Minneapolis, MN – On Saturday, April 29, over 100 activists from mass movements around the Twin Cities area came together at the office of the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers and Education Support Professionals Local 59 to celebrate International Workers Day, and another year in struggle across the movements in the streets, and the movement for socialism. The location was fitting for such an event because the Teachers and Educators in Minneapolis Public Schools spent more than three weeks on strike only one year ago. The room was packed and boisterous. The speeches were lively. The night closed with a performance of The Internationale, which started with a cello and violin duo, then the entire crowd joining in for the singing of the historic song.

The following speech was derived by Olivia Crull, of Freedom Road Socialist Organization Twin Cities:

“Greetings friends and comrades, my name is Olivia Crull. I’m an organizer with the MN Abortion Action Committee, I’m a member of UFCW local 663, and tonight, I get to represent an incredible organization that is fighting across the people’s movements for justice and actively building for a future where working people have the power, and that is Freedom Road Socialist Organization! How are we all feeling celebrating one of the best holidays of the year: International Workers Day?

“The way that the international working class celebrates May Day is something that really moved me when I was first finding my footing in the organizing world – really shaped my understanding of our shared struggles and our collective power. It’s a day that the labor movement shows out in full force to say that it's the workers, not the bosses, certainly not the greedy capitalists, that create all the wealth in this country and around the world. It’s a day with a revolutionary character that was reignited by the immigrant rights movement here in the U.S., when thousands marched in the streets with an understanding that solidarity cannot be limited by borders, by legal status, and that we're so much stronger when we fight for all workers. It’s a day that we’re reminded in every space that we organize, in every movement we represent, that there’s a political necessity for working class leadership, for our demands to advance the conditions and fighting power of the working class. Because otherwise, what exactly are we fighting for?

“And I want to give an example of that from my own work, because as we all know, this year has been a historic one in terms of our enemies mounting attacks on reproductive freedom and gender expression. We should recognize the overturning of Roe for what it is, fundamentally: an attack on the working class and oppressed people in this country. The rich will always have access to abortion. That has never been a question. When we fight for abortion rights, we’re fighting to secure healthcare for our class, the working class, and we’re fighting to win back a fundamental human right that the masses of people never conceded. And to me that feels representative of so many movements we’ve heard about tonight, from the day to day conditions we face on the job, the rights of immigrants to live and work in this country without fear, the self-determinative power of our communities to control how they are policed, the solidarity we show with people across the globe in opposing U.S. imperialism, the right to breathe clean air and live in communities that are free from toxic pollution – it’s all part of defending and advancing the rights of workers from a capitalist class that is constantly testing the limits of what they can take from us.

“But we’re not only interested in defending ourselves, right? Or settling for scraps from a group of people that have never worked a real day in their lives. When we look at how the system of capitalism is set up, we can see that by design, it will never benefit working people. Capitalism ensures that we will never be paid the full value of our labor, because otherwise, the capitalist wouldn’t turn a profit, and profit is the thing that drives every single decision they make. We live under a system where things like healthcare, housing, basic human needs are weighed against the question of how costly they are, how much revenue they can generate, and the incentive of the capitalist class will always be to accumulate more and more wealth, even at the expense of human lives.

“And we can't talk capitalism without talking about its origins, how this system was built on the stolen labor of enslaved African Americans, on the theft of land and the genocide of indigenous peoples. Today, capitalism continues to exploit and oppress Black, Chicano and indigenous people as a way to maintain itself, to further enrich itself. It is impossible to separate the foundations of capitalism from how it exists today.

“Freedom Road Socialist Organization understands that this economic system, which is fundamentally rotten to the core, which enacts so much violence and destruction on the people and the planet -  well, it has to be go. It must be overthrown. We see that a future is possible where working people run our society so that it functions to meet the needs of the many and not just the monetary desires of the few. Where working people don’t just have a say or a seat at the table, but we have full control over our economy, our political system, our futures, all of it.

“And it’s going to take a lot of things to get us there. It’s going to take all the people who live under the boot of capitalism to rise up, which isn’t just something to wish for, but something that has to be built through struggle and a strategic alliance between the multinational working class and oppressed nationalities. It’s going to take constant political action and a willingness to fight, which I see here tonight in this room, without a doubt. It’s going to take a highly organized party of the working class to lead the people towards socialism, and this is what we in Freedom Road are building.

“So I invite you to join us as we continue to organize and fight for better conditions for working and oppressed people, not just on May Day, but every day of the year. I invite you to get involved in our organization, which has not only a vision for what a better world can look like, but a road map towards revolution provided to us by decades of struggle, by the example of successful socialist revolutions around the world which have lifted millions of people out of poverty. We look to them, especially on May Day, the holiday of international socialist tradition, to see what is possible. We, in the belly of the beast, have a duty to overthrow our oppressors.

“To put it simply, we have a world to win!

“Monday May 1 is International Workers Day, also referred to as May Day. A large May Day March will begin at 4 p.m. at the Adult Education Center and English Second Language School on East Lake Street in South Minneapolis in honor of the day.”

#MinneapolisMN #May1 #Socialism

Detroit, MI – Hundreds gathered despite near freezing rain on May 1 at Clark Park in Southwest Detroit. This park in the primarily Chicano and immigrant section of Detroit has been the host of several May Day events over the years in coordination with that community and in recognition of the 2006 U.S. boycott and “day without an immigrant” strike.

This May Day event was the result of a cooperation between progressive, labor, and oppressed nationality groups not seen in several years, culminating in the creation of an ongoing “May Day Coalition.” In addition to many cultural performances, members from a variety of organizations spoke including, GEO (Graduate Employee’s Organization), UAW, Teamsters, SEIU, Fight for 15, PSL, Freedom Road Socialist Organizaion, CPUSA, SDS, PYM – Detroit (Palestinian Youth Movement), MECAWI (Michigan Emergency Committee Against War and Injustice), and Anakbayan Detroit.

The connections between workers struggles across the world was a recurring theme.

Mixx Hernandez of Anakbayan Detroit pointed out, “Today is International Workers Day and it would be careless not to acknowledge how U.S. imperialism is exploiting people and workers across the globe, enacting violence, using our hard-earned money to do so. So now we ask again, where is all of this money going to? Well I can give you a little hint. Today, right at this very moment the U.S. government is meeting with the Philippine government in a blatant attempt to ramp up militarization for yet another pointless war, this time against China!”

The speaker for the Palestinian Youth Movement – Detroit said, “Palestinian workers have a longstanding history of resistance. On May 18, 2021, we saw Palestinian workers in the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem, Gaza, along with the Palestinians in occupied Palestine join together with their compatriots in the diaspora as the widely observed Dignity Strike. This general strike fits into a much longer history of mobilization by Palestinian workers, recalling previous general strikes from 1936 and 1976.”

Sean Crawford, a UAW member, spoke on the historic opportunity presented by the grassroots victories in the UAW and Teamsters of militant union leadership, the recent victory of the first independent union of GM workers in Mexico, the upcoming concurrent expiration of Big Three contracts in the U.S. and Canada, and the impending UPS Teamsters strike, saying “We have not had this opportunity to coordinate and organize internationally since the 1990s, and with the left-wing caucuses in charge of our unions I think we will be able to take advantage of that and not allow these companies to whipsaw our unions.”

After the rally, attendees took the streets in a march through the main roads and through the neighborhoods with chants such as “From Palestine to Mexico, border walls have got to go!”, “When trans rights are under attack, what do we do? Stand up! Fight back!,” “Black lives matter!” “El pueblo unido jamás será vencido!” and when the Detroit Police encroached on the march, “1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, fuck 12!”

#DetroitMI #May1 #Socialism

Tallahassee, FL – On Saturday, April 29, around 25 community members gathered for an International Workers Day rally at the Smokey Hollow Memorial, organized by the Tallahassee Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO). International Workers Day, otherwise known as May Day, was born out of the struggle for the eight-hour workday here in the U.S. and is celebrated by working class people all over the world.

