May Day

1 May was the international recognition of “May Day”, which got me looking and reading further into the characters and contexts involved with and surrounding the Haymarket Affair in Chicago, USA, in 1887. This might be the start of a fun personal project, who knows.

Lucy Parsons
“More dangerous than a thousand rioters…” – Chicago Police
Labour organiser, Radical, Revolutionary, Anarchist
1853-1942
Founder of Industrial Workers of the World

Adolph Fischer
Anarchist, labour union activist
1858 – 1887
One of the Chicago Anarchists murdered by the state after the Haymarket Riot of 1887

Albert Parsons
Socialist, The Alarm Anarchist newspaper editor, orator, labour activist.
1848 – 1887
One of the Chicago Anarchists murdered by the state after the Haymarket Riot of 1887.

August Spies
Anarchist, upholsterer, radical labor activist, newspaper editor
1855 – 1887
One of the Chicago Anarchists murdered by the state after the Haymarket Riot of 1887.

George Engel
Anarchist, labour union activist, toy store owner
1836 – 1887
One of the Chicago Anarchists murdered by the state after the Haymarket Riot of 1887

Podcast recommendation: “Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff” by Margaret Killjoy (the first two episodes specifically).