New York, NY – On May 1, around 50 NYU students, faculty, alumni and community members gathered at Garibaldi Plaza to demand NYU take further steps to protect its non-citizen students and faculty and to honor union contracts.

The NYU Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA) called for the rally as a part of a series of actions that took place to honor May Day, a day which honors the historic struggle and victories of working people. Members of several NYU unions such as the Contract Faculty Union (CFU-UAW) and Student Workers at NYU (SWAN-UAW) joined the rally to continue to pressure the administration to heed their contract demands at the bargaining table. Other members of student protest groups such as the NYU Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) joined in support of the unions and the demands for protection of non-citizen students.

Protesters at the rally chanted, “What kind of power? Union power!” and “When immigrant rights are under attack? What do we do? Stand up fight back!” Hundreds of people walked by the rally taking photos and cheering in support of the protesters.

Speakers from several of the unions, such as the CFU-UAW, emphasized the significance of May Day and highlighted the importance of unions to continue to put pressure on and bargain with NYU to win a fair contract.

Tej Budhram, speaking for NYU YDSA, spoke on the need to fight back to protect immigrants in the country, stating, “We are not on a blip in the system. Electing another person won’t help us; the guardrails have fallen and even the Supreme Court is being ignored. We must be the guardrails – we must take to the streets with whoever is willing to fight to restore not only the status quo, but also the new future. One in which students who spent their whole life waiting to study in America aren’t having their dreams ripped away from them. One in which our unions are free to organize in every state and every locality without fear.”

After the speakers, the protesters sang union song Everywhere We Go! and then dispersed. Protesters were encouraged to attend other rallies and events that took place throughout the day.

#NewYorkNY #NY #StudentMovement #MayDay #InternationalWorkersDay

On International Workers Day 2025, our mission is clear: Stand up for workers and immigrants’ rights. Since Trump’s inauguration, the people have not missed a beat. Battles have unfolded on many fronts. The people have marched to defend democratic rights, build the immigrant rights movement, fight discrimination, resist attacks on the working class, and to stand against the genocidal war in Palestine.

May Day started in 1886, when immigrant workers in Chicago launched an historic strike for the eight-hour workday and things came to blows at Haymarket Square. The people had had enough, and thousands flooded the streets to demand change. In response, the bosses sent their hired guns—the police—to crush the strike. The state had hanged four labor leaders. They weren’t criminals, they were champions of the working class. The executions lit a fire that spread around the world.

In 2006, May Day was reignited by the fight for immigrant rights. We were there, helping lead demonstrations of millions in LA, Chicago and across the country. The power of those mega marches revived May Day as a day of militant solidarity, and today the fight for immigrant rights is burning even brighter.

The Trump administration has carried out an onslaught of attacks and terror against immigrants and a wave of terror: detention camps, family separations, mass deportations, and even attempts to strip away birthright citizenship. He’s used ICE to target activists standing in solidarity with the Palestinian resistance. His policies are designed to silence immigrant communities—especially Chicanos, Mexicanos and Central Americans—but the wave of protests and actions to stop deportations that are erupting across the country prove that resistance is growing.

Trump is making enemies of people from all walks of life, and his second term is hitting labor hard, too. Federal workers are being fired or laid off. He is trying to take away union representation from 700,000 federal workers.

It’s clear as day that the system is rigged for the rich. The people in power love telling us the economy is doing great. But for most working class people, who are getting squeezed tighter and tighter to make ends meet, something’s not adding up. Prices for the basic things that we need to live are skyrocketing and wages stagnate. The richest 1% treat the financial system like a casino, and Trump’s policies give the billionaires more and more money to play with. It’s a crumbling system, and no amount of ‘America First’ smoke and mirrors will save it.

The ruling class wants us to believe that capitalism is the best we can do, but we know better. We’re building a united front of everyone who has a bone to pick with Wall Street. The future we’re fighting for is a brighter one, where the people hold the power and the needs of the many come before the greed of the few.

On International Workers Day, Stand up for Workers & Immigrants’ Rights

Stop the Deportations!

Fight Trump’s Agenda!

Defend Federal Workers!

Stand with Palestine and Oppressed People Everywhere!

Down with the Billionaires, We Want Socialism!

#Labor #ImmigrantsRights #InternationalWorkersDay #MayDay #FRSO #Statement

The Freedom Road Socialist Organization calls on working and oppressed peoples to celebrate May 1st, International Workers Day.

On this May Day, we will show that the revolutionary spirit of the working class is alive and well in 2024. Unions are waging fierce battles and reviving the strike. Chicanos and Latinos are mobilizing and steeling themselves against escalated militarization at the U.S.-Mexico border. The people of Palestine are shaking off the chains of U.S. imperialism and leading a heroic resistance that will set their people free. Revolution is in the air, and the masses of workers and oppressed peoples are on the move.

A DAY FOR WORKERS

Following the police attack on the rally in Chicago’s Haymarket Square, in May 1886, five revolutionaries were executed by the capitalist class after a major general strike for an eight-hour work day. Today, from auto workers to delivery drivers to flight attendants, rank-and-file workers are taking charge of the labor movement and bringing fighting tactics back to their unions. Last summer, a looming Teamsters strike and a series of practice pickets forced United Parcel Service to make major concessions. Last fall, the United Autoworkers took the auto industry by storm when workers led a national “stand-up” strike against the Big Three – Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis, the monopoly auto manufacturers. The strike lasted 44 days and won many gains, not only in the form of raises but also improved working conditions. This spring has already seen a flurry of strike votes pass among members of the Association of Flight Attendants, with contracts set to expire this year for up to 80,000 workers.

More and more, workers are taking the fight to their bosses and refusing to back down. Class struggle-oriented leaders are emerging among them. This May Day, we must take every opportunity to fan the flames.

“A DAY WITHOUT IMMIGRANTS”

For decades, large May Day protests were a rarity. That changed in 2006, when Wisconsin Senator Sensenbrenner pushed legislation to criminalize millions of undocumented immigrants and was met with a watershed response. Millions of people from the Chicano, Mexicano and Central American communities marched; protesters shut down the city of Los Angeles. The “day without immigrants” megamarches brought new life to May Day and demonstrated the power of Chicanos, Mexicanos, Latinos and all who stood with them.

We expect more anti-immigrant attacks this year. Trump worsened conditions in detention centers and heightened restrictions on immigration, and Biden continues these policies. Now Greg Abbott, the governor of Texas, has lined the Rio Grande with razor buoys and deployed the Texas National Guard to brutalize immigrants and refugees at the U.S.-Mexico border in Eagle Pass. Despite this, Chicanos and Latinos are mobilizing to resist these attacks. We must take up this call to defend immigrant and refugees' rights, and call for the legalization of all undocumented immigrants.

A SYSTEM BEYOND REFORM

In a time of change, at least two things are for sure: there are many fights ahead of us, and more people by the day are realizing that capitalism cannot be reformed and must be smashed.

We don't need to look further than the upcoming presidential election to see this. On one hand, Trump's platform is built on increasing deportations, expanding militarization of the U.S.-Mexico border, and even reversing the 14th Amendment. On the other hand, Biden is bankrolling a genocide in Gaza, as the Israeli occupation starves, bombs and massacres the people of Palestine. The growing numbers of uncommitted voters shows that the masses' anger at continued U.S. aid to Israel has the power to decide the elections. The capitalist class is in disarray.