Regina Joseph, member of the Tallahassee Community Action Committee (TCAC), spoke on the current situation facing working-class people in Florida, saying, “Everywhere we look Ron DeSantis is doing something new and creatively evil to attack our class – to attack the working class and oppressed people.”

The current legislative session has been one of the most brutal in Florida’s recent history. DeSantis and conservatives in the Florida legislature continued their attacks on reproductive rights and bodily autonomy, culminating in the passage of a harsh six-week abortion ban. In regard to the local situation, Joseph highlighted the city’s recent proposal to increase property taxes in order to fund a 14% budget increase for the Tallahassee Police Department.

Conservative attacks have also increased in the arena of public education, most recently with House Bill 999 which seeks to eradicate ethnic studies, multicultural student groups, and entire course subjects like women’s and gender studies.

Recently, Florida State University Students for a Democratic Society (FSU SDS) has been organizing on campus demanding university President Richard McCollough commit to defending these programs and opposing DeSantis’ assault on public education. “All of these attacks are a reaction to the progress that we’ve made. Roe v. Wade was overturned because the Supreme Court saw that there was overwhelming support for abortion and reproductive rights. They are trying to attack us because of the power they saw during the George Floyd rebellion in 2020,” said Cas Casanova, president of FSU SDS.

In the working-class internationalist spirit of May Day, leftist musical performances were held in between speeches. TCAC member Isabel Ruano performed El Pueblo Unido, a Chilean socialist song, as well as a powerful anti-femicide song from Mexico. Community member Paddy League performed a union hymn from Brazil.

Organized labor is under threat in Florida as a bill makes its way through the legislature that would ban automatic payroll deduction of dues for public sector union members and require public sector unions to maintain 60% membership or risk decertification. The FSU Graduate Assistants United (FSU GAU) has been organizing and pushing back against anti-union legislation. “Labor really needs to shift focus and understand that there’s a bigger struggle at play here – a struggle for power within the workplace against the employers and against the administration,” said Dennis Houlihan, the bargaining chair of FSU GAU.

In Tallahassee and across the country, working and oppressed people are organizing and deepening the struggle against capitalism and reaction despite the ruling class’ attempts at stifling the people's movements. Various sectors of people are coming together to unite all that can be united and to defeat their common enemy: monopoly capitalism. The days of rule of the 1% are numbered. Every day more and more people are becoming fed up with living under the boot of monopoly capitalism.

Closing out the rally, Delilah Pierre, an organizer with the FRSO perfectly encapsulated the spirit of May Day, saying, “We do have power to organize. We do have power to stand up against the oppressive systems that try to crush us to the ground! Because if there’s no opportunity for reform in our system, then our only option is revolution!”

#TallahasseeFL #May1 #Socialism

Denver, CO – On May 1, about 300 rank-and-file union members, activists and members of the community came together at the Colorado State Capitol to celebrate International Workers Day, or May Day. This worker holiday originated in the United States, and commemorates the Haymarket Affair of 1886, where protesters fighting for an eight-hour workday were attacked and killed by police.

About 22 different unions were represented at the festivities, which included passionate speeches, live music, and a march from the State Capitol to Stoney's Bar and Grill, stopping between the Denver Public Library Central Branch and the Ralph L. Carr Judicial Center, where two key unions represented by CWA Local 7799 are located: DPL Workers United and Defender’s Union of Colorado.

Many speakers talked about the significance of this event and the importance of organizing in solidarity. Brandon Gehrke-Quintanilla, a member of United Campus Workers and Students for a Democratic Society states, “May Day fought for the eight-hour workday, that was not something handed over, that was something we won as working people because we organized together in solidarity.”

The event had an emphasis on “reclaiming” May Day, which many speakers talked about the importance of. Keegan Estrella, a member of the Teamsters Local 455 and Freedom Road Socialist Organization, said in his speech, “May Day is a working class holiday that is a celebration of the majority of people not just in this country, but in the entire world. It’s no wonder this celebration is being watered down, ignored, because the owning class is scared of the power of working people getting together to celebrate their history.” He also said, “reclaiming May Day means remembering the fight is not over, it means realizing we have to get organized to fight against our enemies!”

After the speeches, the group marched to the Denver Public Library and the Ralph L. Carr Judicial Center, chanting in the streets about working class power. The march ended at Stoney’s Bar and Grill, where the participants celebrated a successful event that brought many organizations together.

Other unions and community groups that took part in the demonstration included United Campus Workers of Colorado, Students for a Democratic Society at Auraria Campus, CSU Grad Workers Organizing Coop, Starbucks Workers United, Colorado Musicians Union, Colorado Education Association, Alphabet Workers Union, Teamsters Local 455, Denver-Aurora Community Action Committee, SEIU 105, and Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

#DenverCO #May1

Seattle, WA – On May 1, around 500 workers and activists gathered to celebrate May Day, at the annual march and rally held by El Comité and the May 1st Action Coalition.

The rally began at the Henry M. Jackson Federal Building, where attendees heard from immigrants, labor leaders, indigenous groups and community members on the 137th anniversary of International Workers Day.

Felicitas (Feli) Hernandez, a prep lead at Homegrown sandwiches and a member of Unite HERE Local 8, took the stage soon after the event kicked off. Workers at Homegrown have been fighting for a strong contract with the company for the last several months. “Tomorrow we will be presenting our economic demands to the company and we want to send a clear message: Respect us and pay us what we deserve!” proclaimed Hernandez, speaking through an interpreter. An immigrant herself, Hernandez also spoke out about the protections Homegrown workers have been fighting for to protect immigrants in the contract, which include translation and barring the company from working with ICE.

After the first speakers, the march began towards Denny Park, passing through the heart of Seattle and the Amazon sphere buildings. Chants of “Long live international solidarity” and “What's disgusting? Union busting!” rang out from the crowd. A large contingent organized by FRSO Seattle also led chants calling to “Free Alex Saab,” a Venezuelan diplomat being held illegally in the U.S.

At Denny Park, speeches continued with rank-and-file Teamster Dean Matthews speaking about the upcoming fight with UPS when the national contract expires in July. “This is going to be a defining moment, not just for the Teamsters, but the whole working class!” declared Matthews. Speakers also talked about the upcoming APEC conference, a meeting of top corporate and government officials from the U.S. and Asian-Pacific countries which is coming to Seattle in August. “We are going to protest and fight back against APEC for the whole three weeks they are here,” said Jess Rojas, from Pacific Northwest People over Profit.

The May Day celebration will continue on May 7 with a panel on labor and immigrant organizing hosted by FRSO Seattle. Organizers there will be sharing about their local campaigns and plans to continue fighting back on the shop floor and the streets.

#SeattleWA #May1 #Socialism

Los Angeles, CA – For the eighth year in a row, Centro Community Service Organization (CSO) held their May Day march and rally in Boyle Heights. Over 50 people gathered to commemorate International Workers Day and to uplift the demands of legalization for all the undocumented, protecting public education, and community control of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department. The event was emceed by David Pulido of Orange County CSO and Juliana Castellón of Centro CSO.

Sol Marquez, member of Centro CSO and Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO), kicked off the rally with the demand for socialism and self-determination for Chicanos in the United States: “Long live the proletariat – the working class of this country who makes the entire profit for the rich, the profit that is stolen from us. Enough is enough!”

Rallygoers held a banner representing the Teamsters Local 396, and member Jared Hamil spoke about the upcoming contract fight with UPS and the conditions that the workers face on a daily basis. “UPS trucks don’t have ACs in them. Last week I clocked the inside of my truck at 120 degrees,” stated Hamil, who then reminded the crowd about Esteban Chavez, a UPS worker who died in Pasadena last year of a heat related illness while on the job. “That’s why come August 1, you may see 360,000 workers go on strike,” Hamil declared.

Other speakers and supporters at the rally included Orange County CSO, Baba Aikili of BLM-LA, Movimiento Oaxaqueño Migrante (MOM), Teamsters Local 396, Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO), teachers and students from Torres High School, Eastside Padres Contra la Privatización, Resistencia Comunitaria, and MEChA at Roosevelt High School.

