Vassar DSA

May 1st is International Workers Day. “On May 1, 1886, more than 300,000 workers in 13,000 businesses across the United States walked off their jobs in the first May Day celebration in history” to strike for the 8 hour work day. Strikers lost their lives to police violence in the following days of the Haymarket Affair, which started as a rally and turned into a riot, and then a massacre. It was because of this tragedy that the movement for the 8 hour workday was a success, changing the labor laws that still protect workers to this day. For more information on the Haymarket Affair, see the links below.

This May 1st, workers across the world are striking against the capitalist system that continues to oppress the poorest among us, and the people that are most essential to the economy and production. The COVID-19 crisis capitalism is forcing people to work in unsafe conditions, choosing between having an income or risking death, and between having food or housing. Today and every day going forward, we are the shutdown. It is up to us to stand in solidarity with strikers by boycotting all shopping and spreading information about the strike. No crossing the picket line! Links below for information on how to get involved!


https://archive.iww.org/history/library/misc/origins_of_mayday/
https://libcom.org/library/haymarket-tragedy-paul-avrich
https://itsgoingdown.org/we-are-the-shutdown-may-1st-2020/
https://www.genstrike.org/may-day-guide/