"The time will come when our silence will be more powerful than the voice you are throttling today."
-- August Spies from the gallows.

In memory of Albert Parsons, August Spies, George Engel, Adolph Fischer, Louis Lingg, Michael Schwab, Samuel Fielden and Oscar Neebe. Their courage and sacrifice for the emancipation of labor continues to inspire millions around the world.

May 1st, International Workers' Day, commemorates the historic struggle of working people throughout the world, and is recognized in every country except the United States and Canada. This despite the fact that the holiday began in the 1880s right here in Chicago with the fight for an eight-hour work day. Read More: [ 1 | 2 | 3 ]

This year, Chicago May Day activities will kick off on Saturday night, April 30, with the 32nd Annual May Day Bash sponsored by Salsedo Press. On Sunday, May 1, events include a May Day Anarchist Picnic at the historic Haymarket Martyrs Monument in Waldheim Cemetery, and the 2nd Chicago Social Forum at Jones High School. And after 119 years of silence, the Chicago Federation of Labor will co-sponsor a Reclaim The Originial Labor Day rally at a controversial new statue near the site of the Haymarket Massacre (Des Plaines Avenue between Randolph Street and Lake Street) at 2 PM.

May 2: Day Laborers' May Day Celebration