As the march began, chants of “What do killer cops mean? We got to fight back!” “La policía, la migra, la misma porquería!” “El pueblo, unido, jamás será vencido!” filled the streets.

The marchers arrived at the Hollenbeck LAPD station. Member of Centro CSO Luis Sifuentes condemned sexual predator Eric Uller, a volunteer for the Police Activities League in Santa Monica who was allowed to abuse over 200 children in Chicano neighborhoods since the 1980s, highlighting the conflict between the people’s needs and police policy. “FTP to these child molesting killer cops,” said Sifuentes. “We need something that gives more power into the people’s hands. Where we have the power to control their budgets, to have hiring and firing power over these fucking pigs, right?”

Jesus “Chuy” Chavez spoke on the California Highway Patrol murder of his brother, Leonel Chavez. Leonel was killed by CHP officers on September 28, 2021. CHP was investigating a car crash but instead of rendering aid to Chavez, they shot him eight times. “It took two years to get the autopsy report,” Chavez said. “It’s clear that they’re trying to cover something up. They’re trying to save their ass from going to jail.” Thanking the protesters, Chavez said, “Lotta people don’t care about low-income people, people in the hood. We gotta continue these fights and not give up.”

The marchers continued to Mariachi Plaza, where they enjoyed a theater performance by LA artist group Resistencia Comunitaria. The performance dramatized the history of labor struggle and national oppression in the U.S., stretching from the Haywood Market Affair of 1886 and the martyred workers, to the modern day fight against privatization and police brutality.

Antonia Montes, public school teacher at Eastman Avenue Elementary and member of Centro CSO, spoke about the attacks on education made by charter schools. She highlighted the spread of charters in East LA, and how public funding is being diverted to charter schools. On protecting public education, Montes stated “as Centro CSO Education Committee we are there to fight back! And to make sure that in East LA we stay organized to keep our rights.”

A member of the Centro CSO Immigration Committee called on the Biden administration to end Title 42 and to demand legalization for all undocumented people in this country. Recalling the Legalization for All delegation to Tijuana, he described the ongoing construction of the border wall. Originally built at 15 feet tall, the wall will now be built to 30 feet under the Biden administration, because it was determined that at 30 feet “death or serious bodily injury is going to occur from falling.” He then called on the Biden administration to stop construction of the border wall, “a cruel punishment that is happening to our people.”

Plans are to continue with the Boyle Heights tradition and if you are interested in helping and participating, reach out to CSO at (323) 484-8630 or @MayDayBoyleHeights on Instagram or Facebook.

#LosAngelesCA #ChicanoLatino #May1

Tampa, FL – On Sunday April 30, 40 people protested outside the Hillsborough School Employees Federation union hall against the recent passage of union-busting legislation aimed at public sector workers and to mark International Workers Day.

The week before, the Florida House passed HB 1445, which will create a requirement for public-sector unions to have a membership rate of 60%. After Governor Rob DeSantis signs the bill into law, public sector unions have one year to meet this requirement or be decertified. Several of the groups represented were public-sector unions including the Hillsborough County Teachers Association, the University of South Florida Graduate Assistants Union, and AFSCME Local 3342.

AFSCME Local 3342 President Robert Chapman promised, “DeSantis and his cronies think they've got the fix in on our unions, they don't realize they're sitting on a powder keg. Labor is going to fight back and reclaim the place it held decades ago.”

Another reason the bill was nicknamed the union-busting bill on protesters’ signs is its removal of automatic dues deduction from paychecks. This is another barrier to raising union membership to 60%. However, Hillsborough County Teacher’s Association vowed to fight to keep their members and sign up more.

Also speaking at the event was Chrisley Carpio, a recently fired USF employee and member of the Tampa 5, who are facing felony charges stemming from a police attack on a protest held at the University of South Florida on March 6.

Carpio stated, “HB 1445 is only one part of the outrageous agenda that the Florida GOP has enacted this legislative session. I was arrested and charged for daring to stand in the way of another reactionary bill, HB 999, which threatens to do away with diversity programs, ethnic studies and multicultural student organizations on campus. The common thread here is that DeSantis wants to turn the clock back 70, 80 years, spitting directly in the face of millions of Floridians.”

Other groups speaking included Tampa Students for a Democratic Society, Tampa Bay Community Action Committee, and the Tampa district of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization who spoke out against the unjust imprisonment of Venezuelan diplomat Alex Saab.

Demonstration attendees vowed to continue the fight to rekindle the labor movement in the face of all-out attacks from the state.

#TampaFL #May1

Milwaukee, WI – As has been the case all spring across the Midwest, cold rain and winds greeted hundreds of youth, workers and trade unionists, community organizers and faith leaders on May 1 as they gathered outside the headquarters of Voces de la Frontera (VDLF) for their annual May Day “Day Without Latinx and Immigrants'' action. All told, more than 400 people joined the ensuing march that ended downtown at Zeidler Square.

The primary demands of this year's rally and march related to a number of campaigns being organized by VDLF and their student arm, Youth Empowered in the Struggle (YES). These demands include drivers licenses for all, in-state tuition for all, school lunch justice in Milwaukee Public Schools, and an end to 287G, a section of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act authorizes the Department of Homeland Security to deputize selected state and local law enforcement officers to enforce federal immigration law.

The program featured many speakers. Attendees heard stories from community members about their journey to win their citizenship or the path that led them to seek asylum from violence in their home countries. Others spoke from backgrounds in organized labor, community organizing against police crimes, the youth movement representing both K12 and university students, and the faith community. All related their specific struggles to those of the immigrant and Latinx community which VDLF represents.

The Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist & Political Repression joined the action and spoke about the case of Roberto Zielinski, a man of Puerto Rican descent murdered by a Milwaukee police officer in 2021.

“We demanded the release of the footage, but the police held it for almost 50 days. And when they released it, it was heavily edited. So, we decided to put pressure on the city to create a policy requiring that video footage be publicly released within 15 days and for next of kin to have access to the footage within 48 hours. After two years, this policy passed two weeks ago, and it officially goes into effect today!” said Alan Chavoya, the outreach chair of the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist & Political Repression.

Chavoya continued, “For too long, the police in this city have mistreated our people, and they have been especially brutal against working-class African Americans. This policy will go a long way in making the police think twice before they act violently against us. We must recognize this as a triumph by and for the people of Milwaukee. But, as we say in the Alliance, the struggle continues.”

“The racist republicans in Wisconsin are taking aim at Milwaukee. They are trying to force Milwaukee to spend even more money on the police, money that the city doesn’t have because it’s about to go bankrupt. They say that police stop crime. Crime rates have actually gone up the more the city funds the police,” Chavoya stated. “You know what actually brings crime rates down? Better schools for the youth, better access to good health services, safe recreational opportunities, public services, and good union jobs! Today is International Workers Day, and we know that when the working class thrives, all our people thrive! For the working class to live well, we need strong communities capable of holding the police accountable!”

Another speaker, Ryan Hamann, represented the recently formed Coalition to Save St. Francis Hospital, a united front of labor, community, and faith-based organizers to challenge the Catholic non-profit healthcare giant Ascension and their efforts to shut down vital services at Saint Francis. The initial formation of the coalition was prompted by the Christmas-time shuttering of the labor and delivery unit at Saint Francis, the only unit of its style serving Milwaukee's primarily Latino and immigrant community on the Near South Side.

“The fact is Ascension is peddling racism when they close down essential services at hospitals like Saint Francis or Saint Joe's on the North Side, hospitals that serve Black and brown communities, while simultaneously investing in facilities in the rich white suburbs around Milwaukee,” Hamann said. “This is a pattern elsewhere where Ascension does business. But unlike in other places, Saint Francis has a union with a leadership willing to join together with the community to fight back!”

The final speaker of the afternoon was Christine Neumann-Ortiz, the executive director of Voces de la Frontera. She gave a wide-ranging speech that grounded the crowd in the history of May Day before diving into particulars about victories won and struggles to wage.

