May Day 2025

On May 4th, 1886, the Chicago city government brutally repressed workers who attempted to peacefully protest for the eight-hour work day. As police began to break up the demonstration, an unidentified person set off a bomb, and the police fired randomly into the crowd. Labor leaders and sympathizers were rounded up and later executed. In response, the international socialist movement declared May 1st to be International Workers’ Day, a commemoration of the universal struggle for workers’ emancipation.

Continuing this tradition of resistance, the Providence General Assembly, a local activist network, collaborated with left-wing organizations and labor unions to host a rally last Sunday, May 4th, at Donigian Park in Providence. The event was also a celebration of solidarity: volunteers provided free food, face-painting, salsa-dancing lessons, and homemade piñatas in the shape of Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and a Cyber Truck.

May Day 2025 comes at a time of intensifying repression that echoes the U.S. government’s past attacks on radical workers. Over the past four months, the Trump administration has clamped down on free speech and targeted pro-Palestine activists, weaponizing the immigration system by deporting protestors. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party — who abetted Israel’s genocide in Gaza while failing to improve American workers’ standard of living — has fallen to historically low public approval ratings.

Speakers at the May 4th event emphasized that only a united working class has the power to fight back and win dignity for all people.

Ash Harvey, a Seven Stars cafe worker who recently unionized with United Food and Commercial Workers Local 328, said, “I want to emphasize, especially on this May Day, that we would not have been able to win the contract we have without solidarity from workers around us.”

“The eight-hour day, the weekend, child labor laws, the right to unionize — none were gifts from benevolent bosses or politicians,” said Jordan Garces, co-chair of Rhode Island DSA.

Ultimately, Rhode Island DSA and other socialists have one demand: to end the class system that produces war, oppression, and exploitation. Vivian, speaking for the organization Counterpower, said, “Socialist revolution is the only way to achieve real freedom, peace, and justice for humanity.”