Today is May Day, the international day of struggle of the working
class. In 1886, thousands of people went on strike in Chicago for the
implementation of the eight-hour day and were attacked, massacred, and
executed by the police. But they weren't just fighting for concrete
reforms; they also aimed for a freer and more just society. We still
stand in this tradition today when we take to the streets as workers on
May Day and raise the flag of remembrance and struggle. ---- This year's
May Day in Germany is taking place against the backdrop of various
social debates and attacks by the ruling class on previously fought-for
achievements of the labor movement. This is particularly evident in the
abolition of the maximum daily working hours enshrined in the coalition
agreement between the CDU and SPD, the struggle for which represents the
historical origin of May Day. This move is to be understood as a massive
attack on a central labor protection mechanism and on the working class
as such. It is part of the progressive impoverishment of large sections
of society, the increase in weekly working hours under the auspices of
the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB), a tightening of regulations
for unemployment benefit recipients, and the massive reduction of jobs
in the manufacturing industry. The unions are cowering and withdrawing,
negotiating deals that leave us with empty pockets and no longer even
managing the coming misery. We are constantly threatened by constantly
high prices, the reduction of social infrastructure, and the fear of
unemployment.
Parallel to these attacks on the welfare state, a broad social
militarization is taking place. Defense spending is increasing daily and
is being implemented with questionable maneuvers and a broad front from
the CDU to the Greens. While the military buildup of the Federal
Republic of Germany is taking its material form, society is being
further disciplined internally. The preparation of a new military draft
for young people, the hammering of austerity measures in case of war,
the constant media propaganda of the necessity of war and a patriarchal
mentality are omnipresent. At the same time, military support for wars,
genocides, and massacres continues, other societies are deprived of
their livelihoods, and resistance to them is massively criminalized.
Meanwhile, the state is cracking down. It is closing its borders to keep
out those deemed superfluous by capitalism behind a racist discourse,
imprisoning anti-fascists on flimsy grounds, conducting sham trials
against former militant revolutionaries, and unleashing its entire
repressive apparatus against them. At the same time, young people who
resist the imperialist policies of the Federal Republic of Germany are
being persecuted with police violence, and left-wing structures are
being attacked and put under pressure on a broad scale.
These developments are taking place not only in Germany, but worldwide,
and everywhere workers and revolutionaries are countering the class
struggle from above with their tireless fight for a liberated society.
That's why we, together with some European sister organizations, have
drafted a declaration for this year's May Day, which can be read below.
For the building of counterpower from below! For anarchist communism!
Come out for May Day!
JOINT EUROPEAN DECLARATION - LONG LIVE MAY 1
May Day must not be reduced to an empty repetition or a generic
"Workers' Day"; it is important to remember its authentic origins in the
working class and internationalism in order to reclaim and reaffirm the
values of unity, hope, and emancipation that have shaped the history of
the global proletariat.
We must not forget that the origins and history of May Day are linked to
the struggle for the eight-hour day - a struggle that began in 1866 in
the most industrialized countries of Europe and the United States.
Twenty years later, in 1886, during the May Day protests for the
reduction of working hours, police in Chicago opened fire on workers
outside a factory, resulting in deaths and injuries. Later, a protest
against the massacre resulted in violent clashes instigated by the
police and a bomb explosion. These events, supported by false testimony,
led to the death sentences of five union leaders and long prison
sentences for three others.
These union leaders-all anarchists and immigrant workers (with the
exception of Albert Parsons, who was born in the United States)-were
completely innocent of the fictitious charges against them. They were
hanged on November 11, 1887, despite protests across the country. August
Spies, Adolph Fischer, George Engel, and Albert Parsons were murdered,
while Louis Lingg committed suicide in prison before his execution.
Samuel Fielden, Oscar Neebe, and Michael Schwab were sentenced to long
prison terms.
However, after an initial setback caused by the events in Chicago and
the subsequent repression, the fight for shorter working hours resumed
with greater vigor. At a historic congress held in Paris in 1889, an
international day of protest was proclaimed for May 1 of the following
year to commemorate the "Chicago Martyrs" and support the eight-hour day.