“May 1 is the day for solidarity with workers, and it has become a day of solidarity with immigrant workers and their families. It was 17 years ago today, in 2006, when mass mobilizations defeated Representative Sensenbrenner's bill that would've criminalized immigration, and it birthed the modern immigrants rights movement. And you that are here today stand in the same tradition as those immigrant workers in 1886 in Bayview here in Milwaukee who gave their lives fighting for better conditions,” Neumann-Ortiz said.

She continued, “This year we celebrate a victory, a product of our struggle. And that is deferred action for undocumented workers whose rights have been violated. With this new one right, similar to DACA, it provides drivers licenses, Social Security numbers, and work visas. And this is a struggle that Voces is now starting and will continue to grow so that workers can be empowered by these newly won rights.”

“On May 11, we celebrate the lifting of Title 42, a shameful Trump era program that violated international human rights and has been blocking asylum seekers from Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean from entering. And that racist order will finally be lifted because of us!” said Neumann-Ortiz. “We are here to send a message to all those in government and corporate America that we demand respect, and, lastly, we’re here to call on President Biden to use his executive orders to end 287G, extend temporary protected status, and create a pathway to citizenship. We will not stop fighting until we win!”

#MilwaukeeWI #May1 #Socialism

Minneapolis, MN – On May 1, International Workers Day, approximately 500 people marched in support of immigrant workers, unions and indigenous sovereignty, in the East Phillips neighborhood of Minneapolis.

On a very windy day, hundreds gathered together in front of the Minneapolis Public Schools Adult Education Center, where just over a year ago the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers were striking. The crowd listened to speakers including Rachel Thunder from the American Indian Movement, William Martinez of the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee, Greg King of the Interfaith Coalition on Immigration, and Marcia Howard of the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers.

Alex Provan of the University of Minnesota Grad Labor Union-United Electrical spoke about the fight for a union for graduate student workers. This group has been attempting to unionize since 1974, and finally after four attempts, just this past week 97% of workers voted yes, creating a new 4000-member union in Minnesota.

For the second part of the May Day rally, the group took to the streets for a march. From the bed of a white truck, a young woman yelled into the microphone, “There is only one solution.” The crowds of people following the truck respond in unison, “Workers lead the revolution!” Another chant was, “What do we want? Legalization for all! When do we want it? Now!” An energized group marched through the streets receiving much support for neighbors and those driving by.

The march ended at the Roof Depot site, where indigenous residents of Little Earth, other East Phillips neighborhood residents and local activists have been fighting against the demolition of a site that would have severe environmental impacts in the diverse and already heavily polluted neighborhood. Speakers from Little Earth and the Climate Justice Committee spoke in solidarity with the indigenous and East Phillips people’s struggle to gain community control of this site.

Other speakers included UPS worker and Teamster Shane Clune, who talked about a possible nationwide UPS strike this summer, Sue Sami, a Cub Foods worker and member of UFCW Local 663, Toshira Garraway of Families Supporting Families Against Police Violence, and spoken word artist Brandyn Tulloch. The rally was closed out by Vinnie Dion doing the anthem of the American Indian Movement.

This year’s International Workers Day March was initiated by the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC) and Minnesota Workers United (MWU). A coalition of more than 30 immigrant rights organizations, unions and social justice organizations help to organize it.

#MinneapolisMN #May1 #Socialism

New Orleans, LA – On a sunny afternoon, May 1, about 70 demonstrators took to the streets downtown for May Day. They marched from the statue of Benito Juárez at Basin and Conti Street to City Hall. The event commemorated International Workers Day, a celebration of workers’ and immigrants’ struggles for our freedom and dignity.

“No bans, no walls, legalization for all!” marchers chanted as they crossed Canal Street.

At the beginning and ends of the march, immigrants spoke out against discrimination and deportations.

“We are sick and tired of being political pawns for politicians. We are sick and tired of their false promises,” said Julia, a member of Unión Migrante. Like her, many attendants felt the need to build a mass immigrants’ movement instead of relying only on the Democratic Party. Julia declined to provide her last name due to fear of employer retaliation.

Union representatives spoke for workers’ rights. “A union means workers come together to fight for what we need. A union means Starbucks doesn’t get to push us around,” said Serena Sojic-Borne, an organizer in a Starbucks union drive.

Organizations hosting the event included Unión Migrante, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, United Teachers of New Orleans, Starbucks Workers United Poydras St. Organizing Committee, Puentes New Orleans, New Orleans Immigrant Rights Action, Workers Voice Socialist Movement, New Orleans for Community Oversight of Police, Real Name Campaign NOLA, Students United UNO, Loyola Young Democratic Socialists of America, and the Committee to Free Alex Saab.

#NewOrleansLA #May1 #Socialism

New York, NY – Around 500 people were gathered around the fountain of Washington Square Park on May 1 to celebrate International Workers’ Day. The first of several events throughout the city, this one was led by several different unions, such as the Teamsters Local 804, and organizations such as DecrimNY.

People gathered at 10 a.m. to give a round of speeches calling for workers and immigrant rights, and to support ongoing strikes.

The activists began marching downtown later in the morning, chanting loudly and proudly workers’ rights slogans.

#NewYorkNY #May1

Dallas, TX – On April 29, an International Workers Day, or May Day, celebration took place at Lake Cliff Park in Dallas. 40 people attended, and organizations presented statements and greetings on the occasion of May Day.

Ebonee Taylor of National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression-Dallas spoke on the importance of connecting the struggle of the working class with liberation struggles of the oppressed nationalities. “The working class is the most oppressed class in America, and there is more commonality in our struggles then there are differences,” she said.

A member of the Malaya Movement-Texas talked about the importance of the liberation struggle of the Philippines against U.S. imperialism as a struggle the working class of America can relate to, stating “The imperialists that exploit the Philippines are the same ones that exploit the working people of the U.S.”

A member of Young Active Labor Leaders talked about the conditions of the working class in America, stating, “UPS workers deserve a better contract.”

After the presentations, Jo Hargis of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, led the people in the song Solidarity Forever.

Organizations participating included Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Malaya Movement-Texas, Dallas Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines, Communist Party of USA, Dallas Anti War Committee, National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression-Dallas, Young Active Labor Leaders, Democratic Socialists of America, Party of Socialism and Liberation, Progressive Student Union at UTA, Texas Alliance for Retired Americans and the Students for Justice in Palestine.

Various groups were involved in art projects and made some banners and posters in solidarity with Alex Saab.

The event concluded with Cassandra Swart of the Dallas Anti War Committee delivering a statement on Alex Saab: “Since 2015 the U.S. has imposed harsh sanctions on Venezuela for social programs that primarily benefit the poor and working class and for nationalizing the countries petroleum. Alex Saab, a Columbian businessman, tried to help bring the Venezuelan people necessary food and medical supplies. He was kidnapped and brought to Miami and is being held their illegally while his health is on a decline. We demand free Alex Saab.”

#DallasTX #May1 #Socialism

Chicago, IL – 400 people rallied in the rain on Saturday, April 29 to celebrate recent victories in the people's movements and uplift their present demands. After an hour-long program, the crowd marched from Union Park to five different politically significant locations. Among other chants in English and Spanish, the crowd declared “The people united will never be defeated!”

The rally was called by the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (CAARPR), and endorsed by 31 organizations including the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR), the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU), Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Healthcare Illinois and Indiana (HCII), the Arab American Action Network (AAAN), Chicago for Abortion Rights, Good Kids Mad City (GKMC), Black Lives Matter Chicago, and the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON).

“May Day began right here in Chicago in the 19th century,” Frank Chapman, executive director of the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (NAARPR) opened the program with a speech about the history of May Day. “We’ve lost some of what we gained then, but what we still have is the struggle, and we’re going to struggle until we win.”

“We are at an amazing point in Chicago history,” said 7th Police District Councilor Dion McGill. “There’s so much possibility but there are still so many challenges that we face.”