Meanwhile, the people’s movements are on the rise. Plans to march in great numbers on both the Republican National Convention and the Democratic National Convention this summer are in full swing. Even as the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and rolled back the right to an abortion, women's rights and reproductive rights, protesters pushed back at every turn and formed new organizations.

The people of Palestine are showing the way forward. The brave resistance and sacrifices of workers, farmers, students, doctors and parents weigh more than billions of U.S. dollars' worth of bombs, fighter jets, and chemical weapons. And in the U.S., hundreds of thousands of people have been marching since October to end U.S. aid to Israel. We must keep on marching until not a penny more is used to fund the Israeli occupation and until Palestine is a free, united state, from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea.

Important organizations in the Black liberation movement, such as the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, continue the fight for justice for the families of victims of police crimes and community control of the police. The flame sparked by the Justice for George Floyd rebellion in 2020 has never gone out. It is critical for the working class to support this cause, and we must actively build this alliance. Fighting the national oppression of Black Americans, Chicanos, Latinos, and other oppressed nationalities is decisive for defeating our shared enemy: the billionaires who sit on Wall Street and are the architects of U.S. imperialism.

LET'S BUILD A PARTY

Our mission is clear: we must unite all who can be united against the monopoly capitalists of the U.S. and turn our movements into a tide that will sweep them away. We need to replace their system with socialism, one where the working class is in power and which serves the people. Every struggle we wage, whether for immigrant rights or for a stronger contract at our workplace, can become a lesson for the people to learn how to unite, fight and win. We can win better conditions, raise political consciousness, and fuse socialist theory with these movements. To do that, on May Day, we must mobilize the labor movement and the immigrant rights movement, identify the fighters of those movements.

This year, we will honor the Haymarket Martyrs and continue our work to build a new communist party, put the working class in power, build a united front against Wall Street, and turn this whole system upside down. The working class is the class of the future. We have nothing to lose but our chains!

We will host marches, demonstrations, and programs in cities across the US.

Click here for a list of local May Day events.

#RevolutionaryTheory #Labor #InternationalWorkersDay #MayDay #Socialism #FRSO #Statement

Tallahassee, FL – On Sunday, May 1, Tallahassee’s Freedom Road Socialist Organization hosted a rally at the Florida Capitol to celebrate International Workers’ Day. More than 30 people from various organizations met at Cascades Park in the rain and thunder with the intention of marching to the capitol – protesters reconvened at the historic capitol due to inclement weather.

Activists in attendance spoke about the conditions of the working class, such as the power of unions and solidarity among leftists. Jonah Mundy, a leader of Tallahassee IWW, spoke of how workers of different industries and fields coming together as a coalition makes us stronger: “Working people are realizing that their enemies aren’t other working people in developing nations or even here in the U.S., but our true enemies are the 1% who use their power and money to maintain their dominance over the working class.”

Many students from around Tallahassee joined in and showed their support for the May Day event. Dennis Houlihan, a member of the FSU Graduate Assistants Union, stated, “Many people come to graduate school taking the long hours and low pay as a given or a way of ‘paying your dues.’ Students are workers too – having a union that not only recognizes unfairness but fights for better pay and working conditions is invaluable. It really makes people realize that we can and deserve to be treated better.”

Despite the rain and thunder, workers from all over Tallahassee gathered to celebrate this historic holiday, making it the biggest May Day celebration the Florida capitol has seen in years.

International Workers’ Day is a global celebration of the international labor movement. Despite the continuous attacks on the international labor movement, the working class perseveres, nonetheless. Nearly 20 corporate Starbucks locations have voted to unionize since the first location did so in Buffalo, New York last year. Five Starbucks locations across Florida have filed for a union election. Amazon workers in Staten Island, New York, voted to unionize, the first successful union effort in Amazon’s history.

The demonstration was cosponsored by the Tallahassee Community Action Committee, Florida State University (FSU) Students for a Democratic Society, Tallahassee Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) Florida A&M University (FAMU) Planned Parenthood Generation Action, FSU Graduate Assistants Union, and FSU Students Against Aramark.

From May Day’s inception, radical members of the labor movement not only advocated for the improvement of their working conditions, but for the complete abolition of capitalism altogether. The Freedom Road Socialist Organization is devoted to continuing this revolutionary spirit. This holiday reminds us that the capitalist class will always rely on the inevitable exploitation of the working class. Throughout human history, we have deposed monarchs, feudal lords, and slave owners, but we’ve allowed one clever tyrant to remain, the capitalist. We can only remove this tyrant by building a truly just and democratic society for the working class under socialism.

#TallahasseeFL #MayDay #internationalWorkersDay

Minneapolis, MN – More than 300 demonstrators gathered on May 1 to march in Minneapolis for International Workers Day. The marchers gathered at noon near the Minneapolis Adult Education Center on Lake Street, in honor of the historic educators’ strike that took place this March.

Labor rights activists David Richard Gilbert Pederson, Kai Shelley, Sophie Brean, and Greta Callahan, and immigrant rights activists Delfina Rojas and Pablo Tapia kicked off the march with speeches that highlighted the recent local labor struggles and immigrant rights struggles.

Marchers were joined by community members driving homemade floats and decorated cars, and members of the community joined the marchers as they proceeded down Lake Street to the May Day Street Festival at the Four Directions Family Center.

After the two-year hiatus of Minneapolis’ customary May Day parade, this was an art-filled political and cultural festival hosted by Kalpulli KetzalCoatlicue with critical support from MIRAC, El Colegio high school, and Four Directions’ Family Partnership.

The event was initiated by Minnesota Workers United (MWU), Asamblea de Derechos Civiles, and the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC); and co-hosted by several labor unions: AFSCME Locals 34, 2822, 3800, and 3937, MFT 59, SEIU Local 26 and SEIU Healthcare MN, OPEIU Local 12.

The Street Festival highlighted the militant and internationalist spirit of International Workers Day, with tabling by dozens of local rights groups. Speakers echoed the demands of the march, emphasizing both immigrant rights – an end to border militarization, legalization for all, and an end to violence against immigrants – and workers’ rights; an end to police brutality; and an end to imperialism and military aggression.

#MinneapolisMN #MayDay #internationalWorkersDay

Grand Rapids, MI – West Michigan labor unions, politicians and socialist groups rallied and marched for International Workers Day on May 1 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. More than 70 union members and Asian-American, Chicano/Mexicano, and Black community activists and politicians gathered. The local unions also expressed solidarity for immigrant rights and justice for Patrick Lyoya, the young African man executed by Grand Rapids police officer Christopher Schurr.

“Solidarity and the need to organize and win power for workers has to be the focus of unions in the aftermath of the COVID pandemic. Work is being redefined now as many workers realize they hold a lot of power if they are organized and act together,” said Tom Burke, recording secretary of IATSE Local 26.

“This year’s May 1 rally uplifts recent strikes. We had victories for Kellogg’s workers in Battle Creek, 10,000 UAW union members at John Deere equipment plants, teachers, nurses and other health care workers across the country. The young workers’ Amazon union victory in New York cries out for the Teamsters and AFL-CIO officials to stand up and call for a national union drive right now!” continued Burke.

