The Road to Haymarket
The Haymarket Centennial Documentary

Back in 1986--on the 100th anniversary of the Haymarket tragedy--Labor Beat produced a documentary on that subject, "The Road to Haymarket". (At that time, and to this day, we were astonished to learn that, at least in the English language, there are to our knowledge no other documentaries about Haymarket.)

Our budget was "seat of the pants", with only $300 raised from one union source (AFSCME 31). The actors, with a waiver from Actors Equity, donated their work. Despite all this, when watching it today some 20 years later, the piece remains entertaining and informative, upholding a refreshing class-struggle outlook, as compared to what was peddled at the Haymarket Square monument dedication a few years ago. In "The Road to Haymarket" you will hear authentic anarchist speeches delivered by trained actors in period costume and scenery. "The Road to Haymarket" presents, through re-enactments and graphics, the events leading up to May 4, 1886: The large immigrations of Eastern European workers, the Chicago Fire reconstruction scandals and corruption, the city's harassment of labor leaders and the left, the movement for the 8-hour day.

But the documentary also addresses the aftermath of 1886. In 1986 we tried to relate the Haymarket story to contemporary issues, so you will see scenes from the Chicago Tribune strike for example. Viewers today will recognize constant themes however, both with events of 20 years ago as well as 120 years ago, the victimization of immigrant workers being one of the most obvious.

So you're invited to watch this newly-digitized classic from Labor Beat's vaults, as we commemorate the Haymarket tragedy and its enduring legacy during this month of May, 2007.

Chicago CAN TV Cable Channel 19
Thurs., May 17, 9:30 pm
Fri., May 18, 4:30 pm
Thurs., May 24, 9:30 pm
Fri., May 25, 4:30 pm

To order a dvd:

$15 via PayPal at:
www.laborbeat.org/3/forml604.htm
(Indicate title “The Road to Haymarket” and your mailing address);

or send check for $15 to:
Labor Beat
37 S. Ashland
Chicago, IL 60607

For more information: mail (at) laborbeat.org, 312-226-3330.

Labor Beat is a CAN TV Community Partner. Labor Beat is affiliated with IBEW 1220. Views expressed are the producer, not necessarily of IBEW.