The History of May Day

MAY 1, 1890

May Day, also known as International Workers' Day, has historically been a celebration of laborers and the working class. The first official May Day was celebrated on May 1, 1890 in commemoration of the 1886 Haymarket Affair in Chicago. 

The Haymarket Affair resulted when an unknown person(s) threw a bomb at police attempting to disperse peacefully striking workers in support of an 8-hour work day.  The resulting chaos left at least seven police and eight protesters dead.

In 1889, at the first meeting of Second International (a social & labor party organization) a proposal to commemorate the event was submitted.  Demonstrations were held across the world including: the United States, countries in Europe, Chile, & Peru.

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