Happy May Day, Rhode Island! Most of the globe calls it International Workers Day , though it’s a largely ignored holiday here in the States. To celebrate locally, meet at Central High School in Providence at 3:30 for a march to the State House expected to arrive at roughly 5; more info here. And here’s a video from the 2011 May day celebration in Rhode Island.
May Day honors organized labor’s epic and transformational struggle for an eight-hour workday, perhaps the greatest gift the union movement has given the entire working class. It may also be labor’s most hard-fought victory as well. May Day also marks the anniversary of the Haymarket Affair. More on that excellent cautionary historical tale from Wikipedia, Chicago Historical Society and please make sure to read the post URI history professor and local labor expert Erik Loomis, who wrote a history piece for RI Future this morning.
