In 1886, Chicago was one of the world’s leading centers of labor activism. The burning issue of the time was the fight for the 8-hour work day. On May Day, the workers of Chicago went out on a one-day general strike. But demonstrations continued for the next two days. Anarchists and radicals got involved. The Chicago police started rounding people up.

On May 3, things turned violent. A peaceful demonstration in support of striking workers at the McCormick Reaper plant turned into a riot. Police opened fire killing one person and arresting dozens of others.

But the trouble was just beginning. The next day, thousands gathered in Haymarket Square to protest the police violence at the McCormick plant. At the end of the rally, the police moved in. Suddenly, a bomb exploded. One police officer was killed instantly. Six other officers suffered wounds that would ultimately prove fatal. 60 others were injured. The number of civilians killed and wounded is unknown. The person who threw the bomb was never identified. But eight men were tried and found guilty. Four were hanged, one committed suicide, two remained in jail for the rest of their lives and one was pardoned.

In 1889, socialists from all over the world met in Paris for the First Congress of the Second Socialist International. Among other things, they voted to establish an international day of celebration for the working man. The day they chose: May first, in commemoration of the Haymarket riot.

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