International Workers Day included speeches from Ryan Letts, president of the Kent-Ionia Labor Council; Jess Westra, president of the IATSE Local 26 West Michigan Stagehands, and Jesse Perez of Teamsters 406. Lindsey Katerberg, first vice president of IATSE Local 26, announced an upcoming fundraiser so Michigan politicians can pass a film tax credit to bring thousands of Michigan film jobs back.

The Grand Rapids May 1 rally called for union drives at Amazon and Starbucks. In Kalamazoo, a recent strike by workers at the Maru Sushi restaurant won a lot of attention. Local service workers are demanding higher standardized pay, across the board benefits, and respect in restaurant, hotel, bar and entertainment industry jobs. Stagehands are looking for thousands of Michigan film jobs to make a comeback and are asking Michigan politicians to pass a film tax credit.

Dr. Jose Flores, a candidate for the Michigan House spoke about growing up Chicano and the importance of recognizing American Indian peoples in the U.S. He called for expanding immigrant rights to the 11 million undocumented immigrants, many in low-paid jobs.

Lily Cheng-Schulting, another candidate for Michigan House, and an immigrant herself, said, “We need politicians who really represent the people and not just a corporate agenda. This includes equality and representation for the many Asian American, Mexican and Central Americans who live here in West Michigan.”

The May 1 rally expressed solidarity with the family of Patrick Lyoya, an immigrant from the Congo executed by Grand Rapids police officer Christopher Schurr on April 4. County Commissioner Robert S. Womack spoke about how he forced a meeting with the chief of police after being contacted by the family of Patrick Lyoya. They were the first to see the police execution video and demanded its release to the public.

Womack, who is now running for the Michigan House, was followed by popular community activist Danny Santiago. Santiago, who leads protests with the Patrick Lyoya family, spoke about the need to build the movement for Black lives in the streets to win justice. He described how the police and the courts are set up to deny justice. He explained how city officials direct the police to harass and repeatedly arrest Black leaders for using bullhorns and protesting.

Adam Schurman of the Grand Rapids Service Industry Workers Coalition spoke and then led the service workers’ march through downtown to the Rosa Parks statue. The march stopped to rally at a local Starbucks and to hear a fired up and informative speech by former Starbucks worker Kate Masterson.

The local unions are pushing back on the mistreatment of immigrant farm workers, factory and service industry workers. Abuses were exposed in West Michigan apple growing areas this past year, where owners drive down wages through racist intimidation and threats of deportation, worsening conditions for all workers. International Workers Day rally organizers expressed their solidarity with an immigrant rights march led by COSECHA on the same day in Grand Rapids.

Young workers are rejecting the conditions being offered by big corporations and business owners these days. They are joining unions, walking out, fighting back and forming new unions as needed.

#GrandRapidsMI #MayDay #internationalWorkersDay #IATSE

New Orleans, LA – Community members gathered with activist and immigrant rights organizations at the Benito Juarez monument in New Orleans on May 1, to celebrate International Workers Day.

Speakers from Union Migrante, an immigrant workers’ organization, recounted their experiences of discrimination and unequal access to essential public services. They called for solidarity in the spirit of May Day to win full equality for immigrants in the city, regardless of immigration status.

The demonstrators marched to City Hall, taking the street and chanting slogans in Spanish and English, including “Oye! Escucha! Estamos en la lucha!” and “Get up, get down, migrant workers run this town!”

Toni Jones of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization connected the struggle for immigrant rights to the struggle of the multinational working class to gain rights and safety in the workplace, as commemorated by May Day.

“In 2006, the immigrant rights movement in Chicago and other cities renewed the celebration of May Day in this country,” Jones said. “The international working class is the vehicle for revolutionary change in our time.”

Sebastian Miscenich of New Orleans Immigrant Rights Action raised the need for comprehensive legal aid to immigrants held in detention, translation and interpretation when accessing public services, and disaster relief for community members denied access due to immigration status.

#NewOrleansLA #MayDay #internationalWorkersDay

La Organización Socialista Camino de la Libertad convoca a los trabajadores de todos los Estados Unidos para conmemorar el Día Internacional de los Trabajadores con marchas y programas.

¿A qué nos enfrentamos en este país capitalista en crisis?

Las vidas de los trabajadores han sido cambiadas para siempre por el fracaso del sistema capitalista para protegernos de la pandemia del COVID-19. Algunos de nosotros fuimos forzados a trabajar en condiciones inseguras, mirando a nuestros compañeros, amigos, y seres queridos sufrir y morir del COVID. Otros vimos que nuestros lugares de trabajo hacían recortes de personal o cerraban mientras el gobierno nos daba una miseria. Al mismo tiempo, los inversionistas se beneficiaban mientras el mercado de valores ganaba más de 10 trillones en valor.

Los capitalistas siguen con su agresión contra los sindicatos, especialmente en el sector público, ya que la sindicalización en el sector privado fue diezmada hace una generación. Solo el 6% de los obreros en industria están sindicalizados. Los que todavía tienen sindicatos pueden tener cargas de trabajo aplastantes, dos niveles (o tres niveles) de tarifa salarial, o las horas extras obligatorias. Los multimillonarios no quieren sindicatos porque son la principal organización de defensa para la clase obrera.

El terror racista de la policía continua. El numero de gente asesinada por la policia aumentó en el 2021, aún depués del historico levantamiento tras el linchamiento de George Floyd en 2020. 1134 personas murieron; 27% de ellos eran personas negras a pesar de que la gente negra solo representa el 13% en todo el país. Las comunidades latinas también sufren bajo la ocupación policial.

Las mujeres en Tejas ya tienen el derecho al control sobre sus cuerpos severamente restringido por los políticos reaccionarios. Los políticos en otros estados, como en Florida, pretenden hacer lo mismo. Y las mismas fuerzas reaccionarias están atacando a las comunidades LGBTQ también.

Aún antes de la pandemia, los propietarios estaban presentando alrededor de 3.7 millones de desalojos cada año. Mientras la suspensión temporal de desalojos prevenía muchos desalojos, los propietarios, desde que la suspensión terminó, están tratando de desalojar más inquilinos que nunca.

Casi un millón de personas de México y Centroamérica fueron rechazadas por la administración de Biden en la frontera con México durante el año pasado. Biden prometió una vía para la legalización para 11 millones de personas indocumentadas en los Estados Unidos. Pero los racistas como el Senador Joe Manchin rechazaron aceptar el plan y Biden no lo enfrentó.

Como resultado, los trabajadores inmigrantes indocumentados siguen experimentado el miedo constante de ser arrestados por la policía o el ICE, llevándolos a la deportación.

De igual modo, Biden prometió defender los derechos de los votantes y reformar la policía. En lugar de esto, los racistas del Partido Demócrata se unieron con los Republicanos para bloquear ambas propuestas.

Biden también prometió trillones de trabajos verdes, guarderías, universidades gratis, y salud asequible. Ninguno se ha cumplido.

Pero casi un trillón de dólares para el Departamento de la Defensa fue aprobado con una adición de 35.000 millones más y más para la guerra en Ucrania.

