This upcoming May 1, the Oberlin Climate Coalition and the Oberlin chapter of the Ohio Student Association will sponsor a walkout and protest for May Day, or International Workers’ Day. The student groups will also be hosting a full-day series of workshops, crafts, and tabling across Tappan Square and Wilder Bowl.
Though May Day might be unfamiliar to some Americans more used to Labor Day, it’s known around the world as International Workers’ Day. The day’s history actually began in the U.S. during the violent labor struggles of the late 19th century. In 1886, the American Federation of Labor’s predecessor organization announced a nationwide general strike would begin May 1. On May 4, as police attempted to disperse a crowd in Haymarket Square, a bomb exploded behind police lines. Eight anarchist organizers were eventually tried, and seven were convicted of murder, though only two of them were present in the crowd that day. Four were eventually hanged. Three years later in Paris, the Socialist International declared May 1 a labor holiday in honor of the Chicago workers.
Since 1889, May Day has been a day for rallies, protests, strikes, and red flags waving worldwide. This year, actions are being planned across the country, in every state and Puerto Rico. The coalition May Day Strong, composed of unions, activist organizations, and the Democratic Socialists of America, expects more than 3,500 actions around the U.S. On their website’s interactive map, many events share the title “Workers Over Billionaires.”
“May Day is the perfect outlet for students to actually, like, act,” College second-year and co-president of the Oberlin chapter of OSA Mikinzi Allen said. “Having this non-cooperative walkout of school would be a tangible way to enact that revolutionary sort of energy.”
On campus, events will begin at 10 a.m. in Wilder Bowl, which will focus on sign-making until noon, followed by the Resource Conservation Team tabling in Tappan Square. After lunch, the walkout will begin in Wilder Bowl at 2 p.m. Students will march down to West College Street, then turn toward North Quad before walking down through King Building, then on to the Conservatory, finally finishing in Tappan Square. There will then be a protest until 4 p.m. and more tabling and workshops until 6 p.m.
Other OSA chapters across the state will also be putting on May Day events in their own locales. College third-year Maxwell Julius brought up the widely-attended “No Kings” protests as precedent for what he hopes will be a successful May Day.
“There’s also the horizon of May Day 2028,” Julius said.
The President of the United Auto Workers has previously called for a larger-scale labor movement, urging other organizations to strike together on May 1, 2028.
“This is the day to do it … if you wanna get involved,” Julius said, urging students to participate in the collective actions.
