In May of 1886, protestors in Haymarket Square in Chicago were rallying for better working conditions and an eight hour work day. The protest ended with police killing 11 people. As a result, on this day every year, workers across the globe celebrate International Workers’ Day, or May Day, to honor the struggles for workers rights everywhere.
On this May Day, we honor the contributions of labor movements past and present. We stand proudly in the legacy of women who have participated in and led these movements, from the Black laundresses in Atlanta leading the 1881 Washerwomen Strike to the service workers in the Starbucks Workers Union.
Protest is deeply woven into our feminist legacy, serving as a critical force in securing the freedoms and rights we cherish today. From the early 20th-century suffragette parades to the recent global marches for gender equality, women have not only participated in but have led protests that challenge the status quo and demand an equitable society for our families, our freedoms, and our futures.
Let’s keep fighting for a feminist future. Tell Congress to protect the right to protest.
– Women’s March
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