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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
COMMEMORATING MAY 1ST AS INTERNATIONAL WORKERS' DAY, ALSO KNOWN AS "MAY DAY"
WHEREAS, every year, May 1st is International Workers' Day, also known as "May Day", which commemorates the historic struggles and gains by the labor movement; and
WHEREAS, May Day's origin came from the Haymarket Affair of 1886, where a violent confrontation took place in Chicago, where workers were striking for an eight-hour workday; and
WHEREAS, an unknown assailant threw a bomb into the crowd at the rally, killing one police officer, and resulting in a violent confrontation which left six officers and several workers dead; and
WHEREAS, labor activists, socialists, and anarchists were blamed for the "incident," and eight men were arrested and wrongfully convicted; and
WHEREAS, out of the eight convicted, four were executed in a grave act of injustice, one was found dead in his cell, and three were pardoned on June 26, 1893, by Illinois Governor John P. Altgeld; and
WHEREAS, each May Day, millions of workers around the world take to the streets to continue the struggle for economic justice and workers' rights; and
WHEREAS, workers are the backbone of every economy, yet millions face significant challenges, including unsafe conditions, exploitation, and inadequate pay; and
WHEREAS, May Day has also become a platform for addressing modern-day issues like gender pay gaps and workplace safety; and
WHEREAS, May Day is often commemorated with parades, rallies, demonstrations, and other events organized by labor unions and worker organizations; and
WHEREAS, on May 1, 2025, will mark more than 130 years of May Day; and
WHEREAS, May Day commemorates progress and calls for systemic reforms, fair wages, and stronger protections for workers everywhere.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners recognizes May 1st as International Workers' Day, also known as May Day, and honors all workers and labor organizations in Cook County ...
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