another golden week

Millions of immigrants and their supporters will take to the streets of America today in protest of HR 4437. They will not work, shop, sell, or go to school, their absence intended to highlight their significant contribution to the US economy and society.

In China, as in many other countries around the world, people also are not at work or school today. They are on holiday instead. For them, today is Labor Day, May Day, or International Workers' Day.

I learned, while researching the Day Without an Immigrant campaign, that May Day actually began with the Haymarket Riot of 1886 in Chicago. Anarchists led a rally to protest the May 1st killing of union workers who had gone on strike to demand an eight-hour work day and better working conditions. The rally turned violent: a bomb was thrown, killing a policeman, and the police then opened fire on the crowd. Eight labor leaders (five of whom were immigrants) were charged with the policeman's murder. Though no evidence linked these men to the bombing, all were found guilty, seven were sentenced to death, and four were eventually hung. The governor later determined that all of the accused were innocent and pardoned the survivors. Following this debacle, people across the globe chose May 1st as a day to commemorate the achievements of the international labor force. This holiday was embraced by the far left wing, including socialist and communist governments. The US government, not wanting to show solidarity with those movements, chose to celebrate Labor Day in September instead, following a tradition by the Knights of Labor.

On a day with such a rich and fascinating history, and today with history in the making, I find it extremely ironic that I, the American daughter of naturalized citizens who emigrated to the US from Hong Kong, am now in China and recognizing May Day with a full week off of work.