Mientras tanto, los titulares de la prensa capitalista el año pasado nos dijeron que un puñado de multimillonarios estadounidenses son 1.7 trillones más ricos después de dos años de COVID.

Nosotros resistimos

Hemos sido oprimidos, manipulados, y traicionados.

Los obreros – sindicalizados o no – están resistiendo. “Striketober” (Octubre de Huelgas) fue llamado después de que 10.000 de obreros de John Deere en el Medio Oeste se unieron con las enfermeras y los trabajadores de los supermercados a la huelga. En el 2021 también se vio crecer la cantidad de paros no sindicalizados. Los obreros por todos los Estados Unidos están enojados – sus vidas siguen estando en peligro mientras están trabajando durante la pandemia y ellos se dan cuenta que están muriendo por los beneficios de los ricos. Los maestros en Minneapolis continúan la Ola Roja que empezó con huelgas “Wildcat” (salvajes) en 2019.

El movimiento de Liberación Negra está avanzado, como se ha visto especialmente en Chicago, donde una coalición liderado por la Alianza Chicago contra la Represión Racista y Política, con el apoyo de los sindicatos públicos liderados por Afroamericanos, aprobó un proyecto de ley amplio que le dará a las comunidades que viven bajo el terror policial, la primera posibilidad de determinar quienes serán los policías en sus comunidades y cómo serán vigiladas. Un movimiento nacional está formándose por todo el país, inspirado por estos avances.

La historia del Día Internacional de los Trabajadores

Este es un día de lucha – nacido del gran movimiento obrero de los Estados Unidos que luchó por la jornada de ocho horas hace más de 100 años. Comenzó aquí, pero el Primero de Mayo será conmemorado en todo el mundo – por los trabajadores de Filipinas, de Palestina, de Puerto Rico y de Pretoria, Sudáfrica – que hoy luchan por un mundo mejor.

Nos reunimos el Primero de Mayo para conmemorar nuestra historia, nuestra lucha y para mirar hacia un mundo mejor.

También nos reunimos sabiendo que nuestra clase gobernante odia este día festivo.En 1886, cuando la Huelga General por la jornada de ocho horas avanzó por todas las ciudades industriales de los Estados Unidos, los capitalistas trataron de aplastar el movimiento en sus inicios. Agarraron a los líderes del movimiento y los colgaron por atreverse a luchar por una sociedad en la que no gobiernen los ricos.

Tenemos una deuda de gratitud con el movimiento por los derechos de los inmigrantes, que devolvió el Primero de Mayo a la clase trabajadora estadounidense. Fue a través de las masivas marchas para defender los derechos de los trabajadores inmigrantes en 2006 que el movimiento laboral volvió a abrazar el Día Internacional de los Trabajadores. Este año volveremos a marchar con los trabajadores inmigrantes el Primero de Mayo.

El capitalismo es un fracaso

La crisis económica de 2008 acabó con cualquier esperanza de la mayoría de la clase trabajadora en todo el mundo de mejorar nuestras vidas a través del trabajo duro y el ahorro de dinero. La pandemia del COVID mató a casi un millón de personas en los Estados Unidos y a más de 6 millones en todo el mundo.

Los países más ricos – los Estados Unidos, el Reino Unido, Italia y otros – estuvieron entre los mayores fracasos. Fallaron en proteger a los trabajadores porque nuestras vidas son prescindibles al servicio de las ganancias y porque incluso sus sistemas de atención médica tienen fines de lucro.

Los países socialistas – China, Cuba, Vietnam – mostraron al mundo lo que puede ocurrir cuando la salud no tiene fines de lucro, sino que se basa en las necesidades de los trabajadores y campesinos. En China, un país con 1.400 millones de habitantes, han muerto menos de 10.000 personas.

¡Necesitamos la revolución y el socialismo!

El movimiento Black Lives Matter (las vidas negras importan) siempre dice, “¡Es nuestro deber luchar por nuestra libertad!” Por los trabajadores revolucionarios, nos unimos a la lucha por la libertad de la opresión nacional racista, y también nos comprometemos a luchar por la libertad de las dificultades impuestas a todas las personas trabajadoras cuyos sueldos no cubren sus facturas – la mayoría de la clase trabajadora que está perdiendo terreno mientras el costo de nuestra renta, gasolina y alimentos continúa aumentando aún más rápido.

El Primero de Mayo es para aquellos de nosotros que vemos la necesidad de luchar, que entendemos que entre nuestra clase de trabajadores y la clase de multimillonarios, el único futuro es el del combate constante; un futuro en el que luchemos contra ellos por trabajos decentes con salarios y beneficios decentes.

Esa lucha continuará hasta que los trabajadores tomemos el poder en nuestras propias manos. Eso se llama revolución. Y la nueva sociedad donde los trabajadores están en el poder se llama socialismo.

#UnitedStates #MayDay #internationalWorkersDay #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganizationFRSO

Freedom Road Socialist Organization calls on working people across the U.S. to celebrate International Workers Day in marches and programs.

What are we up against in this crisis-ridden capitalist country?

The lives of working people have been forever changed by the failure of the capitalist system to protect us from the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of us we were forced to work in unsafe conditions, watching our co-workers, friends and loved ones suffer and die from COVID. Others saw our workplaces downsized or shuttered as the government gave a pittance. Meanwhile investors profited as the stock market gained more than $10 trillion in value.

The capitalists continue their assault on labor unions, especially in the public sector, as private sector unionization was decimated a generation ago. Only 6% of workers in industry are unionized. Those who still have unions may have crushing workloads, two-tier (or three-tier) wage rates, or mandatory overtime. The billionaires don’t want unions because they are the main defense organization of the working class.

Racist police terror continues. The number of people murdered by the police rose in 2021, even after the historic uprising after the lynching of George Floyd in 2020. 1134 people died, with 27% of them being Black, despite Black people being only 13% of the country. Latino communities also suffer under police occupation.

Women in Texas have already had their right to control their bodies severely curtailed by reactionary politicians. Politicians in other states, like Florida, aim to do the same. And the same reactionary forces are attacking LGBTQ communities as well.

Even before the pandemic, landlords were filing about 3.7 million evictions per year. While eviction moratoriums prevented many evictions, with the moratoriums gone, landlords are playing catch-up to evict more renters than ever.

Almost a million people from Mexico and Central America were turned away by the Biden administration at the border with Mexico in the last year. Biden promised a pathway to legalization for 11 million undocumented in the U.S. But racists like Senator Joe Manchin refused to go along with the plan, and Biden wouldn’t take him on.

As a result, undocumented immigrant workers still face the constant fear of arrests by the police or ICE, leading them to deportation.

Similarly, Biden promised to defend voting rights and reform of the police. Instead, racists in the Democratic Party joined with the Republicans to block both.

Biden also promised trillions for green jobs, childcare, tuition free college and affordable healthcare. None have been delivered.

But almost $1 trillion for the Defense Department was passed, with an addition of $35 billion more – and more for the war in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, headlines in the capitalist press this past year told us that the handful of U.S. billionaires are $1.7 trillion richer after two years of COVID.

We fight back

We’ve been driven down, pushed around and sold out!