Thanks to the increasing mobilization of the working class, significant
reductions in working hours occurred in various countries at the
beginning of the 20th century, and between 1917 and 1919, the eight-hour
day became the standard throughout European industry, partly due to the
impetus of the Russian Revolution.
But today's commemoration of May Day must not be reduced to an
institutional celebration, divorced from the conflict between capital
and labor and from current struggles. Therefore, we also remember the
resistance of the Palestinian and Kurdish people, the struggle against
military bases and the spread of militarism in society, the struggle
against arms production and trade, and against all imperialist wars. We
remember the young people protesting against environmental pollution and
job insecurity; the FLINTA* people fighting for their rights in a
patriarchal society; the workers fighting against layoffs, for fair
wages, job security, and a better quality of life; the migrants fleeing
war and poverty in search of a better future. and all people who fight
against the resurgence of fascism, reject all borders (because "our
homeland is the whole world"), and strive for a nature and humanity free
from capitalist exploitation in all its forms - against racism,
oppression, and all forms of political and state oppression.
Under all circumstances: Long live the resistance against capitalism!
With the ever more aggressive introduction of new technologies and the
rise of so-called artificial intelligence, it is becoming ever more
urgent and necessary to resume the struggle for a comprehensive
reduction in working hours. This includes demands that go beyond
national borders and advocate for an average wage that can counteract
social dumping, at least across Europe. It is necessary to fight with
determination for a drastic reduction in working hours and significant
wage increases.
That is why May 1 remains of great importance - to achieve essential
immediate goals and continue the march towards the liberation of all
exploited and oppressed classes. And so, yesterday, today, and tomorrow:
Long live the internationalist May Day!
? Alternativa Libertaria (AL/FdCA) - Italy
? The Platform - Germany
https://www.dieplattform.org/2025/05/01/anarchistische-erklaerung-zum-1-mai-2025/#more-3462
_________________________________________
A - I N F O S N E W S S E R V I C E
By, For, and About Anarchists
Send news reports to A-infos-en mailing list
A-infos-en@ainfos.ca
class. In 1886, thousands of people went on strike in Chicago for the
implementation of the eight-hour day and were attacked, massacred, and
executed by the police. But they weren't just fighting for concrete
reforms; they also aimed for a freer and more just society. We still
stand in this tradition today when we take to the streets as workers on
May Day and raise the flag of remembrance and struggle. ---- This year's
May Day in Germany is taking place against the backdrop of various
social debates and attacks by the ruling class on previously fought-for
achievements of the labor movement. This is particularly evident in the
abolition of the maximum daily working hours enshrined in the coalition
agreement between the CDU and SPD, the struggle for which represents the
historical origin of May Day. This move is to be understood as a massive
attack on a central labor protection mechanism and on the working class
as such. It is part of the progressive impoverishment of large sections
of society, the increase in weekly working hours under the auspices of
the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB), a tightening of regulations
for unemployment benefit recipients, and the massive reduction of jobs
in the manufacturing industry. The unions are cowering and withdrawing,
negotiating deals that leave us with empty pockets and no longer even
managing the coming misery. We are constantly threatened by constantly
high prices, the reduction of social infrastructure, and the fear of
unemployment.
Parallel to these attacks on the welfare state, a broad social
militarization is taking place. Defense spending is increasing daily and
is being implemented with questionable maneuvers and a broad front from
the CDU to the Greens. While the military buildup of the Federal
Republic of Germany is taking its material form, society is being
further disciplined internally. The preparation of a new military draft
for young people, the hammering of austerity measures in case of war,
the constant media propaganda of the necessity of war and a patriarchal
mentality are omnipresent. At the same time, military support for wars,
genocides, and massacres continues, other societies are deprived of
their livelihoods, and resistance to them is massively criminalized.
Meanwhile, the state is cracking down. It is closing its borders to keep
out those deemed superfluous by capitalism behind a racist discourse,
imprisoning anti-fascists on flimsy grounds, conducting sham trials
against former militant revolutionaries, and unleashing its entire
repressive apparatus against them. At the same time, young people who
resist the imperialist policies of the Federal Republic of Germany are
being persecuted with police violence, and left-wing structures are
being attacked and put under pressure on a broad scale.
