by Ron Horn (I was inspired by an activist, Caren, to write this post.)
Giant celebrations are occurring all over the world--except in the US--for this day in honor of workers. (Some examples: in Zambia, India, France, Cuba, and Russia.)
That's a bit strange since it originated in the USA. It is another example of worker history that our ruling masters have almost disappeared
from the consciousness of many American workers. But looking at the
history of International Workers' Day, we learn that the day is as
American as apple pie!
Our ruling masters have attempted to obliterate
its meaning by relabeling the day to various other meanings, by changing
it to "Labor Day" and shifting it to the first Monday of September, by
removing most of the history of this day from schools and educational
materials, and by media corporations portrayal of the day as almost
un-American by framing the day as one of potential violence. Isn't
it ironic that the most violent ruling class in recorded world history
treats American workers with such paranoia?
It started on May 1, 1886 with a workers' rally which led to what it sounds like was a ... false flag event--probably the most favored tactic of our capitalist masters. Historian Yohuru Williams gives us a brief history of the event which led to this day of honor for working people all over the world.
