This Monday, May 1st, we will leave our jobs for the day to stand up for workers’ rights! And by workers, we mean all workers – undocumented and unpaid workers included. Our mission here at Oakland Rising is to mobilize and educate low-income people of color primarily in the flatlands of East and West Oakland. We understand that unfair, unjust and unsafe working conditions affect low-income people of color at disproportionately high rates. We also understand that these workers often feel afraid to speak out about the work injustices they are facing because of an unstable job economy and lack of better opportunities. That is why Oakland Rising participates in May Day actions and will continue to until the human rights of all workers are afforded regardless of any kind of status.

May Day, also known as International Worker’s Day, has been celebrated every May 1st since 1890 in commemoration of the Haymarket affair in Chicago. An event during which workers under the leadership of a former enslaved woman, among others, started striking for the eight-hour work day which some workers are privileged to experience today. The mobilization of large numbers of workers around a shorter work day contributed to the formation of a robust labor movement in the United States. While unions and workers have won many gains over the 128 years since that first May Day, unfortunately our work is still not done. 

Join us in the streets for actions throughout Oakland and San Francisco to show your love and support for all workers, and to show up for those workers that may not have the ability to show up for themselves. Now more than ever, we need to stand in solidarity together uniting workers around the world to show that we are above corporate greed. Laborers are the true force that help run the world, not the 1%. Together, we can ensure that credit is given where it is due. 

– Pacita