General Discussion

joshcryer

(62,536 posts)

84. It's not a "big holiday" because the oligarchs made it "Loyalty Day" in order to suppress dissent.

Wed May 2, 2012, 03:23 AM

May 2012

The labor movement in the United States has celebrated May 1st since 1886.

http://www.thenation.com/blog/160304/more-100-us-may-day-protests-planned-international-activists-arrested

http://gothamist.com/2010/05/01/millions_to_protest_arizona_immigra.php#photo-1

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?id=6792278

http://voices.yahoo.com/may-day-protests-making-us-presidential-candidates-1430357.html?cat=7

It is a very bright history in American activist circles, and just because it doesn't get covered does not make it not a real thing.

The Soviets wanted to co-opt it because during the Great Depression the US was having an internal labor uprising that FDR killed, of course they decided that it was a good anti-imperialist message to send.

But just because groups "celebrate it" does not magically mean they are pro-labor.

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UPDATES: Occupy: May Day is Marked Around the World with Demands for Stronger Labor Rights [View all] sabrina 1 May 2012 OP

From Nepal: sabrina 1 May 2012 #1

From Korea: sabrina 1 May 2012 #2

From Sydney Australia: sabrina 1 May 2012 #3

Updates from NYC: sabrina 1 May 2012 #4

NYC Cops Guarding BOA: sabrina 1 May 2012 #5

Livestream from SF, LA, NYC and Portland: sabrina 1 May 2012 #6

So Occupy has co-opted May Day now? randome May 2012 #7

Why is it unfair? People all over the world are suffering. Besides, Occupy hasn't sabrina 1 May 2012 #10

Eh. I withdraw my remark. randome May 2012 #12

Okay, sorry, I was just wondering why it would be unfair. They have to take every opportunity sabrina 1 May 2012 #16

I don't understand your question........... socialist_n_TN May 2012 #13

Weak. 2ndAmForComputers May 2012 #29

May Day was the old labor holiday, & still is in Europe. Occupy is taking it back. HiPointDem May 2012 #85

And to think it all started here. K&R. n/t Egalitarian Thug May 2012 #8

Well, in a way, we in the US were late to get started. It started in Spain with the Indignados sabrina 1 May 2012 #11

True. But May Day as a worker's celebration .......... socialist_n_TN May 2012 #14

Yes, I was reading a little about the history of the Chicago massacre sabrina 1 May 2012 #17

EXACTLY! That's something I said to my wife last night......... socialist_n_TN May 2012 #18

I think people should be constantly reminded of what it took just to get an eight hour day. sabrina 1 May 2012 #37

I liked McKinney. Unfortunately she was running in a red state with little respect for her views. freshwest May 2012 #107

Although it was in June, this event always comes to mind for me: freshwest May 2012 #62

Thank you for those links. I did not know that history re Russia. sabrina 1 May 2012 #104

This message was self-deleted by its author freshwest May 2012 #108

May Day, or International Worker's Day began here in the U.S. Egalitarian Thug May 2012 #21

Yes, I know. I was talking about Occupy. Should have been more clear. I responded to the comment sabrina 1 May 2012 #24

IOC, NP. Happy for another opportunity to kick this excellent post again. n/t. Egalitarian Thug May 2012 #28

Thanks, I just heard that Tom Morello is going to lead a march in NYC, don't know if it started yet sabrina 1 May 2012 #30

I heard that, too. The worst part of living in an indifferent, reddish state is Egalitarian Thug May 2012 #38

I don't envy you. sabrina 1 May 2012 #46

K&R - thanks for posting. n/t myrna minx May 2012 #9

k&r nt steve2470 May 2012 #15

Wow... looks like a "Bust".... some here won't be happy. fascisthunter May 2012 #19

It's still early here too. They are in Denver, LA, Portland, Chicago, NY and many other cities in sabrina 1 May 2012 #20

CNN reports ferries to SF from Larkspur and Sausalito shut down by striking workers pinboy3niner May 2012 #27

Oh thank you for that pinboy. Wish I could be there, or in NYC. Glad to hear they succeeded in sabrina 1 May 2012 #31

Fire, Lefty and coalition say 'Hi' back. WOW--what a day! pinboy3niner May 2012 #66

Great post, I was thinking about you all today and wondering how things were in LA. sabrina 1 May 2012 #69

My photo album from Occupy L.A. M1GS (May 1st General Strike): pinboy3niner May 2012 #86

I'm going to look at the photos. Thank you for posting them. Didn't have time last night sabrina 1 May 2012 #94

from The Guardian ananda May 2012 #22

Thanks, that is a good blog. Thanks for posting it. sabrina 1 May 2012 #32

Are you sure they're Occupy May Day rallies and not 99% Spring May Day rallies?...nt SidDithers May 2012 #23

Yes. sabrina 1 May 2012 #25

Here's a good picture from Madrid... SidDithers May 2012 #26

And they all are in solidarity with OWS. What is your point? sabrina 1 May 2012 #34

Sabrina, there are some people whose only contribution is to caterwaul and make noise DisgustipatedinCA May 2012 #39

