enormous.  My father and my grandfather taught me humbleness, yet also to stand up for the oppressed. I am incredibly proud of this heritage.

I ask you, my readers, if you will to take the day to honor the rights of all worker's around the world for this now has become a day around the globe to such honor. 

There are still fights to be fought and won, for so many worker's rights have been stripped...I know that I shall always stand up proudly, and declare that I will not accept oppression.

Happy May Day to all and I thank you for reading as always,


Maria Juarez Beam (Boheme)

http://www.revcom.us/a/may1/haymark.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haymarket_affair

Selected Song: "There is Power in a Union" Billy Brag

http://youtu.be/DwbzxemJZIc