“Months ago, Brandon Johnson was my colleague. Today, I relish the fact that we have a labor leader on the fifth floor of City Hall,” said Maria Moreno, financial secretary of CTU. “But with great opportunities come great challenges, and while the forces of reaction have been defeated, they have not gone away. We must stay united.”

“Right-wing forces, emboldened by the government and its twin parties, have waged an all-out assault on our right to control our bodies, undermining our ability to get an abortion, issuing ban after ban in state after state,” said Nancy Rosenstock, a member of Chicago for Abortion Rights. “Reproductive justice is workers’ rights. After all, it’s the working class bearing the brunt of the economic crisis and the assault on our standard of living.”

Maggie Lugo, executive director of Casa Michoacan, a coalition member of ICIRR, added to calls for unity. “You cannot talk about the workers’ movement without talking about immigrant justice. You cannot talk about immigrant justice without talking about healthcare and human rights.”

“The power of the people is stronger than the people in power. The power of the people is strong enough to overthrow the people in power,” said Angel González, a member of Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) and Little Village High School Fightback, before kicking off the march. “Seeing this movement come together, this rainbow of Black and brown, young and old, tells me that I’m in the right place. Don’t you know you’re in the right place? Don’t you know the power you have?”

Demonstrators visited enemies and friends of the people's movements. The crowd marched to the office of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) to voice the demand for police accountability and celebrate recent electoral victories of progressive candidates against those endorsed by the FOP in mayoral, aldermanic and police district council races. Protesters wrote slogans in chalk on the street and sidewalk, then marched off chanting “No justice, no peace! No racist police!”

The second stop was at the Mexican consulate. Organizers commended progressive steps taken by Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador regarding immigration, while calling on him to oppose the xenophobic policies of the Biden administration and other U.S. presidents before him.

The next three stops were the offices of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 705, Workers United, and United Electrical workers. Protesters vowed to show up in solidarity in the event of an Teamsters strike this summer, which would shut down the logistics industry.

Starbucks Workers Union, a part of Workers United, was one of the endorsing organizations. SWU organizer Russell Dahlman said, “I am one of nearly 75,000 Starbucks workers who won our union, and we are ready to fight to improve our workplace.”

The crowd marched past these union offices chanting “When we fight, we win!” and “Chicago is a union town!”

After returning to Union Park, organizers reiterated the demands for immigrant rights, workers’ rights, reproductive justice, police accountability, LGBTQ rights, and freedom for oppressed nationalities, among other demands. The call to stay in the struggle was felt by everyone in the crowd, with some protesters heading directly to a rally outside the Filipino consulate to protest the U.S.-backed Marcos Duterte regime.

The final chant of the rally was “I believe that we will win!”

#ChicagoIL #May1 #Socialism

Green Bay, WI – On Sunday, April 30, members of Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Appleton Students for a Democratic Society, United Action Oshkosh, and Food Not Bombs all rallied in Green Bay for the third annual May Day celebration in the broader Fox Valley.

The rally began with a reading of a FRSO statement by Aodhan Bowman. Bowman made clear that the enemy – the monopoly capitalists – stand no chance against a united front composed of workers, oppressed nationalities, and youth. As mentioned in the statement, the growing momentum seen in the labor movement and the various people’s movements in the U.S, like the movements for Black, Chicano, and LGBTQ liberation, as well as immigrants and reproductive rights, all remind us that a better world is possible.

Dan Pratt, a Teamster union steward at UPS out of Oshkosh, spoke on the state of union organizing in the U.S. Despite many of the sobering stats he shared, Pratt reminded attendees to be hopeful and encouraged all those present to join or start a union at their workplace if they are not represented by one already.

“Corporations want to have a monopoly on bargaining power, but unions give workers a say over their workplace and the conditions therein,” Pratt said. “The power of the bosses can only be dismantled through the collective organization and struggle of workers. We have nothing to lose but our chains!”

Audari Tamayo, a member of Appleton SDS and FRSO, began his speech by calling back to the events that led to the Bayview and Haymarket Massacres that took place in the early days of May in Milwaukee and Chicago, respectively.

“The eigh-hour work day, five-day work week, lunch breaks and all matters of human decency were won through struggle. Even then, these are things that are continuously being fought for as the state seeks to repress the people, and as capitalism keeps most under the stress of losing their homes, the stress of having enough to eat, and the ever-growing threat of climate change imposed on us by the capitalists.”

The struggle for workers' rights was fresh on the students' minds as they had been fighting against their university’s administration and food provider for increased pay and longer break times for the workers, a struggle that saw awful suppression of students and overt protection of the interests of big business over student well being.

“We are the students, the youth, the majority in our schools, and the heart and soul of the schools which seem to treat us as dispensable, and as a source of cheap labor, and as a way to fund their miseducation schemes. We must take back our schools and our education!” Tamayo said.

Hollie Poupart, member of United Action Oshkosh and FRSO, went next. Poupart related the struggle for workers’ rights to the fight for community control of the police along with the liberation of oppressed nationalities. She recalled to the harrowing events that took place in an Oshkosh rally where protesters were attacked by reactionaries as police stood idly by.

“Police are not on the side of the working and oppressed people. They've shown that their job is to protect property and the oppressive status quo, not the masses!” Poupart said.

Poupart ended her speech calling for all in attendance to show their support at an upcoming rally for Jimmie Sanders, a Milwaukee man murdered in Appleton by the killer cop Jay Steinke. Poupart’s speech reminded attendees that the fight for justice is taking place on all fronts in every community, and that without a collective organized effort, killer cops and exploitative corporations will continue acting with impunity.

To round out the day's speeches, Hannah Hurle, an FRSO member from Green Bay, spoke on the misguided efforts of reactionaries to argue against those seeking to build socialism. Hannah rebuked the claim that capitalism ensures individual freedoms, something that has become evident to be false.

“Collective action is what ensures individual freedoms. The few individual freedoms we have today came as a result of collective struggle by the workers and oppressed people to ensure our individual rights,” Hurle said.

The rally closed with a last reminder from Aodhan Bowman about how things stand.

“This May Day, let's remember that our strength lies in our unity, and the ruling class is well aware of the fact that when capitalism burns, workers will fan the flames and students will add the fuel. Onward to victory, always!”

#GreenBayWI #May1 #Socialism

Dayton, OH – On April 29, approximately 15 activists gathered in Dayton’s courthouse square to celebrate International Workers Day. The event was organized by the Freedom Road Socialist organization under the banner of “celebrating the continued struggle for the liberation of the international working class.”

Event speakers highlighted various areas of struggle in which FRSO is currently engaged. They spoke to the gains recently made in Chicago with the push for community control of the police, the growing solidarity movement around the Tampa 5, and a summation of the recent border delegation andthe need for legalization for all.

The Saturday event was concluded with a solidarity statement in support of Venezuelan diplomat, Alex Saab, who is currently illegally detained by the U.S. government. Chants of “Free Alex Saab” echoed off buildings and could be heard from down the street.

To conclude May Day weekend, FRSO Dayton held a Sunday teach-in to explain the history of May Day, how it is celebrated today, and where it must go in the future. Event organizers explained to attendees the importance of “workers day” internationally, as well as its recent resurgence in the struggle for immigrant rights.

#DaytonOH #May1 #Socialism

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from the World Federation of Trade Unions.

The World Federation of Trade Unions, the militant, class-oriented voice, representing 105 million workers who live, work, and struggle in 133 countries of the 5 continents, honors the 137th anniversary of the struggle of workers in Chicago in 1886 that constituted a lasting milestone of the working class and a bright beacon for the struggles of today and tomorrow for stable work with rights, social security, free public, and universal health and education, dignified life.

Nowadays the crisis of capitalism is deepening in the length and breadth of the globe, resulting in the open violation of democratic and trade union rights, the deterioration of working and living conditions, and the dramatic widening of social inequalities, poverty, and exploitation. The big capital and its political representatives were using the pretext of the capitalist crisis of all kinds to attack even the most fundamental democratic and trade union rights, like the right to strike, to demonstrate, and to organize. They do whatever they can to transfer the consequences of the crisis to the shoulders of the working class, the pensioners, the farmers, and to the poorer part of the self-employed people.

