Haymarket affair

An engraving of the Haymarket Square bombing

The Haymarket affair was the series of events in Chicago, Illinois, United States surrounding a strike beginning on May, 1 1886 and a subsequent massacre by police, a rally on May 4 where an unknown person threw a bomb at police, who responded by again massacring workers; and the arrest, trial, and execution of anarchist and socialist political organizers in the aftermath and the political repression associated with it.

Strike and Massacre

A strike supporting the 8 hour work day began on May 1, 1886 with more than 35000 workers walking out of their jobs, joined by tens of thousands more in later days. On May 3, after days of fighting between workers and police, at least 2 strikers were murdered by police. Anarchist organizers called for a protest at Haymarket square, with some printing leaflets titled "Revenge! Workingmen to Arms!!!" Some of the anarchist organizers were not supportive of the militant language used and urged a more peaceful gathering, and this was eventually decided on.