The origin of May Day dates back to the labor struggles of the nineteenth century, more
specifically in the United States, where 80 years of that century unfolded a large joint
in different regions to fight for the eight-hour work. At that time and long after, were
common journeys that exceeded 15h daily. ---- This was therefore a milestone in the battle
between capital and labor: Those who produce the wealth of the world fighting against
those who appropriate your product, the fight for the greater part of the day was not the
employer but the employee, a step in the struggle for a new society. The motto was "eight
hours work, eight hours for recreation and eight hours of rest." Today we know that if
society were organized according to principles of libertarian socialism and everyone
worked, we would need to devote far less than 8h daily work.
Accordingly, the date was set for May 1, 1886 as the deadline for employers to grant a new
workday claimed. So, at that date began an immense strike movement, which has expanded to
several cities in the U.S., particularly in the industrial city of Chicago. There was a
strong presence of anarchist militancy, he was actively involved with the organization of
this and other struggles.
In the following days, there were several clashes with the police, which resulted in some
protesters killed and arrested. When, on 4 May, police tried to stop a peaceful
demonstration to the disproportionate use of brute force, there was an explosion in the
columns of repression and about seven policemen were killed and 70 were injured. To date
not confirmed for the attack, but there is strong evidence indicating that it was the very
reaction that implanted the pump in their ranks to publicly justify what followed:
Immediately, a massacre in which nearly 100 workers were killed and a brutal crackdown
with arrests of people, many of them without any involvement with the labor movement.
These people were brutally tortured before giving them any participation in movements
demanding.
The most prominent activists, most of whom were German immigrants and anarchists, were
directly accountable, and most were not even on site the day of the attack. Surely, were
direct employees of mobilisations and struggles of the working class in the country they
lived in, but had nothing to do with the explosion. Prominent among these are: Neebe, who
was sentenced to 15 years in prison; Scheab and Fielden, who had the sentence reduced to
life imprisonment after much demonstration; Lingg, who committed suicide in prison, and
Spies, Parsons, Fischer and Engel, hanged. Afterwards, was officially recognized their
innocence and who were still prisoners were released. Before that, the story had already
caused international uproar across the union movement worldwide.
The May 1 then passes to various movements for workers as a symbol of class struggle. It
is remembered every year with demonstrations in several locations. Turned the labor day,
being recognized by the Second International (the international social democratic parties
and the ends). Later, the ruling class and their governments are to adopt it as a national
holiday in many countries, as a way to co-opt the labor movement and to appropriate the
story changing, as are the calls work day and no more day worker.
This step marked the history of resistance of the oppressed people should always be
considered in respect to all who died on the way in the search for a new society, but
above all so that we can reflect on their examples in the continuation of that battle in
our time.
We anarchists have always been present in the fight pear building a new society, which for
us has to be guided by equality and freedom. Like the Chicago anarchists, anarchist
movement was responsible for the development of a unionism in Brazil, we call
revolutionary unionism of intent. This united to fight for improvements in social
conditions of workers with more immediate struggle for social transformation, well
entrenched throughout the class period. The expression of this type of unionism was
striking the late nineteenth century until the 30s of the twentieth century, not only in
Brazil, as in other countries. Were marks that time the Brazilian Workers' Confederation
(COB) and the Workers Federation Alagoana, part of this process and hegemonic influential
workers in their times. The dominant political force was the anarchists who allies
shoulder to shoulder with other classmates, built several fights. Worked as an active
minority, were in class, were inserted in it, and by no means at the forefront, driving
them authoritatively.
Today we live in times of great demobilization, and ideas as the revolutionary unionism of
intent are no longer hegemonic in our society. In large part, the unions are bureaucratic
and linked to the boss and their governments. However, never forget that the majority of
humanity potentially hold within the spirit of their own liberation. We, the oppressed
will always be the majority of mankind as the last social class system and the profound
inequality it.
We anarchists campaigned incessantly for the awakening of civil unrest. For this revolt is
organized, self-managed and has a clear goal: libertarian socialism. Much remains to be
done and we can not be sure of victory.
The workers' struggle is also part of the struggle of oppressed them and also we operate.
The reorganization of the labor movement has to leave the workplace: a more devious it may
be, the worker has to be the protagonist of the process. The unions are greater than its
direction, but to get it they have a combative nature and may go beyond the immediate, the
key is to bring the whole class to fight not just change direction. Good union boards will
result in a strong movement and ability to build the fight and not just run it.
We Anarchist Collective Zumbi dos Palmares (CAZP), along with the Brazilian Anarchist
Coordination (CAB), are inserted in the union struggle and built in various locations,
with great humility, knowing how to build and lack craving redemption unionism of intent
revolutionary. Belong to the tradition of the anarchist struggle of the martyrs of Chicago
to the present day.
Neebe, Spies, Parsons, Fischer, Engel, Scheab, Fielden, Lingg and all other
comrades who fell by the way
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