While most countries around the world celebrate Labor Day on May 1, the United States chose in 1894 to fix its tribute to the working man three months later in the year. But the Labor Day, or international workers’ day, celebrated by most of the world, is based around the 1886 Haymarket riot and bombing that took place in Chicago. That year, a group of anarchists were framed for the bombing and then executed. May Day in many countries is a commemoration of their martyrdom. City Weekly asked Sri Whipple, a painter, why America celebrates its own workers’ day?
Because America does it differently from the rest of the world. I would assume that it has something to do with the Powers That Be not wanting to have the same Labor Day as socialists. They didn’t want to remind American workers that they had anything in common with workers in the rest of the world.
cw
