MAY DAY 2012 is part of an ongoing process of “the 99%” reclaiming the heritage of this International Workers’ Day. On May 1, 2006 and again in 2007, immigrant communities and allies boldly took to the streets against government and police harassment. Now, the Occupy movement is seizing the opportunity of May 1 as a next step to reclaiming the legacy of this day. In the past year we have witnessed the emergence of nationwide mass movement of a kind not seen in the United States for many years.

In most of the world, for 125 years May 1 has represented a celebration of the struggles of labor and social movements. Yet in the United States where May Day began, this day is largely unknown to most working people, especially those outside of traditional organized labor, its historic meaning steadily buried under the debris of a forty year one-sided ruling class assault on U.S. workers, which has weakened our organizations and with them our institutional class memory. Today, as we enter what looks to be a prolonged period of austerity and even more vigorous attacks on what remains of labor’s past victories, we are experiencing an awakening and renewal of struggle. From New York City to Oakland, California and many communities in between, Occupy is linking to a variety of unions, immigrants and students and taking the messages of struggle to the streets.