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May Day is Coming!
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On International Workers’ Day, people across the country will participate in a National Day of Action at marches, rallies, and town halls that will resist this administration’s scapegoating of immigrant and refugee communities.
We are a nation that welcomes immigrants and values the talent, ingenuity, and hard work that immigrants bring to our communities. On May 1 we declare that hatred and bigotry have no home here.
If you believe America is for everyone, join the May Day March!
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Join a May Day Action!
San Jose: www.facebook.com/events/1221437297933877
Salinas: www.facebook.com/events/449993178680539
Fresno: www.facebook.com/events/1906605042913694
Bakersfield: www.facebook.com/events/1249095465208897
Brief History of May Day
In the late 19th century, trade unions first proposed a day to celebrate labor. In 1882, a Labor Day holiday was proposed on the first Monday of September. In 1887, Oregon was the first state of the United States to make it an official public holiday. By the time it became an official federal holiday in 1894, thirty U.S. states officially celebrated Labor Day.
May 1 was chosen to be International Workers’ Day to commemorate the Haymarket affair in Chicago. Violence erupted that day between police and workers who were striking for an 8-hour work day on May 4, 1886.
In 1889, a meeting in Paris was held by international workers’ rights groups calling for demonstrations on the anniversary of the Chicago protests. May Day was formally recognized as an annual event in 1891.
In 1955, the Catholic Church dedicated May 1 to Saint Joseph, the patron saint of workers and craftsmen.
Seize this moment in history. Demonstrate the strength of working people standing together. Show that we’re ready to defend worker and immigrant rights against fear and hate and that we have the power to stand up to the threats facing working families and our communities.
RSVP now for an event near you.
Get Involved!
Join our caucuses and committees: www.seiu521.org/caucus
For other news, check out the April edition of our Talking Points:
www.seiu521.org/talking-points-april2017