The uncontrollable increase of the prices; especially the prices of essential goods, as well the “energy poverty”, is another way to cut salaries and to protect and increase profits resulting in even more poverty and deterioration of the workers living standards. They once again want the peoples and the workers to pay for their crisis. But the workers are not willing to be shouldered the bill. This message is loudly and clearly heard from more and more workplaces, from more and more countries.

The WFTU affiliates, in the militant spirit of the recent 18th congress we had in Rome one year ago, are at the forefront of these struggles, demanding the satisfaction of the contemporary needs of the workers at all levels: salary, employment, social security, health care, education, culture. We are strengthening our opposition against privatization and anti-labor policies, we stand by the side of the struggling female worker, the one who suffers from double exploitation fighting for equal rights to work, society and life. In the same direction, we continue our fight in favor of the youngsters who always are the first victims of the capitalist crisis and the migrants who are exploited as cheap workforce. We stand shoulder to shoulder with the vulnerable parts of the workers’ class, demanding dignified income for the under-employed workers, proper jobs for the unemployed, and decent pensions for the retired workers. We strengthen our militant actions to ensure all labor rights and freedoms, and the conventions to be implemented in practice instead of being empty words in pares. These struggles are relentlessly and unwaveringly given despite the sharpening of state repression and authoritarianism, unfortunately with the tolerance or even the cooperation of surrendered trade union leaders together with yellow unions who are aligned with the orders of the capital.

In addition to the aftermaths of the pandemic and the economic crisis, the bourgeoisie wants the working class to pay also the price of the imperialist war of the US, NATO, EU with Russia in Ukraine. We reiterate our firm internationalist solidarity with the suffering peoples. We demand the end of the war in Ukraine, the elimination of all the imperialist wars, the disengagement and dismantling of NATO and all military coalitions, and the abolition of nuclear weapons. We intensify our struggle to ensure the right of peoples to live in peace and determine freely and independently their present and future. We fight to stop the economic wars and sanctions as a means of promotion of foreign imperialist interests in sovereign and independent countries. We an immediate end to the criminal embargos against socialist Cuba and the continuous crime against the Palestinian people. Our most powerful weapons are INTERNATIONALISM and SOLIDARITY. No worker must feel alone.

The WFTU on the occasion of 2023 International Workers Day conveys its warm, internationalist, militant, and class greetings to all struggling workers and to all militant trade unions that tirelessly and decisively conduct the daily fight for dignity, for the satisfaction of the contemporary need of the working class and the popular strata. We intensify our common actions in every sector, in every country, in every continent, for the emancipation of the working class, to meet our own class interests and needs; against the root cause of poverty, misery, wars, and refugees; to build a just human-centered society with dignified living and working conditions for every human being, a society free of the capitalist barbarity and man-by-man exploitation.

We call upon all the affiliates and friends of WFTU to honor the International Workers Day under the slogans and banners of the WFTU:

-Internationalist solidarity: the weapon of the working class

-We refuse to pay for their crisis

-Stop imperialist blockades and economic wars

#UnitedStates #May1

El 1 de mayo de 2023, las personas trabajadoras y oprimidas de todo el mundo celebrarán el Día Internacional de los Trabajadores. Este año, la Organización Socialista Camino a la Libertad (OSCL) llama a nuestros camaradas, amigos y aliados a mantener la tradición revolucionaria de celebrar el 1 de mayo. Celebre haciendo manifestaciones, marchas y programas en ciudades de todo Estados Unidos. Puede encontrar una lista de eventos locales del Día Internacional de los Trabajadores aquí.

El mensaje que presentamos el Primero de Mayo de 2023 debería ser claro: Los trabajadores y los oprimidos están luchando contra el sistema del capitalismo monopolista y están desarrollando una organización más fuerte, profundizando la lucha y saliendo victorioso. La clase trabajadora está harta y cansada de la inflación opresiva, las crisis de vivienda en todo Estados Unidos y la falta de buenos empleos que puedan apoyar a nuestras familias. Los días de dominación por el 1% están contados.

El 1 de mayo de 1886, hubo una huelga general por el derecho a una jornada laboral de ocho horas en las grandes ciudades de Estados Unidos. Los patrones se encargaron de que los líderes de este movimiento en Chicago fueran arrestados y ahorcados. Los trabajadores de todo el mundo se reúnen para celebrar el Primero de Mayo porque nada puede impedirnos derrotar al capitalismo y ganar el mundo que nos pertenece.

Estamos acumulando velocidad

Después de décadas de represión y retirada, el movimiento obrero estadounidense ahora está librando más huelgas y participando en más lucha – y ganando. En 2022, la Hermandad internacional de camioneros (IBT) vio una gran victoria sobre el liderazgo de ventas agotadas cuando la lista de candidatos de Obrien-Zuckerman asumió el cargo. Esta victoria marcó el fin del régimen de concesión de Hoffa Jr. y sus compinches. La nueva dirección de los camioneros está promoviendo una lucha real a nivel de base, incluyendo la lucha por un fuerte contrato nacional en UPS este año.

Otros sindicatos y trabajadores de todo el país están experimentando un aumento similar en la militancia y muchos trabajadores están buscando unirse a los sindicatos para que puedan organizarse para ganar. Se necesitó un acto del Congreso para evitar que los trabajadores ferroviarios probablemente se declararan en huelga en noviembre por el tema de los días de enfermedad. Joe Biden no cumplió con sus promesas a los sindicatos, pero eso no impedirá que la clase trabajadora lucha hacia la victoria.

Los movimientos populares en los Estados Unidos se están fortaleciendo. Millones de personas se unieron a la lucha después del asesinato de George Floyd en Minneapolis, que provocó una rebelión nacional en las calles. Las comunidades negras, chicanas y otras comunidades oprimidas continúan luchando para detener los crímenes policiales y ganar justicia. Nuestras demandas nunca han sido más fuertes – especialmente nuestra demanda de control comunitario de la policía. En Chicago, 36 concejales de distrito de policía recién elegidos están apoyando a la campaña de la alcaldía de Brandon Johnson, que representa una oportunidad significativa para que la gente gana más control sobre sus comunidades. Es importante recordar en el Primero de Mayo que la opresión nacional enfrentada por negros, chicanos, latinos, indigenas, y otras nacionalidades oprimidas debe ser derrocada por cualquier medio necesario.

El impulso de la rebelión de George Floyd continúa creciendo y ha ayudado a varios movimientos importantes a hacer sus propios avances. Apoyamos la lucha crítica para defender los derechos reproductivos – derechos democráticos básicos que siguen siendo atacados por políticos conservadores y de extrema derecha. Los ataques a los derechos reproductivos son intentos de mantener oprimidas a las mujeres y a otras personas, y estos ataques deben ser detenidos. Apoyamos la lucha de las personas LGBTQ que luchan por la igualdad. También apoyamos la lucha por los derechos de los inmigrantes y seguimos exigiendo la legalización para todos, mientras recordamos las enormes marchas por los derechos de los inmigrantes en 2006. Todos estos son derechos democráticos básicos que deben ser protegidos y ganados.

Los estudiantes y jóvenes siguen siendo una fuerza muy poderosa en el frente unido contra el capitalismo monopolista, ya sea en las calles o en los campus. La Convención Nacional de SDS de 2022 en el estado de Kent en Ohio reunió a activistas de todo el país para hacer planes para elevar el nivel de lucha y organización en torno a los campus universitarios. Ya sea que los jóvenes obtengan empleos sindicales, se opongan a los recortes presupuestarios en el campus, luchen contra la opresión nacional, se opongan a las guerras imperialistas o apoyen el movimiento por la justicia climática, representan el futuro de nuestros movimientos, y el futuro es brillante.

