MILWAUKEE WORKERS’ DAY OBSERVANCES LARGEST IN RECENT MEMORY

FW G S Porter, 01.05.2005 23:07

Observations and photos on two styles of May Day celebrations in Milwaukee

The parade arrives at Cathedral Square.

Elated marchers look forward to rest in the square.

Some drummers just kept on drumming.

This woman is in thte spirit of the day.

Some of the vast supply of food from Food Not bombs.

Marchers tuck into a good meal.

Still others tuck into a good meal.

At Cathedral Square.

At Cathedral Square.

At Cathedral Square.

At Cathedral Square.

Still exuberant at Cathedral Square.

Many union commented favorably on the number of young people at Bayview.

Larry Penn gives us resolve.

There was a good cross section of society.

The Wobblies attended in numbers.

Nothing more needs be said. Solidarity Forever!

A blustery First of May gave little inconvenience to class-conscious young people in their efforts to provide an edge to generally moribund public ceremonies meant to honor and recognize the social and economic contributions of working people.

The May First holiday has European roots as Beltaine, a pagan summer celebration of the ancient Gaels of Ireland and Scotland in recognition of the labor and fertility involved with farming and herding. In Germany, a similar pagan celebration, Walpurgisnacht is celebrated to this day. Young people attend bonfires and spend the night of 30 April in revelry and all forms of carousing.

Direct association with industrial laboring people came in the United States, when in 1884 the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions set May First as the date demands for an eight-hour day would come into effect. In a cruel slap to American working people the USA is one of the few countries that do not recognize May First as an international day to honor and recognize workers. In other countries the day is recognized with huge parades, festivals and other celebrations. Today, with a global economy, we ought to celebrate holidays globally.

In Milwaukee, the May First date is especially notable, because on 5 May 1886, to quash demands for an eight-hour day, the Wisconsin Militia murdered 7 workers in Bayview. Nevertheless, eight hours of work is the norm today.

As Milwaukee plutocrats and bourgeoisie whiled away their free time shopping, sipping latte and struggling with their golf game, disaffected ‘descamisados’ [shirtless ones] in the form of a coalition of young anarchists, radical persons of conscience, and revolutionary labor unionists celebrated with a parade and a picnic. For the second year, young people marched to a public park, played games, ate and reflected in celebration. The parade began around noon at Kern Park near Humboldt and Keefe and ambitiously finished nearly 4 miles away at Cathedral Square. Shortly after noon 25 persons marched out with signs, drums, flags and banners. Over an hour later, at Cathedral Square, the group had become a crowd of 40, and their drumming and chanting could be heard two blocks away. The marchers arrived elated with their energy and told tales of taking to the streets, claiming right of way at intersections, frustrating drivers with streets full of people, and of bystanders hearing the din and joining the march from their homes.

Food Not Bombs, who miraculously provided everything from mashed potatoes to fruit, to cookies, to pasta salad, to bread, to donuts catered the picnic with assistance from the bicycle collective.

Shortly before the Bayview ceremonies, everyone turned to and cleaned tables, stacked dishes, gathered rubbish, gathered drums, and arranged rides to the commemoration.

In Bayview, more conventional observances drew a throng some estimated at nearly 300. They heard politicians praise the working class, labor bureaucrats recount history, musicians honor the martyrs, and historians preserve the past. Scant attention was paid to the lessons of the past for the future. As a windup, all sang ‘Solidarity Forever’ and repaired to Puddler’s Hall, a nearby pub housed in a 1870s union hall structure.

As reference to the future, labor musicians Anne Feeny and David Rovics will play at Puddler’s Hall beginning 7:30 PM on 6 May. The concert is part of the 100th anniversary of the forward looking, radical, and influential Industrial Workers of the World: the IWW. Locally designed, union-made tee shirts and other IWW trinkets will be for sale. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.

-30-

Information on the history of May Day was retrieved from the Wikipedia ‘May Day’ entry.

e-mail:: skip9007@sbcglobal.net

if only 02.05.2005 - 16:02 If only more WORKERS had shown up... malcontent> Huh? 02.05.2005 - 19:08 Well, you certainly seem to have not looked very hard. Everyone I knew there has a job, or had one, or will have one. Everyone there seemed to be contributing to society; sometimes against the odds. Even though unrecognized, most of us are indeed workers. As evidence, I point out we're most of us really getting the shaft from this society. Lighten up, chum, look around with someone else's eyes, and broaden your horizons. Skip> it obviously wasn't perfect... 03.05.2005 - 13:59 This event was larger than the picnic and rally last year, and from what I remember more diverse. Just because there weren't thousands of workers in the streets taking over the city, it doesn't mean that we failed. Obviously I would have prefered that. We contacted peace action, people sent info about the event to various unions, and we flyered all over the city (maybe not as much as we should have, but all that four people who are otherwise already busy have time to do). We're still learning how to organize effectively, but I don't know why I shouldn't be happy about an event that inspired a lot of people and got people talking. We even got some high fives while we were walking down Brady street. a herd of kittens> thank you 04.05.2005 - 09:08 I would be more then happy to help in future organinzing...and as i said else were on the web contact info for events is vital, Sorry i couldnt make it though...it looked wonderful. I have lots of ideas for next year, which i will for sure be attending. thanks for all your hard work whendee> No war but the class war 04.05.2005 - 11:43 Let us not do this on certain days of the year, LET US TAKE OVER ALL THE TIME!!!!!! Mandie aka the bitch with red hair> e-mail:: amanda.jobs@wamu.net