Workers – whether unionized or not – are fighting back. “Striketober” was named after 10,000 John Deere workers in the Midwest joined nurses and grocery store workers on strike. 2021 also saw a growing number of non-union walkouts. Workers across the U.S. are mad – their lives continue to be in danger working during a pandemic, and they realize they are dying for the profits of the rich. Teachers like in Minneapolis continue the Red Wave that began in wildcat strikes in 2019.

The Black Liberation movement is making strides, as seen especially in Chicago, where a coalition led by the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, with the support of Black-led public sector labor unions, passed a sweeping bill that will give the communities living under police terror the first ability to determine who polices their communities and how they are policed. And a national movement is building across the country, inspired by these advances.

The history of International Workers Day

This is a day of struggle – born out of the great labor movement in the U.S. that fought for an eight-hour day over 100 years ago. It started here, but May Day will be celebrated around the world – by the workers in the Philippines, in Palestine, in Puerto Rico, and in Pretoria, South Africa – who today are fighting for a better world.

We gather on May Day to celebrate our history, our struggle, and to look forward to a better world.

We also gather knowing that our ruling class hates this holiday. In 1886 when the General Strike for the Eight-hour Day swept the industrial cities of the U.S., the capitalists tried to crush the movement in its infancy. They rounded up the leaders of the movement and hung them for daring to fight for a society in which the rich don’t rule.

We owe a debt of gratitude to the immigrant rights movement, which returned the first of May to the U.S. working class. It was through the massive marches to defend the rights of immigrant workers in 2006 that the labor movement again embraced International Workers Day. We will march with immigrant workers this year again on May 1!

Capitalism is a failure

The 2008 economic crisis ended any hope for the majority of the working class around the world to improve our lives through hard work and saving money. The COVID pandemic killed almost a million people in the U.S., and over 6 million around the world. Among the greatest failures were the richest countries – the U.S., UK, Italy and others. They failed to protect workers because our lives are expendable in the service of profit, and because even their healthcare systems are for profit.

The socialist countries – China, Cuba, Vietnam – showed the world what can happen when healthcare isn’t for profit but based on the needs of the workers and farmers. In China, a country with 1.4 billion people, fewer than 10,000 have died.

We need revolution and socialism!

The Black Lives Matter movement always says, “It is our duty to fight for our freedom!” For revolutionary workers, we join in the fight for freedom from racist national oppression, and also commit to fight for freedom from the hardship forced on all working people whose paychecks don’t cover their bills – the majority of the working class who are losing ground as the cost of our rent, gas and food continue to rise even faster.

May Day is for those of us who see the need to fight, who understand that between our class of working people and the class of billionaires, the only future is one of constant combat; a future in which we battle them for decent jobs at decent wages and benefits.

That fight will go on until working people take power into our own hands. That is called revolution. And the new society where working people are in power is called socialism.

#UnitedStates #ImmigrantRights #MayDay #internationalWorkersDay #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganizationFRSO

Appleton, WI – On May 1, over 40 people gathered in downtown Appleton at Houdini Plaza to commemorate International Workers' Day, or May Day. There were speeches from multiple local organizations. The Appleton Students for a Democratic Society, Wisconsin Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Sunrise Appleton, Fox Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, AFT Local 6511, Wisconsin Bail Out People Movement, and United Action Oshkosh joined together for this important holiday.

Union power, indigenous rights, ending corporate greed, smashing capitalism and celebrating working-class solidarity were all key topics. Gathering safely was also a priority as organizers urged social distancing and provided free masks. The full program was presented amidst the busy Saturday foot traffic as onlookers gave cheers and cars honked.

“In the United States, we must begin to understand that most people are workers – whether we’re talking about organized workers who are members of trade unions, victims of police crimes, undocumented immigrants, students and anything in between – the one common characteristic that we each share is the fact that we work; we sell our labor power to the rich to survive,” said Terrence Freeman, a member of FRSO. “Through this common characteristic, we can begin to recognize our common enemy: the capitalist class, which actively exploits us! And, it is necessary to oppose this common enemy.”

Freeman continued, “It is important that we begin to strive for unity among our class, the working class. If we do not do this, we will not succeed. We cannot fight each other and also fight the capitalists. We must unify and combat those things that harm workers, such as police brutality, deportation, national oppression, racism, climate change and anti-union legislation.”

The rally was followed with a march to the Appleton Police Station where Hollie Poupart, one local organizer with the Wisconsin Alliance, led a chant, “Police unions suck!” while highlighting the many examples where police terrorized the community and justified this behavior with the endorsement of a ‘union.’ A bright red May Day banner with the political program of the celebration led the march. The route wound through the Lawrence University campus before finishing a few blocks away at City Park.

Once at the park, people were treated to a free healthy meal and access to a community pantry from Fox Valley Food Not Bombs. This is the first time in recent memory, if not ever, that Appleton has celebrated International Workers Day. Organizers hope to collaborate on future May Days and other events.

#AppletonWI #Labor #MayDay #internationalWorkersDay

Los Angeles, CA – For the sixth consecutive year, Centro CSO held their May Day march and rally in Boyle Heights. Main demands were “Legalization for all” and “Jail killer cops.”

At 11 a.m., attendees assembled at the corner of Mathews Street and Chavez Avenue. Luis Sifuentes with Centro CSO started the rally with a passionate and inspiring speech about the importance of International Workers Day.

“The working class fought back against the monopoly capitalists who subjected us to super exploitation and inhumane living conditions almost 200 years ago and won the eight-hour work day,” Sifuentes said. “The richest nation in the world is completely incapable of helping working people while the richest people, the ruling class, got richer this last year. We need to put an end to that system!”

After these words, the crowd began marching down Cesar E Chavez Avenue. The lead sound truck hoisted large flags of Aztlan and Black liberation and marchers carried signs that read “Legalization for all,” “Jail killer cops” as well as flags with the faces of Che Guevara and Malcolm X. Eventually, they passed the site where Los Angeles Police Department officer Eden Medina killed 14-year-old Jesse Romero on August 9, 2016. Next, marchers went down Chicago Avenue where they stopped in front of LAPD’s Hollenbeck station for a protest rally denouncing police killings. The families of Anthony Daniel Vargas (killed by East LA Sheriffs in 2018), Daniel Sullivan (killed by Buena Park PD in 2019), and Isak Aden (killed by police in Eagan, Minnesota in 2019) denounced killer cops and called for moving funding from police to communities. Aden’s sister Sumaya Aden asked the crowd, “Who keeps us safe?” The crowd chanted back, “We keep us safe!”

The march included a large contingent from Black Lives Matter-LA, and Save Our Seniors, Eastside Padres Contra La Privaticazión, MORENA – the Mexican political party. Endorsers included Justice X, MECHA de CSULA, Third World Power, White People for Black Lives, La Raza Unida Party, LA Catholic Worker, U.S. Palestinian Community Network, Casa del Mexicano Gardners, and music performances by Zada Musica, a singer, songwriter, public school teacher.

