Workers Around World Mark May Day With Marches and Rallies Demanding Fair Wages and Workplace Justice
"Our rights weren't gifted. They were won by workers who refused to accept second best."
Workers in countries all over the world joined marches and rallies on Wednesday to mark International Workers' Day, or May Day, with progressive political leaders joining some events and other protests being quashed by law enforcement.
The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) was among the organizations that promoted the international event on social media, tweeting, "A fighting workers' union is the answer" to workplace injustice.
\u201cHappy #MayDay, Fellow Workers! #1u\u201d— Industrial Workers of the World (@Industrial Workers of the World) 1556685971
Demonstrations in Paris on Wednesday were among the rallies that have grown violent through the years.
Police fired tear gas at protesters as the French government warned the demonstration may be overtaken by vandals.
Other rallies across Europe and around the world remained peaceful, with hundreds of thousands of demonstrators calling on governments to push for family leave laws, fair living wages, and an end to workplace discrimination, particularly against immigrants.
London
\u201cLondon May Day March. United for workers\u2019 rights across the world. \u270a #solidarity #InternationalWorkersDay2019\u201d— Jen Thornton (@Jen Thornton) 1556719356
Madrid
\u201c\u00a1Feliz D\u00eda Internacional de los Trabajadores!\n\nI'm very impressed with how May Day is commemorated in Spain. Everything, except small shops and cafes, is closed... including schools and universities! People are just going about their days, relaxing in the hot weather.\u201d— \u0633\u064a\u062f \u0639\u0645\u0627\u0631\ud83d\udd3b (@\u0633\u064a\u062f \u0639\u0645\u0627\u0631\ud83d\udd3b) 1556722655
Dhaka, Bangladesh
\u201cSolidarity from SGSF members to workers and allies around the world on May Day. #MayDay2019 #DecentWork #UnionStrong @IndustriALL_GU\u201d— SGSF (@SGSF) 1556723211
South Carolina
Orkney, South Africa
\u201cMarching with workers and the Alliance leadership to the James Motlatsi Stadium where the rally will commence #InternationalWorkersDay2019 #MayDay2019\u201d— Mmamoloko Nkhensani Kubayi (@Mmamoloko Nkhensani Kubayi) 1556699486
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In the U.S., a number of other labor organizations tweeted about the day's significance.
\u201cOur rights weren't gifted. They were won by workers who refused to accept second best. Happy #InternationalWorkersDay \n\n#MayDay #MayDay2019 #1u \u201d— AFL-CIO \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 | #AFLCIOVotes (@AFL-CIO \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 | #AFLCIOVotes) 1556719556
\u201c|\uffe3\uffe3\uffe3\uffe3\uffe3\uffe3\uffe3| \n| WHEN |\n|WORKERS ARE | \n| ORGANIZED |\n| WE WIN! | \n| \uff3f\uff3f\uff3f\uff3f\uff3f\uff3f\uff3f| \n(\__/) || \n(\u2022\u3145\u2022) || \n/ \u3000 \u3065\n\nHappy #MayDay!\n\n#1u\u201d— NationalNursesUnited (@NationalNursesUnited) 1556717340
Progressive lawmakers from around the world, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Barbara Lee in the U.S. and British Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, tweeted support for workers who were protesting Wednesday.
May Day's roots date back to the late 19th century in the Chicago, where workers went on strike to protest their long, grueling working hours in unsafe factories, construction sites, and other environments. The protests are credited with beginning the labor movement in the United States.
The labor celebration is now an official holiday in 66 countries.