Why American labor needs to Occupy May Day

Moira Herbst writes: The May Day tradition dates back hundreds of years to pagan celebrations of spring and the renewal of life it promises. Celts, Teutons and Romans marked the day with dancing, tree-decorating, processions and rituals involving fairies, goddesses, wreaths and flowers.

Since the late 19th century, some of the wreaths and adornments have given way to banners and flags, as 1 May has become International Workers’ Day. Workers throughout the world hold marches and parties to celebrate solidarity and the common goal of achieving better working conditions and better lives.

But American workers, for the most part, have been left out of the festivities. At the height of the cold war, May Day was considered too radical, too “Soviet” perhaps, and the American Federation of Labor itself wanted distance from it. In 1958, President Dwight Eisenhower went so far as to declare 1 May “National Loyalty Day”. Loyalty to one concept of America, that is – not worker solidarity.

That decision to rob Americans of a day of recognition of workers’ struggles worldwide was a mistake. Now, it’s time to take it back. [Continue reading…]

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One thought on “Why American labor needs to Occupy May Day”

  1. BillVZ

    In order to recognize the American spirit of loyalty and the sacrifices that so many have made for our Nation, the Congress, by Public Law 85-529 as amended, has designated May 1 of each year as “Loyalty Day”

    “I (President Barak Obama) call upon all the people of the United States to join in support of this national observance, whether by displaying the flag of the United States or pledging allegiance to the Republic for which it stands.”

    WOW! Never mind that In 1958, President Dwight Eisenhower had already declared 1 May “National Loyalty Day”; loyalty to one concept of America, that is – not worker solidarity.
    With the apparent prospect of the 99%‘s actions for the world wide observance of May Day why not, in this election year, reclaim that Loyalty Day anti communist, anti workers scam with a relevant , rational, and logical, Nationalistic call to support the President and the Nation….

    The supreme manipulator at work.

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