Fox News host John Roberts marked International Workers' Day, commonly known as May Day, on Friday by characterizing the unofficial holiday as a communist celebration. "This is May 1, which means that in communist countries around the world, it's May Day, celebrate the laborers," Roberts stated. He noted that there are marches and rallies across the United States as well.
Criticism of Chicago Mayor
Roberts then turned his attention to Chicago, a frequent target of Fox News, and criticized Mayor Brandon Johnson for encouraging students to walk out of school and join May Day demonstrations. The holiday, while not a federal holiday in the U.S., commemorates the 1886 nationwide strike demanding an eight-hour workday.
Historical Roots
The origins of May Day in the United States trace back to the Chicago Haymarket Affair on May 4, 1886, where protests turned violent, resulting in the deaths of several law enforcement officers and civilians, as well as the eventual executions of multiple labor organizers. Efforts to change the official federal holiday of Labor Day from September to May 1 have been unsuccessful.
Recent Demonstrations
Nationwide demonstrations took place on Friday, with many organizations calling for a boycott of work, school, and spending in protest of the Trump administration's policies, as reported by NPR.