Un mundo para ganar

La administración de Biden sigue decepcionando a la gente y los deja hambrientos de un cambio real. Muchos de los mismos problemas que plagaron a nuestras comunidades bajo la administración de Trump continúan enconándose hoy en día, pero esta opresión da lugar a una poderosa resistencia. Representa una oportunidad para que nuestros movimientos crezcan y hagan que los avances que se creyeran imposibles hace una o dos décadas. Activistas de todo el país deben hacer planes para marchar en protesta contra la Convención Nacional Republicana en Milwaukee y la Convención Nacional Democrática en Chicago en 2024.

En el último año, la Organización Socialista Camino a la Libertad ha visto un nivel sin precedentes de crecimiento y desarrollo interno. Nuevas ciudades y nuevos líderes se han presentado para unirse a nosotros y han ayudado a desarrollar nuestra línea y organización. Trabajamos en una variedad de movimientos y somos el hogar de muchos jóvenes talentosos y veteranos experimentados. Animamos a nuestros amigos a participar en la celebración del Primero de Mayo de este año con una manifestación, marcha o manifestación en su ciudad – ¡levante la bandera roja! Si nunca lo ha celebrado antes, póngase en contacto con OSCL para que podamos ayudarle a hacer planes para el futuro.

Las personas trabajadoras y oprimidas de todo el mundo se unen para celebrar nuestros logros el Primero de Mayo. También nos unimos a la lucha para prepararnos para futuras batallas. OSCL cree que solo una alianza estratégica entre la clase obrera multinacional y las nacionalidades oprimidas en los EE.UU., liderada por el partido de la clase obrera, puede unir el frente unido más amplio posible para derrotar al capitalismo monopolista y establecer el socialismo, una sociedad dirigida por todos para el beneficio de todos. Queremos construir ese partido de la clase obrera y estamos emocionados de continuar creciendo y luchando a su lado.

Le animamos a unirse a OSCL y visitar frso.org/join. No tenemos nada que perder más que nuestras cadenas, y juntos tenemos un mundo que ganar.

#UnitedStates #May1

May dyaydy

#UnitedStates #May1 #Socialism

On May 1, 2023, working and oppressed people around the world will celebrate International Workers Day. This year, Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) calls on our comrades, friends and allies to uphold the revolutionary tradition of celebrating May 1. Celebrate by holding demonstrations, marches and programs in cities throughout the United States. You can find a list of local International Workers Day events here.

The message we put forward on May Day 2023 should be clear – working and oppressed people are fighting the rotten system of monopoly capitalism and are developing stronger organization, deepening the struggle and winning big. The working class is sick and tired of oppressive inflation, housing crises across the U.S., and the lack of good jobs that can support our families. The days of rule by the 1% are numbered.

On May 1, 1886, a general strike over the right to an eight-hour workday took place in big cities throughout the U.S. The bosses saw to it that the leaders of this movement in Chicago were arrested and hanged. Working people around the world come together to celebrate May Day because nothing can stop us from defeating capitalism and winning the world that belongs to us.

We are building momentum

After decades of repression and retreat, the U.S. labor movement is now waging more strikes and engaging in more struggle – and winning. In 2022, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) saw a big victory over sell-out leadership when the Obrien-Zuckerman slate took office. This victory marked the end of the concession regime of Hoffa Jr. and his cronies. The new Teamster leadership is promoting a real struggle at the rank-and-file level, including the struggle for a strong national contract at UPS this year. Other unions and workers around the country are experiencing a similar upsurge in militancy and many workers are looking to join unions so they can organize to win. It took an act of Congress to prevent rail workers from likely going on strike back in November over the issue of sick days. Joe Biden failed to live up to his promises to unions, but that won’t stop the working class from fighting onwards to victory.

Many people’s movements in the United States are growing stronger. Millions of people joined the fight after the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, which sparked a national rebellion in the streets. Black, Chicano and other oppressed communities continue fighting to stop police crimes and win justice. Our demands have never been louder – especially our demand for community control of the police. In Chicago, 36 newly elected Police District Councilors are supporting the Brandon Johnson mayoral campaign, representing a significant opportunity for the people to win more control over their communities. It is important to remember on May Day that the national oppression faced by African American, Chicano, Latino, indigenous and other oppressed nationalities must be destroyed by any means necessary.

The momentum from the George Floyd rebellion continues to grow and has helped several important movements make their own advances. We uphold the critical fight to defend reproductive rights – basic democratic rights which continue to come under fire from conservative and far-right politicians. Attacks on reproductive rights are attempts to keep women and other people oppressed, and these attacks must be stopped. We support the struggle of LGBTQ folks fighting for equality. We also support the struggle for immigrant rights and continue to demand legalization for all, while recalling the mega-marches for immigrant rights in 2006. These are all basic democratic rights that must be protected and won.

Students and young people continue to be a very powerful force in the united front against monopoly capitalism, whether in the streets or on campus. The 2022 SDS National Convention at Kent State in Ohio brought together activists from around the country to make plans to raise the level of struggle and organization around college campuses. Whether young people are getting union jobs, opposing budget cuts on campus, fighting national oppression, opposing imperialist wars, or supporting the movement for climate justice, they represent the future of our movements, and the future is bright.

A world to win

The Biden administration continues to disappoint people and leaves them hungry for real change. Many of the same problems that plagued our communities under the Trump administration continue to fester today, but this oppression gives birth to powerful resistance. It marks an opportunity for our movements to grow and make advances thought impossible a decade or two ago. Activists around the country should make plans to march in protest on the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee and the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in 2024.

In the past year, Freedom Road Socialist Organization has seen an unprecedented level of growth and internal development. New cities and new leaders have come forward to join us and have helped develop our line and organization. We work in a variety of movements and are home to many talented young people and experienced veterans. We encourage our friends to participate in the celebration of May Day this year by holding a demonstration, march or rally in your city – raise the red flag! If you’ve never celebrated before, contact FRSO so we can help you make plans for the future.

Working and oppressed people around the world join together to celebrate our accomplishments on May Day. We also join in the struggle to prepare for future battles. FRSO believes that only a strategic alliance between the multinational working class and the oppressed nationalities in the U.S., led by the party of the working class, can unite the broadest possible united front to defeat monopoly capitalism and establish socialism – a society run by all for the benefit of all. We want to build that party of the working class and are excited to keep growing and fighting alongside you.

We encourage you to join FRSO by visiting frso.org/join. We have nothing to lose but our chains, and together we have a world to win.

#UnitedStates #May1 #Socialism

Fight Back! News has collected a partial list of International Workers Day marches, events and celebrations that members of Freedom Road Socialist Organization are helping to build and lead. We encourage you to find the event nearest to you and attend. Events are listed in alphabetical order by city.

Chicago, IL When We Fight, We Win! May Day March 2023 Saturday, April 29, 1:00pm Union Park, Chicago, IL

Join us in Union Park on April 29th at 1pm for a rally and march in celebration of the people who make the world go round and who have the power to shut it down. On International Workers Day we come together to commemorate those who have struggled throughout history to get us to where we are, and we resolve to keep fighting for the end of exploitation and oppression everywhere.

We are marching for: Defend Immigrant and Workers Rights, Legalization for All, Support the Right to Unionize, Stop Police Crimes/Police Accountability Now, Defend LGBTQ & Reproductive Rights

Come out to Union Park with your friends and family. Endorsed by: Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, Little Village Lawndale High Schoofl Fight Back!, Centro Sin Fronteras/Familia Latina Unida, Anakbayan Chicago, Mientras Haya Amor Hay Esperanza, Chicago Teachers Union, U.S. Palestinian Community Network, Arab American Action Network, Students for a Democratic Society – UIC, National Alliance for Filipino Concerns, Freedom Road Socialist Organization – Chicago, Indivisible Chicago Alliance.

Dallas, TX May Day Celebration | Patriarchy, War, Poverty, Pollution: There is Only One Solution! Saturday, April 29, 11:00am Lake Cliff Park, 1200 N Zang Blvd, Dallas, TX

Times are getting tough, but if we unite we will win! Join us for Dallas' annual International Workers Day celebration with organizers and activists from across DFW. May Day commemorates the struggle and sacrifices of the Haymarket martyrs. These organizers for the eight hour day were executed by the U.S. in an attempt people who dared to struggle. Far from crushing their movement, their deaths inspired an annual, international celebration of working class struggle.

