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Chicago Tribune
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
What to know about May Day, including its Chicago origins and how it has grown over the years
From worker rights rallies to marches for social justice, activists around the globe kicked off May Day demonstrations on Thursday. In some countries, it's a public holiday honoring labor, but activists planning marches in the United States say much of their message is about fighting back against President Donald Trump's policies targeting immigrants, federal workers and diversity programs. Thousands are expected at demonstrations from Tokyo to Chicago. In some parts of the U.S., though, fear sowed by the Trump administration is expected to keep some immigrants home. 'Everybody is under attack right now,' said Jorge Mujica, a longtime labor leader from Chicago, where May Day rallies historically have had a large turnout. What is May Day? The roots of May Day, or International Workers Day, stretch back over a century to a turbulent and pivotal time in U.S. labor history. In the 1880s, unions pushing for better workplace conditions began advocating for an eight-hour workday with widespread demonstrations and strikes. In May 1886, a Chicago labor rally turned deadly when a bomb was thrown and police retaliated with gunfire. Several labor activists, most of them immigrants, were convicted of conspiracy to incite violence among other charges. Four were hanged. Unions later recommended that the workers be honored every May 1. A sculpture in Chicago's Haymarket Square commemorates them with an inscription that reads: 'Dedicated to all workers of the world.' May Day rallies and riots May Day marches, rallies and riots have taken place worldwide in recent years as unions push for better rights for workers, groups air economic grievances or activists call for an end to the war in Gaza. While most demonstrations have been peaceful, there have been clashes with police. Last year, police in Paris fired tear gas as thousands of protesters marched through the French capital, seeking better pay and working conditions. In New York City, May Day demonstrations coincided with rising tensions at college campuses over pro-Palestinian student encampments, resulting in numerous arrests. This year, organizers in numerous cities, including New York, are calling for unity across many causes and groups. 'We're organizing for a world where every family has housing, health care, fair wages, union protection, and safety — regardless of race, immigration status, or zip code,' the American Civil Liberty Union of New York said in a statement. Other notable U.S. demonstrations include a workers rally at Philadelphia City Hall with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and demonstrations at the Colorado State Capitol and in Los Angeles, Seattle and Washington, D.C. May Day immigration marches While labor and immigrant rights are historically intertwined, the focus of May Day rallies in the U.S. shifted to immigration in 2006. That's when roughly 1 million people, including nearly half a million in Chicago alone, took to the streets to protest federal legislation that would've made living in the U.S. without legal permission a felony. Crowds for May 1 demonstrations have since dwindled with advocacy groups splintering and shifting activism arenas such as voters rights. This year in Chicago, organizers say activism starting Thursday will last until Cinco de Mayo with boycotts and walkouts. Their focus is workers' rights but also rising anti-immigrant rhetoric from Trump's administration. Organizers acknowledge a chilling effect on immigrant communities since Trump has cracked down on enforcement, especially in so-called sanctuary cities including Chicago. They're expecting lower numbers of immigrants but are expanding their outreach to more unions, including for teachers and nurses. 'There's a lot fear out there,' said Omar Lopez, a longtime Chicago organizer. Who celebrates May Day? In some countries, May Day is a public holiday for workers, including France, Kenya and China, where it lasts five days. In Russia, Communist-led May Day celebrations were once massive affairs. It's also a traditional spring celebration that's observed in ways that don't involve marching in the streets or civil disobedience. In Hawaii, May 1 is called Lei Day, which isn't an official holiday, but a statewide celebration of the Hawaiian culture and the aloha spirit through the creation and giving of lei — usually a necklace of flowers. Elsewhere, people mark the holiday by leaving May Day baskets filled with gifts and flowers on the doorsteps of friends. The city of Annapolis, Maryland, is set to hold its 70th May Day Basket Competition, where residents and businesses outdo each other for the best floral arrangements. 'It's our community's way of saying goodbye to winter and welcoming the beauty and energy of spring,' Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley said. Originally Published: May 1, 2025 at 10:32 AM CDT
The Independent
01-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
What to know about May Day and how it has grown over the years
From worker rights rallies to marches for social justice, activists around the globe will kick off May Day demonstrations on Thursday. In some countries, it's a public holiday honoring labor, but activists planning marches in the United States say much of their message is about fighting back against President Donald Trump's policies targeting immigrants, federal workers and diversity programs. Thousands are expected at demonstrations from Tokyo to Chicago. In some parts of the U.S., though, fear sowed by the Trump administration is expected to keep some immigrants home. 'Everybody is under attack right now,' said Jorge Mujica, a longtime labor leader from Chicago, where May Day rallies historically have had a large turnout. May Day's beginnings The roots of May Day, or International Workers Day, stretch back over a century to a turbulent and pivotal time in U.S. labor history. In the 1880s, unions pushing for better workplace conditions began advocating for an eight-hour workday with widespread demonstrations and strikes. In May 1886, a Chicago labor rally turned deadly when a bomb was thrown and police retaliated with gunfire. Several labor activists, most of them immigrants, were convicted of conspiracy to incite violence among other charges. Four were hanged. Unions later recommended that the workers be honored every May 1. A sculpture in Chicago's Haymarket Square commemorates them with an inscription that reads: 'Dedicated to all workers of the world.' Rallies and riots May Day marches, rallies and riots have taken place worldwide in recent years as unions push for better rights for workers, groups air economic grievances or activists call for an end to the war in Gaza. While most demonstrations have been peaceful, there have been clashes with police. Last year, police in Paris fired tear gas as thousands of protesters marched through the French capital, seeking better pay and working conditions. In New York City, May Day demonstrations coincided with rising tensions at college campuses over pro-Palestinian student encampments, resulting in numerous arrests. This year, organizers in numerous cities, including New York, are calling for unity across many causes and groups. 