Marchers continued down 1st Street to finish with a rally at Mariachi Plaza. The crowd heard from members of Centro CSO and Eastside Padres Contra La Privaticazión about the fight against charter schools in Boyle Heights and surrounding neighborhoods. Dr. Melina Abdullah of Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles called for Black and Brown unity and a People’s Budget. David Maldonado, who is half-Chicano and half-Japanese, called out Pacifica Corporations for threatening, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the eviction of Boyle Heights, and Japanese elders from Sakura Gardens assisted living facility in Boyle Heights. Maria Hernandez, the mother of Daniel Hernandez who was killed by LAPD in 2019, demanded justice for victims of police brutality. Members of MEChA de Cal State University of LA, MORENA, AIM, and the Catholic Worker also spoke.

Carlos Montes of Centro CSO talked about how the people want and demand legalization for all – not just DREAMers and farmworkers, but for all. He called on the rally to demand and fight for legalization so that people can work without fear. Montes acknowledged the rights of American Indian tribes to sovereignty and national development, and the right of self-determination of the Chicanos in the Southwest who work in mines, factories, farms, ranches and service industries.

Marisol Marquez, who emceed the event, spoke about the importance of joining a revolutionary organization like Freedom Road Socialist Organization. Marquez talked about the importance of organizing among the working class and oppressed nationalities in order to build revolutionary organization.

“In Aztlan we have been busy organizing May Day,” said Marquez. “And building the foundations for revolution. We do this every time we attack the Banditos, and the Executioners, the same gangs found within the East LA Sheriffs and other stations of LASD. We do this every time we fight against an eviction or a charter school coming into Boyle Heights. But revolutionary organization is the key to unlocking our oppression. Because these types of attacks won’t stop, until the entire system that orders these attacks is overthrown.”

The rally was joined by marchers from downtown LA organized by the United Brown Coalition who also brought a group of danzantes/tribal dancers to perform. May Day Boyle Heights 2021 ended with music and spoken word by Sammy Quetzali of Boyle Heights. The call to continue organizing and fighting for immigrant and workers’ rights resonated throughout Boyle Heights.

To join Centro CSO in the fight against police killings, to promote public education and win legalization for all contact them at 323-943-2030, CentroCSO@gmail.com, or @CentroCSO on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook. To join FRSO contact them at frso.org/join or @Freedom Road Socialist Organization Los Angeles on Facebook and Instagram.

#LosAngelesCA #ImmigrantRights #Labor #MayDay #CentroCSO #internationalWorkersDay

Minneapolis, MN – Over 50 people came together May 2 to socialize and for a short program at a local park pavilion celebrating International Workers Day. The event came on the heels of a 1000-person May Day march in Minneapolis.

Jess Sundin started out the program for FRSO, stating, “The capitalist class does nothing to justify their power over us. They literally let half a million people die of COVID this year – one of the worst death rates in the world, despite the tremendous resources to prevent that. They wanted us to say ‘thank you’ for a few stimulus checks, while hospital CEOs laid off health care workers in the middle of a pandemic and Amazon made record profits while blocking union campaigns by their workers. All of this is business as usual under capitalism. It’s their profit or our death. Or both. They don’t care.” Her rousing speech ended with a reminder that what our class needs is organization, and for activists to join FRSO.

This was the first in-person event for Freedom Road in the Twin Cities since the COVID-19 pandemic and was a great success, with speakers from many different movements in the Twin Cities – immigrant rights, labor, anti-war, environment, students and anti-police crimes. Jae Yates from Twin Cities Coalition for Justice for Jamar ended the program reminding everyone about the successes that were achieved over the past year as a result of the rebellions and uprisings that included burning down of a police station. Without the people’s outrage, “Chauvin wouldn’t have been found guilty, or even gone to trial in the first place,” Yates said.

It was a great event bringing together all the movements with the agreement that we need to work together if we are going to make greater gains over the next year.

#MinneapolisMN #PeoplesStruggles #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganization #internationalWorkersDay #Socialism

As familiar faces and new friends talked and mingled under the Salt Lake sun, FRSO chapter members kept the crowd entertained with music, food and speeches. Between tending the grill and serving up food, member Nick Godfrey took to the microphone for a speech. “Let’s remember the reasons we gather for May Day and celebrate those labor heroes who made this holiday possible. Let’s be sure to celebrate in remembrance of the Haymarket Square martyrs and their struggle which we share today!”

After taking a look at the history of May Day and its beginnings with the labor movement, Godfrey passed the microphone to Utah Against Police Brutality member Adrian Romero. Romero stated, “We still need to fight every day as the capitalist system is creating a crisis right here, right now in Utah. We’ve got to put an end to the housing crisis and camp abatements our unsheltered community are dealing with every day.”

Under the pavilion there were books for sale and May Day themed artwork including posters and t-shirts designed by local FRSO member Derek Ballard. Money donated for the books and art was collected along with some donations for a gift basket raffle which was held as the speeches and barbecue wound down.

As the pavilion cleared and music faded the organizers spoke and laughed about the pleasures of being able to hold an event on May Day after the COVID-19 pandemic postponed the celebration last year.

“I’m happy we were able to finally do a barbecue and celebrate such an important day for all of us,” said Salt Lake City organizer Jade Arter.

#SaltLakeCityUT #PeoplesStruggles #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganization #internationalWorkersDay #Socialism

Milwaukee, WI – In spite of gusts of wind in excess of 50 miles per hour, more than 250 people marched from the office of Wisconsin’s premier immigrant rights organization, Voces de la Frontera, to the office of reactionary U.S. Senator Ron Johnson on the afternoon of May 1. The focus of the march was on essential immigrant workers.

The action was kicked off in the streets outside the recently-opened Voces headquarters. A few speeches, a song, and a prayer got the people in attendance ready to march. Marchers then made their way downtown to pay Senator Johnson’s office a visit. Along the way, people chanted in both English and Spanish: “The people united will never be defeated / El pueblo unido jamás será vencido,” “Sí se puede” and “Say it loud, say it clear, immigrants are welcome here!”

While the action was hosted exclusively by Voces de la Frontera, many different people’s organizations turned out in support. Trade unionists representing the Young Workers Committee of the Milwaukee Area Labor Council joined with members of Teamsters Local 344 to demonstrate solidarity. Community organizations like the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist & Political Repression mobilized in force, helping to lead chants along the march. And it wouldn’t be May Day without the socialist organizations that turned out in support, including the Freedom Road Socialist Organization with a strong contingent.

The march ended in the street outside of Senator Johnson’s offices. Speeches there were highlighted by the daughter of VDLF leader Christine Neumann-Ortiz as the keynote. Traditionally, Neumann-Ortiz has served as the headline speaker, but she along with a group of other Voces leaders and supporters were marching in Washington, D.C. The speeches called for an end to deportations, COVID recovery for all and citizenship for all.

May Day fell on President Joe Biden’s 100th day in office. It’s notable that under the new Democrat administration, deportations have continued, including an increase from the Trump administration for people of particular origins, such as Haitians. It remains to be seen whether the Biden-Harris administration will meet the demands of the people, but what is certain is that the people will not stop fighting until they have achieved victory in the struggle for justice and liberation.

#MilwaukeeWI #OppressedNationalities #PeoplesStruggles #ChicanoLatino #internationalWorkersDay #VocesDeLaFrontera #MayDay2021

Tampa, FL – Labor and community activists in Tampa rallied May 1 to join the world in celebrating International Workers Day. The rally was called by the Tampa District of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, with speakers including Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society, Tampa Bay Community Action Committee and local union activists.