These developments are taking place not only in Germany, but worldwide,
and everywhere workers and revolutionaries are countering the class
struggle from above with their tireless fight for a liberated society.
That's why we, together with some European sister organizations, have
drafted a declaration for this year's May Day, which can be read below.
For the building of counterpower from below! For anarchist communism!
Come out for May Day!
JOINT EUROPEAN DECLARATION - LONG LIVE MAY 1
May Day must not be reduced to an empty repetition or a generic
"Workers' Day"; it is important to remember its authentic origins in the
working class and internationalism in order to reclaim and reaffirm the
values of unity, hope, and emancipation that have shaped the history of
the global proletariat.
We must not forget that the origins and history of May Day are linked to
the struggle for the eight-hour day - a struggle that began in 1866 in
the most industrialized countries of Europe and the United States.
Twenty years later, in 1886, during the May Day protests for the
reduction of working hours, police in Chicago opened fire on workers
outside a factory, resulting in deaths and injuries. Later, a protest
against the massacre resulted in violent clashes instigated by the
police and a bomb explosion. These events, supported by false testimony,
led to the death sentences of five union leaders and long prison
sentences for three others.
These union leaders-all anarchists and immigrant workers (with the
exception of Albert Parsons, who was born in the United States)-were
completely innocent of the fictitious charges against them. They were
hanged on November 11, 1887, despite protests across the country. August
Spies, Adolph Fischer, George Engel, and Albert Parsons were murdered,
while Louis Lingg committed suicide in prison before his execution.
Samuel Fielden, Oscar Neebe, and Michael Schwab were sentenced to long
prison terms.
However, after an initial setback caused by the events in Chicago and
the subsequent repression, the fight for shorter working hours resumed
with greater vigor. At a historic congress held in Paris in 1889, an
international day of protest was proclaimed for May 1 of the following
year to commemorate the "Chicago Martyrs" and support the eight-hour day.
Thanks to the increasing mobilization of the working class, significant
reductions in working hours occurred in various countries at the
beginning of the 20th century, and between 1917 and 1919, the eight-hour
day became the standard throughout European industry, partly due to the
impetus of the Russian Revolution.
But today's commemoration of May Day must not be reduced to an
institutional celebration, divorced from the conflict between capital
and labor and from current struggles. Therefore, we also remember the
resistance of the Palestinian and Kurdish people, the struggle against
military bases and the spread of militarism in society, the struggle
against arms production and trade, and against all imperialist wars. We
remember the young people protesting against environmental pollution and
job insecurity; the FLINTA* people fighting for their rights in a
patriarchal society; the workers fighting against layoffs, for fair
wages, job security, and a better quality of life; the migrants fleeing
war and poverty in search of a better future. and all people who fight
against the resurgence of fascism, reject all borders (because "our
homeland is the whole world"), and strive for a nature and humanity free
from capitalist exploitation in all its forms - against racism,
oppression, and all forms of political and state oppression.
Under all circumstances: Long live the resistance against capitalism!
With the ever more aggressive introduction of new technologies and the
rise of so-called artificial intelligence, it is becoming ever more
urgent and necessary to resume the struggle for a comprehensive
reduction in working hours. This includes demands that go beyond
national borders and advocate for an average wage that can counteract
social dumping, at least across Europe. It is necessary to fight with
determination for a drastic reduction in working hours and significant
wage increases.
That is why May 1 remains of great importance - to achieve essential
immediate goals and continue the march towards the liberation of all
exploited and oppressed classes. And so, yesterday, today, and tomorrow:
Long live the internationalist May Day!
? Alternativa Libertaria (AL/FdCA) - Italy
? The Platform - Germany
https://www.dieplattform.org/2025/05/01/anarchistische-erklaerung-zum-1-mai-2025/#more-3462
_________________________________________
A - I N F O S N E W S S E R V I C E
By, For, and About Anarchists
Send news reports to A-infos-en mailing list
A-infos-en@ainfos.ca
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