International Workers' Day, also known as May Day, is a holiday on May 1 that celebrates the working class and the labor movement. It is a public holiday in all five current socialist countries and many former socialist countries. In 1947, the United States established Loyalty Day on May 1 as an anti-communist holiday.[1]
History
On May 1, 1886, a strike of 400,000 workers began in Chicago. The workers demanded an eight-hour work day and were supported by anarchists. In 1889, the Second International called for international demonstrations on the anniversary of the Chicago strike. In 1891, at its second congress, the International recognized May Day as an annual event.[2]
After the 1894 May Day riot in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. President Grover Cleveland established Labor Day in September.[3]
References
- ↑ "Loyalty Day". Credo Reference. Retrieved 2021-05-01.
- ↑ "A short history of May Day". Libcom.org. Archived from the original on 2022-04-30. Retrieved 2022-05-14.
- ↑ "The History and Meaning of May Day" (2022-04-30). The Red Phoenix. Archived from the original on 2022-04-30. Retrieved 2022-06-23.