'We're organizing for a world where every family has housing, health care, fair wages, union protection, and safety — regardless of race, immigration status, or zip code,' the American Civil Liberty Union of New York said in a statement. Other notable U.S. demonstrations include a workers rally at Philadelphia City Hall with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and demonstrations at the Colorado State Capitol and in Los Angeles, Seattle and Washington, D.C. Immigration marches While labor and immigrant rights are historically intertwined, the focus of May Day rallies in the U.S. shifted to immigration in 2006. That's when roughly 1 million people, including nearly half a million in Chicago alone, took to the streets to protest federal legislation that would've made living in the U.S. without legal permission a felony. Crowds for May 1 demonstrations have since dwindled with advocacy groups splintering and shifting activism arenas such as voters rights. This year in Chicago, organizers say activism starting Thursday will last until Cinco de Mayo with boycotts and walkouts. Their focus is workers' rights but also rising anti-immigrant rhetoric from Trump's administration. Organizers acknowledge a chilling effect on immigrant communities since Trump has cracked down on enforcement, especially in so-called sanctuary cities including Chicago. They're expecting lower numbers of immigrants but are expanding their outreach to more unions, including for teachers and nurses. 'There's a lot fear out there,' said Omar Lopez, a longtime Chicago organizer. Worldwide celebrations In some countries, May Day is a public holiday for workers, including France, Kenya, Russia and China, where it lasts five days. It's also a traditional spring celebration that's observed in ways that don't involve marching in the streets or civil disobedience. In Hawaii, May 1 is called Lei Day, which isn't an official holiday, but a statewide celebration of the Hawaiian culture and the aloha spirit through the creation and giving of lei — usually a necklace of flowers. Elsewhere, people mark the holiday by leaving May Day baskets filled with gifts and flowers on the doorsteps of friends. The city of Annapolis, Maryland, is set to hold its 70th May Day Basket Competition, where residents and businesses outdo each other for the best floral arrangements. 'It's our community's way of saying goodbye to winter and welcoming the beauty and energy of spring,' Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley said.
NBC News
06-04-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
Trump portrait artist says career is in peril after president accuses her of distorting his likeness
The artist who painted a portrait of President Donald Trump for the Colorado State Capitol said reviews on her work have "changed for the worst" since Trump accused her of distorting his image and that her livelihood is "in danger of not recovering." Sarah Boardman said in a statement Saturday that the portrait she was commissioned for in 2019 was approved throughout her artistic process by the Colorado State Capitol Advisory Committee. In the six years its hung in Denver, Boardman insisted she'd received "overwhelmingly" positive feedback on the painting. That changed after Trump demanded the portrait be taken down in a March 23 Truth Social post, insisting his likeness "was purposefully distorted to a level that even I, perhaps, have never seen before." The portrait was removed the next day and placed in storage after Republican leadership requested it be taken down, a spokesperson for Colorado House Democrats said. Boardman denied the allegation, saying the work was completed without "political bias, or any attempt to caricature the subject, actual or implied." "President Trump is entitled to comment freely, as we all are, but the additional allegations that I 'purposefully distorted' the portrait, and that I 'must have lost my talent as I got older' are now directly and negatively impacting my business of over 41 years which now is in danger of not recovering," she said. According to her website, Boardman was born in England and traveled the world through her travel business until ultimately studying art in Germany. She was previously chosen to paint the portrait of former President Barack Obama for the Colorado Capitol. Boardman painted him again in 2012 when she was privately commissioned for portraits of Obama and former President George W. Bush as part of a wider presidential series, her website said. Boardman's family said that Bush had written her a letter thanking her for his portrait. Her family and friends described her as remaining 'gracious' despite the divisive attention directed toward her in recent days. Her sister-in-law, Sandi Bartels, said Boardman was "absolutely amazing." "We all know Trump. We all know how he talks," Bartels said. "Maybe he'll regret at some point having said that.' She added that artists are aware that "there are going to be things that people might not like." "I can't imagine her letting something like this get her down and say, 'I'll never paint again,'" Bartels said. Boardman's niece, Elizabeth Paris, said the artist's loved ones rallied around her on social media, with some changing their cover photos to the portrait of Trump that Boardman had created. 'Great art elicits emotion. It's obviously done its job. Hats off to you, my dear auntie,' Paris said she wrote on Facebook following the fallout. Paris said despite Trump's comments, many in their family have been supportive of the president when he took office for his second term. The unexpected attack on Boardman's abilities caught them off guard. But 'she's a strong woman,' Paris said of her aunt. 'She'll probably soar with this," Paris said. "She doesn't have thin skin.'