With dozens of people in attendance, the rally demanded housing and COVID assistance, more protections for all workers and an increase in funding to local social programs. The rally also demanded a stop to the proposed construction of a new Tampa Police Department (TPD) headquarters in East Tampa, a largely African American area of the city.

“East Tampa does not need TPD’s new headquarters. TPD, the same people who police, brutalize and terrorize Black people in this city, has no business setting up their new headquarters in the heart of East Tampa,” said Bill Aiman of the Tampa Bay Community Action Committee. “The city has already spent $65 million on this plan. I can think of a whole lot of other things that money could be spent on instead.”

Kim Smith, a member of IBEW Local 824, spoke on their recent contract negotiations with Frontier Communications and the fight to save retiree healthcare. “Let me give you a little update about what worker power and solidarity does for you. The company backed off cancelling retiree healthcare. This agreement allows our members access to retiree healthcare up to their Medicare eligibility.”

All rally’s attendants committed to continuing the fight for workers’ rights, against TPD’s new headquarters, and COVID relief for all.

#TampaFL #Labor #MayDay #internationalWorkersDay

Grand Rapids, MI – West Michigan labor unions joined by community and social justice groups celebrated International Workers Day on May 1 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

This year May Day for workers focused on safe working conditions during the COVID pandemic, unemployment for stage hands and gig workers who are out of jobs, and building a stronger union movement through the PRO Act. Other speakers from community and social justice groups talked about immigrant rights for workers, criminal justice reform needed in the wake of George Floyd’s death, and the Equality Act in Congress.

“During this health crisis where 575,000 Americans and over 3 million have died worldwide, we want to remember those workers and retirees who lost their lives. On International Workers Day we stand in solidarity with workers around the world. All workers are essential!” said Josh Roskamp, business agent for IATSE Local 26.

Roskamp continued, “For a year now in Michigan, IATSE stagehands, with other unions, gig workers, and hotel and restaurant employees held rallies for unemployment at the state capitol. We demanded and won expanded and continued unemployment while we are out of work. Now we want 26 weeks restored by Michigan law makers, specifically the Republican legislators.”

The crowd chanted, “The workers united, will never be defeated!” and “Solidarity!”

The program included a memorial for Deirdre Chervenka, a stagehand who died this past winter. Tom Burke spoke about the inspiring role Deirdre Chervenka played in the union movement, organizing and winning a union election in a ticket sales company, and their contributions to the immigrant rights movement in Michigan. He led the crowd in a call and response of “Rest in power!”

The entire Chervenka family are an important part of the theater scene in West Michigan and the stagehands union IATSE. IATSE Local 26 President Jessica Westra presented a rainbow bouquet of flowers, with a transgender ribbon, to their parents.

The May Day rally took place at the Spirit of Solidarity labor monument. Speakers included a big lineup for a small city: Jessica Westra, IATSE 26; RiChard Jackson, ATU 836; Ryan Letts, Chair of the Kent Ionia Central Labor Council; Lily Cheng, candidate for Michigan 72nd House District, and Dee Dee Chaunte with Family Over Everything – the family and friends of Breonna Taylor, who was born in Grand Rapids.

#GrandRapidsMI #ImmigrantRights #Labor #MayDay #internationalWorkersDay

New York, NY – Around 400 people gathered in Union Square on a sunny afternoon of May 1, International Workers Day. Dozens of organizations based in New York came together to not only celebrate workers and our struggles, but to call for the general demands of unionizing and organizing all workers, immediate asylum for all migrants, abolishing ICE and stopping police terror.

Union Square is historically a symbolic location for the New York City labor struggle and has been the home of countless May Day rallies.

There was a 2-and-a-half hour program of speeches and cultural performances before the crowd marched to Jeff Bezos’ home. As the founder of Amazon, multi-billionaire Bezos draws the anger and frustration of many workers as he’s hoarded more wealth than anyone in history. The march was led and endorsed by Amazon workers who are planning to start a unionizing drive in the city.

The event ended with a few more speeches, highlighting the role police crimes play in the repression of workers, immigrants and oppressed nationality communities. Collin Poirot from the New York Community Action Project said, “We know the police are used to terrorize these communities, and we know every dollar in the police budget is a dollar that could be spent on healthcare, housing, education and jobs for working-class people. That’s why the New York Community Action Project is calling for complete community control over every single aspect of how the NYPD operates – from their budget to the weapons they carry – and the way to make that happen is with a CPAC, a Civilian Police Accountability Council.”

The organizations that endorsed and partook in this year’s May Day were: Acción Revolución- Ecuador, Art Against Displacement, BAYAN USA, Call to Action on Puerto Rico, Coalition of Black Trade Unionists NY, Comité Timón de Personas y Familias Capítulo NYC, Congress of Essential Workers, December 12 Movement, Defend Democracy in Brazil, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Guyanese American Workers United, Jornaleros Unidos, International Action Center, International League of People's Struggle, Laundry Workers Center, MoMA Divest, Mov. Vamos a la Peña del Bronx, Mujeres por la Paz NY, New York Boricua Resistance,New York Community Action Project, Partido da Causa Operária / Comitê de Luta NY, Party for Socialism and Liberation, Pakistan USA Freedom Forum, Peoples Organization for Progress ProLibertad Freedom Campaign, Teamsters Local 808, The People's Forum, Workers Assembly Against Racism, Workers World Party.

#NewYorkNY #ImmigrantRights #Labor #MayDay #internationalWorkersDay

San Jose, CA – More than 500 people marched through downtown San Jose for the annual May Day event. On one side of the street, hundreds of cars carrying Mexican flags and flags of the United Farm Workers Union drove by and honked in support. The May Day Coalition of San Jose organized the march and invited dozens of speakers from various community and labor organizations to raise issues important to their community. The community groups marched from Roosevelt Park to San Jose City Hall.

Many of the attendees of the were receptive to the needs of the unemployed. Immigrant rights groups immediately connected the rights of the unemployed to the struggles of undocumented workers. A recurring chant throughout the march was, “What’s outrageous? Kids in cages!” Since a plurality of San Jose is Chicano and Mexicano, many groups rightfully established connections to the situation at the border. A large group wore green t-shirts saying, “Papeles para todos” or (Legal) papers for all and spoke about the fight for documentation for all workers.

Mike Paradela of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization stated, “It’s exciting to see all the energy on the ground! People recognized the need for solidarity across all areas of struggle from the concentration camps at the border to police brutality to the rights of the unemployed.”

After the protest, on the walk back to the starting point, members of the Northern California Unemployed Committee observed a significant number of cops stopping and arresting members of the Chicano and Mexicano community. The San Jose cops pulled many of them over, punishing them for being proud of their heritage and nationality.

Organizations that participated in this year’s march included: Anakbayan Silicon Valley, Anakbayan De Anza, the Northern California Unemployed Committee, the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, the Green Party, MAIZ San Jose, Papeles Para Todos (Papers for All), Pilipino Association of Workers and Immigrants (PAWIS), the Santa Clara County Single-Payer Healthcare Coalition, Silicon Valley Democratic Socialists of America, the Party of Communists USA, UNITE-HERE, and many, many more.

