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May Day, or “International Workers’ Day,” according to Wikipedia, is the commemoration of the Haymarket Riot of 1886 in Chicago, Illinois, and a celebration of the social and economic achievements of the international labor movement. The May 1st date is used because in 1884 the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions, inspired by labor’s 1872 success in Canada, demanded an eight-hour workday in the United States to come into effect as of May 1, 1886. This resulted in a general strike and the riot in Chicago of 1886, but eventually also in the official sanction of the eight-hour workday. The May Day Riots of 1894 and May Day Riots of 1919 occurred subsequently.

Due to these Radical Leftist overtones, May Day has long been a focal point for demonstrations by various socialist, communist, and anarchist groups. In some circles, bonfires are lit in commemoration of the Haymarket Riot, usually right as the first day of May begins. In the 20th century, May Day received the official endorsement of the Soviet Union; celebrations in communist countries during the Cold War era often consisted of large military parades and shows of common people in support of the government.

The Red Scare periods ended May Day as a mass holiday in the United States, a somewhat ironic phenomenon, given that May Day originated in Chicago. Meanwhile, in countries other than the United States and United Kingdom, resident working classes fought hard to make May Day an official government-sanctioned holiday. These efforts eventually largely succeeded. For this reason, May Day in most of the world today is marked by huge street rallies of workers led by their massive trade unions and various large socialist and communist parties — a phenomenon not generally seen in the U.S. (which has a history of strong anti-communism) or in the UK.

Source: Wikipedia.

But today in Los Angeles, and across the US, there are plans for mass rallies by immigrant communities and their supporters. There are two major marches in LA. The first, at 12 noon on the corner of Olympic and Broadway, the second at 3 pm at MacArthur Park which will continue on Wilshire Boulevard to the La Brea Tar Pits.

We spend the morning today hearing a fascinating historical documentary drama written and narrated by Stanley Kurnik. It’s called “All Who Choose to Come: The Immigrant in America.” The drama explores the experience of immigrants into the US over the centuries. The cast includes Grace Bogart, Engle Conrow, Belle Greer, and Andre Taft. It was first broadcast on KPFK on December 12th 1964.

Music by the Castellani-Andriaccio Duo. Edited by Sonali Kolhatkar.

You can order the entire unedited version of “All Who Choose To Come” at 1800-735-0230.

Sonali’s Subversive Thought for the Day:

May Day skit written and produced by Uprising Assistant producer Gabriel San Roman.