May Day
International Workers' Day
The origins of Labour Day can be traced back to the late 19th century, when labour movements in North America began to organize. Their demands were better working conditions, shorter workweeks and fair wages. The first Labour Day parade was held in Toronto, Canada, in 1872, and the holiday was officially recognized as a national holiday in Canada in 1894.
Workers manifestation in Canada
But, another major event is connected to May Day. On May 1st 1886, a group of workers gathered in Haymarket Square, Chicago, to protest for an 8-hour work. The demonstration turned violent when someone threw a bomb at the police, killing several officers and civilians. As a result, the authorities quelled the strike by force. The Second International, an international organization of labor and socialist parties, which was formed in Paris in 1889, declared May 1st as International Workers' Day in 1891, to commemorate the Haymarket affair.
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