Dayton, OH Mayday Dayton 2023 Saturday, April 29, 5:00pm 23 N Main St, Dayton, OH

Workers of the world unite! Join with FRSO to celebrate International Workers Day as we continue to struggle for the liberation of the international working class!

Denver, CO Reclaim May Day Monday, May 1, 4:00pm Colorado State Capitol, 200 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO

May 1st is a day of special significance for the labor movement. While it has been hijacked recently by anti-worker and anti-union forces, union members who stay true to the origins of May Day, celebrate its birth as a day of world-wide solidarity, a day to remember past struggles, and a day to demonstrate our hope for a better future. Organized by CWA Local 7799

Detroit, MI May Day Detroit 2023 Monday, May 1, 5:00pm Clark Park Southwest Detroit, 1130 Clark St, Detroit, MI

Join the annual Detroit May Day rally and march in honor of international workers day.

There will be speakers addressing the most important labor, immigrant, LGBTQia, women and antiracist struggles taking place in Detroit and throughout the world.

Grand Rapids, MI International Workers Day! Saturday, April 29, 10:00am “Spirit of Solidarity” Labor Monument, Ah-Nab-Awen Park at Pearl & Front Street, across the street from the Grand Rapids Public

Rally with leaders of today's labor, immigrant, student & people's movements. The West Michigan Stagehands Union IATSfE 26 is hosting an International Workers Day gathering with speakers from the Kent Ionia Labor Council, Teamsters, ATU bus drivers union, Lake Michigan Credit Union workers union, GVSU student-workers, family and friends of Patrick Lyoya, Cosecha immigrant rights, and more. Celebrate restoring union representation and prevailing wage laws in Michigan. Demand Michigan film jobs return! Support Teamsters as they build to strike UPS. Demand drivers' licenses for all. Defend DACA! Justice for Patrick Lyoya! (African immigrant murdered by GRPD officer).

Green Bay, WI May Day Celebration – International Worker's Day Sunday, April 30, 1:00pm Leicht Memorial Park, 128 Dousman St, Green Bay, WI

Workers – this day belongs to us! Please join us to celebrate the history of worker struggle in the U.S. Let us stand together while we look towards a better future.

Jacksonville, FL May Day, May Day! Our unions are under attack! Saturday, April 29, 2:00pm Eastern Duval County Courthouse, 501 W Adams St, Jacksonville, FL

Come out to show solidarity with our city's rank & file workers. Unions historically have protected our most vulnerable workers – and this is why we see such an intense attempt in Florida to weaken organized labor and create a more exploitative relationship between companies and their workers.

Los Angeles, CA May Day Boyle Heights 2023 Monday, May 1, 4:00pm Pacific E Cesar Chavez Ave & N Mathews St, Los Angeles, CA

March with us through our barrio! Join the 9th annual May Day march and rally that Centro CSO hosts. Be sure to attend this free event! Bring a hat, comfortable shoes, sunscreen, and a bottle of water. We will be marching for one mile. Parking is FREE and available at Ficket & Chavez. Demands: Leglaization for ALL, Community control over LASD, Protect public education.

Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN FRSO International Workers Day Program Saturday, April 29, 6:00pm-8:00pm Minneapolis Federation of Teachers Office, 67 8th Avenue NE, Minneapolis, MN

Join FRSO in celebrating the most important working class holiday: International Workers Day! At this event, you'll hear from speakers across the people's movements in our city. Organized by Freedom Road Socialist Organization – Twin Cities.

May Day March for Immigrant & Worker's Rights! Monday, May 1, 5:00pm MSP Adult Education Center, 2015 East Lake St – March to Roof Depot

Initiated by MN Workers United, MN Immigrat Rights Action Committee (MIRAC). May 1st is International Workers Day, a day for protest and a day for the working class to get in the streets and march!

Milwaukee, WI 137th Anniversary Commemoration of the Bay View Tragedy Sunday, May 7, 3:00pm S Superior & E Russell Ave, Milwaukee, WI

Join the Wisconsin Labor History Society in commemorating the Bay View Tragedy. This event will take place in person. The program will include a dramatic reenactment, music, wreath-laying, and reading the names of the workers who lost their lives. On the Fifth of May, 1886, thousands of Milwaukee workers marched on the huge Bay View Rolling Mills as part of a nationwide effort to win the 8-hour day. When the marchers were 200 yards away, the State Militia fired, killing seven. This was the bloodiest labor disturbance in Wisconsin's history, and began a new struggle for a more humane workplace and a more just society. Join us now, 137 years later, as a diverse group of Milwaukeeans commemorates the story of this historic event. Join us afterwards at the Beulah Brinton House (2590 S. Superior Street) for music and refreshments, courtesy of the Bay View Historical Society.

New Orleans, LA International Workers Day – Legalization for all! Rally & March Monday, May 1, 5:00pm Benito Juarez Statue, Basin St & Conti St – march to City Hall

Join us for our 3rd annual march celebrating International Worker's Day and to fight for immigrant's rights and legalization for all!

San José, CA A History of May Day: 137 Years of Socialist and Workers' Struggle! Saturday, April 29, 11am San José Peace and Justice Center, 48 S 7th St #101, San José, CA

Learn about a comprehensive history of May Day and about current union struggles of graduate students!

San José May Day – International Worker's Day Rally and March Monday, May 1, 3:00pm Roosevelt Park, 901 E Santa Clara St, San José, CA

Join us to celebrate the achievements of the working class and continue to demand: Unions for All! All workers have the right to organize! Organized by the San José May Day Coalition.

Seattle, WA International Workers Day May 1st March & Rally for Immigrant & Workers Rights Monday, May 1, 11:30am Henry M. Jackson Federal Building, 915 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA

Come one, come all to this year’s annual May Day March in Seattle! Join the FRSO Seattle contingent as we march alongside El Comité, May 1st Action Coalition, BAYAN Seattle, Unite Here Local 8, and many others. Defend workers and immigrants’ rights!

May Day Panel Sunday, May 7, 2:00pm

Hear union members and immigrants speak about their current campaigns in Seattle as we commemorate 137 years of May Day!

Tampa, FL May Day Rally Against the Union-Busting Bill Sunday, April 30, 2:00pm In front of HSEF Hall, 5126 N Florida Ave, Tampa, FL

This International Worker's Day, protest against SB256/HB1445 and all other attacks on unions from the DeSantis administration. Endorsed by HCTA, Polk Education Association, AFSCME Local 3342, Tampa Bay SDS, Tampa Bay Community Action Committee, and Tampa FRSO.

Tallahassee, FL International Worker's Day Rally Saturday, April 29, 2:00pm Cascades Park, Tallahassee, FL

Join us for International Workers' Day, as we stand in solidarity with all oppressed communities and demand a more equitable and just society. As working-class people, activists, and students, we must unite and demand a better future for all. Together, we can demonstrate the power of the working class and demand real change.

Speakers from the labor movement, immigrant rights, anti-war, student, and youth movements will come together to address the issues of systemic racism, police brutality, LGBTQ+ rights, women and reproductive rights, and Black lives. Attendees are encouraged to display signs with messages demanding rights for LGBTQ people, community control of the police, increased wages, and better conditions for working people.

Please join our call to action to stand up and rally for May Day 2023. We ask that you share this event with your networks through email, social media, and in your meetings. Let's come together and show the strength of our solidarity!

Co-sponsored by Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Tallahassee Community Action Committee, FSU Students for a Democratic Society and FSU Graduate Assistants United.

Tulsa, OK International Worker's Day! Monday, May 1, 12:00pm 8124 E. 21st. St, Unit A

In support of workers and immigrant struggles, we're inviting everyone interested to participate! Food and drink provided. Let us build May Day into a holiday every Oklahoman will celebrate!

#UnitedStates #May1