Chicago, Tuesday, May 4, 1886.
I will not write today about Broz's May Day parades, nor about the traditional May Day early morning gathering, nor about the former 1st of May Street in Belgrade and its history. Nor about the era when it was politically correct to say 'Not every day is May 1st' instead of the old-fashioned 'Not every day is Christmas Eve'. I will not mention the time when May 1st was used for the self-propaganda of an undemocratic and unfree regime based on a cult of personality. When it was used for additional brainwashing of the already indoctrinated Yugoslav population. I will not utter a word about it. I promise.
TL;DR
- The article focuses on the historical events in Chicago in May 1886 that led to May 1st being recognized as International Workers' Day.
- Industrialization in America after the Civil War led to harsh working conditions and exploitation of workers, fueling the rise of labor unions and strikes.
- A strike at McCormick Reaper Works escalated into protests, leading to violence and the Haymarket Affair, where a bomb was thrown and police fired into the crowd.
- Eight labor activists were tried and convicted for the bombing; four were executed, one committed suicide, and two were later pardoned after the process was deemed unjust.
- The author reflects on how May Day has become a holiday for celebration in Serbia, overshadowing its historical significance, and questions the current state of workers' rights globally, particularly in China and Serbia.
- The article concludes by emphasizing the importance of remembering the Haymarket Massacre as a lesson against exploitation and injustice.