Baltimore Bicycle Works Closed Friday May 1st
Baltimore Bicycle Works will be closed on May 1st for International Workers’ Day.
If you are unfamiliar with International Workers’ Day, it is my great pleasure to provide some links to websites where you can find additional information on the significance of the holiday, and on the history of the international labor movement.
May 1st was chosen as a day when workers would all demonstrate in solidarity with one another in their struggle for the 8-hour day. This was at a time in the 1880’s and 90’s when 10, 12, and 14 hour days were common. This date was chosen because of the struggle by the labor movement, and violent suppression of that movement in 1886 in Chicago. I am posting a series of short videos that PBS did that gives a pretty through explanation of what is known as “Haymarket”.
May Day has remained since the time when workers demonstrated for an 8-hour day, a time to remember those who have died for our gains as working people, and a time to renew the struggle against all of those who would exploit and oppress other people for their own economic gain.
The most exciting May Day in recent memory came two years ago when hundreds of thousands of workers came out to demonstrate solidarity with their brothers and sisters who were under threat of repression because of our broken immigration policies. I am posting another video of a performance by the Nightwatchmen at a May Day event in 2007 in Los Angeles.
See you on the picket line.