#SanJoseCA #ImmigrantRights #Labor #MayDay #internationalWorkersDay

Minneapolis, MN – On a hot 87-degree afternoon, a large crowd assembled at the starting location for the International Workers Day march that was hosted by a large coalition of union, immigrant rights groups and other progressive organizations in the Twin Cities area.

The Coalition was initially called for by Minnesota Workers United and the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee, and quickly grew from there to include 17 unions, seven immigrant rights organizations and ten other activist groups.

A contingent of made up of Freedom Road Socialist Organization supporters and members marched behind a bright red banner.

The main demands of the march were for labor rights, justice for essential workers, immigrant rights, immigration reform, stop police brutality, climate justice, and to stop Line 3.

The march started at an abandoned Kmart on Lake Street in South Minneapolis and worked its way across the city through a neighborhood street, then onto Lake Street itself, closing down a major thoroughfare in the area for a significant amount of time as the crowd listened to speeches revolving around all of the demands.

It was a loud and boisterous march which ended in a park a few blocks south of Lake Street where music was set up.

#MinneapolisMN #ImmigrantRights #Labor #MayDay #internationalWorkersDay

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following 1904 article by the great Russian revolutionary VI Lenin.

Comrade workers! May Day is coming, the day when the workers of all lands celebrate Their awakening to a class- conscious life, their solidarity in the struggle against all coercion and oppression of man by man, the struggle to free the toiling millions from hunger, poverty, and humiliation. Two worlds stand facing each other in this great struggle: the world of capital and the world of labour, the world of exploitation and slavery and the world of brotherhood and freedom.

On one side stand the handful of rich blood-suckers. They have seized the factories and mills, the tools and machinery, have turned millions of acres of land and mountains of money into their private property. They have made the government and the army their servants, faithful watchdogs of the wealth they have amassed.

On the other side stand the millions of the disinherited. They are forced to beg the moneybags for permission to work for them. By their labor they create all wealth; yet all their lives long they have to struggle for a crust of bread, beg for work as for charity, sap their strength and health by back-breaking toil, and starve in hovels in the villages or in the cellars and garrets of the big cities.

But now these disinherited toilers have declared war on the moneybags and exploiters. The workers of all lands are fighting to free labor from wage slavery, from poverty and want. They are fighting for a system of society where the wealth created by the common labor will go to benefit, not a handful of rich men, but all those who work. They want to make the land and the factories, mills, and machines the common property of all toilers. They want to do away with the division into rich and poor, want the fruits of labor to go to the laborers themselves, and all the achievements of the human mind, all improvements in ways of working, to improve the lot of the man who works, and not serve as a means of oppressing him.

The great struggle of labor against capital has cost the workers of all countries immense sacrifices. They have shed rivers of blood in behalf of their right to a better life and real freedom. Those who fight for the workers’ cause are subjected by the governments to untold persecution. But in spite of all persecution the solidarity of the workers of the world is growing and gaining in strength. The workers are uniting more and more closely in socialist parties, the supporters of those parties are mounting into millions and are advancing steadily, step by step, towards complete victory over the class of capitalist exploiters.

The Russian proletariat, too, has awakened to a new life. It too has joined this great struggle. Gone are the days when our worker slaved submissively, seeing no escape from his state of bondage, no glimmer of light in his bitter life. Socialism has shown him the way out, and thousands upon thousands of fighters have thronged to the red banner, as to a guiding star. Strikes have shown the workers the power of unity, have taught them to fight back, have shown how formidable to capital organized labor can be. The workers have seen that it is off their labor that the capitalists and the government live and get fat. The workers have been fired with the spirit of united struggle, with the aspiration for freedom and for socialism. The workers have realized what a dark and evil force the tsarist autocracy is. The workers need freedom for their struggle, but the tsarist government binds them hand and foot. The workers need freedom of assembly, freedom to organize, freedom for newspapers and books, but the tsarist government crushes, with knout, prison and bayonet, every striving for freedom. The cry “Down with the autocracy!” has swept through the length and breadth of Russia, it has been sounded more and more often in the streets, at great mass meetings of the workers. Last summer tens of thousands of workers throughout the South of Russia rose up to fight for a better life, for freedom from police tyranny. The bourgeoisie and government trem bled at the sight of the formidable army of workers, which at one stroke brought to a standstill the entire industrial life of huge cities. Dozens of fighters for the workers’ cause fell beneath the bullets of the troops that tsarism sent against the internal enemy.

But there is no force that can vanquish this internal enemy, for the ruling classes and the government only live by its labour. There is no force on earth that could break the millions of workers, who are growing more and more class- conscious, more and more united and organised. Every defeat the workers sustain brings new fighters into the ranks, it awakens broader masses to new life and makes them prepare for fresh struggles.

And the events Russia is now passing through are such that this awakening of the worker masses is bound to be even more rapid and widespread, and we must strain every nerve to unite the ranks of the proletariat and prepare it for even more determined struggle. The war is making even the most backward sections of the proletariat take an interest in polit ical affairs and problems. The war is showing up ever more clearly and vividly the utter rottenness of the autocratic order, the utter criminality of the police and court gang that is ruling Russia. Our people are perishing from want and starvation at home—yet they have been dragged into a ruinous and senseless war for alien territories lying thou sands of miles away and inhabited by foreign races. Our people are ground down in political slavery—yet they have been dragged into a war for the enslavement of other peoples. Our people demand a change of political order at home— but it is sought to divert their attention by the thunder of guns at the other end of the world. But the tsarist govern ment has gone too far in its gamble, in its criminal squan dering of the nation’s wealth and young manhood, sent to die on the shores of the Pacific. Every war puts a strain on the people, and the difficult war against cultured and free Japan is a frightful strain upon Russia. And this strain comes at a time when the structure of police despotism has already begun to totter under the blows of the awakening proletariat. The war is laying bare all the weak spots of the government, the war is tearing off all false disguises, the war is revealing all the inner rottenness; the war is making the preposterousness of the tsarist autocracy obvious to all and is showing everyone the death-agony of the old Russia, the Russia where the people are disfranchised, ignorant and cowed, the Russia that is still in serf bondage to the police government.

The old Russia is dying. A free Russia is coming to take its place. The dark forces that guarded the tsarist autocracy are going under. But only the class-conscious and organised proletariat can deal them their death-blow. Only the class- conscious and organised proletariat can win real, not sham, freedom for the people. Only the class-conscious and organised proletariat can thwart every attempt to deceive the people, to curtail their rights, to make them a mere tool in the hands of the bourgeoisie.

Comrade workers! Let us then prepare with redoubled energy for the decisive battle that is at hand! Let the ranks of the Social-Democrat proletarians close ever firmer! Let their word spread ever farther afield! Let campaigning for the workers’ demands be carried on ever more boldly! Let the celebration of May Day win thousands of new fight ers to our cause and swell our forces in the great struggle for the freedom of all the people, for the liberation of all who toil from the yoke of capital!

Long live the eight-hour day!

Long live international revolutionary Social-Democracy!

Down with the criminal and plundering tsarist autocracy!

#UnitedStates #PeoplesStruggles #internationalWorkersDay #Socialism #VladimirLenin #MayDay2021