Hi Disgustipated, no, I don't waste time with Republicans, I used to, but that was before I knew sabrina 1 May 2012 #52

I'll take this opportunity to remind DUers that most Canadians don't suck. girl gone mad May 2012 #45

Lol, I love Canadians! That is a wonderful photo, thank you for posting it. sabrina 1 May 2012 #48

GMTA suffragette May 2012 #49

Is Occupy going to coopt demonstrations of Quebec students protesting tuition hikes too?...nt SidDithers May 2012 #50

Generally what happens is groups ask Occupy to back them up. Then it is discussed at a General sabrina 1 May 2012 #54

Very true, most are genuinely nice people. Of course you do have your Egalitarian Thug May 2012 #59

Here are good pictures from Canada suffragette May 2012 #47

Canada had a great turnout, love the photos, thank you for posting them in the thread, suffragette! sabrina 1 May 2012 #75

AH I now see why the "I hate liberals and protestors' crowd Rex May 2012 #33

Lol, Rex, they've been wrong since September, the first week of this movement. I keep wondering if sabrina 1 May 2012 #35

Not as long as they can make people jump on command. Rex May 2012 #36

Very true! sabrina 1 May 2012 #63

K & R ellisonz May 2012 #40

www.kpfa.org covering protests in San Francisco live deutsey May 2012 #41

Same thing in Oakland also, thanks for the tip, I tried to listen to all of the streams but there sabrina 1 May 2012 #78

Thanks for the links PotatoChip May 2012 #42

Hi PotatoChip, no problem the more OPs the better, take the links also if you need them. sabrina 1 May 2012 #82

K&R suffragette May 2012 #43

What a colossal flop! girl gone mad May 2012 #44

Kicked and recommended. Uncle Joe May 2012 #51

I heard it was going to be a FLOP Autumn May 2012 #53

I know, that's what I heard also. Check the updates I just posted, but dial-up warning. I can't sabrina 1 May 2012 #55

Roundup of activities from around the country. It is still going on with tense situations in NYC and sabrina 1 May 2012 #56

Bringing tears to my eyes. woo me with science May 2012 #57

Hey looky here! Rex May 2012 #58

That one can never make a prediction again. Egalitarian Thug May 2012 #61

Lol, too funny. And that Bloomberg article is excellent. They really covered it very fairly and sabrina 1 May 2012 #64

It's just odd how that particular poster Rex May 2012 #88

Lol, hard to tell. But when you make a spectacularly wrong prediction like this, it's probably best sabrina 1 May 2012 #92

His little buddies had fun Rex May 2012 #95

Are the Moscow pics really necessary? RZM May 2012 #60

Well, most of the news did show those photos. Like Sarkozy, Putin and other world leaders sabrina 1 May 2012 #65

Where is picture of the Sarkozy poster and right wing UMP propaganda? joshcryer May 2012 #68

No, you are wrong. Most Americans don't even know what happened on that day, it's not exactly a big sabrina 1 May 2012 #72

It's not a "big holiday" because the oligarchs made it "Loyalty Day" in order to suppress dissent. joshcryer May 2012 #84

Thanks for the links ~ sabrina 1 May 2012 #89

Well said sabrina1! Americans don't celebrate May Day because shcrane71 May 2012 #91

Yes, and that is why Occupy choosing May Day has educated Americans regarding that history. A lot sabrina 1 May 2012 #93

That's wonderful. It gives me goose bumps. shcrane71 May 2012 #97

Thank you. United Russia and Putin should not be allowed to co-opt the movement. joshcryer May 2012 #67

God, I hope that's sarcasm... MattSh May 2012 #71

I know, I was hoping it was sarcasm also. As I said in response, if they want to celebrate Americans sabrina 1 May 2012 #73

United Russia and Putin are not friends of liberals or progressives. joshcryer May 2012 #77

United Russia is a right wing group. joshcryer May 2012 #76

Looks like the American propaganda machine is rolling right along... MattSh May 2012 #70

Thank you, I was thinking the same thing. You took the words right out of my mouth, see above, sabrina 1 May 2012 #74

We're only criticizing Putin and his right wing party. joshcryer May 2012 #81

Oh, I guess you support the Russian oligarchs crushing the Russian protesters. joshcryer May 2012 #80

Yeah, that's it RZM May 2012 #87

yay! ba-da... NuttyFluffers May 2012 #79

Those images have obviously been photoflopped. nt Zorra May 2012 #83

ROFL!!! Rex May 2012 #96

K&R WorseBeforeBetter May 2012 #90

I'm a bit late to this parade, but here is my report of coalition_unwilling May 2012 #98

What a glorious day!!! U4ikLefty May 2012 #99

Congratulations on your success, U4ikLefty sabrina 1 May 2012 #100

And thanks to you for all your hard work to make Occupy L.A. M1GS a huge success! pinboy3niner May 2012 #102

K&R U4ikLefty May 2012 #101

Great thread, thanks for it! Brilliant work compiling the text and international photos! Fire Walk With Me May 2012 #103

That's a great photo, did you take it? What a shame to look at photos from all over the world sabrina 1 May 2012 #106

Nice compilation of photos. Lots of work. MineralMan May 2012 #105