May Day is nearly upon us again. Did you know that the May Day started not in Red Square but in Chicago with the execution of anarchist union organisers in 1887?

You can read about the history of this event and print out PDF files of an anarchist leaflet and poster explaining the origins of May Day at struggle.ws/about/mayday.html

We invite you to make copies of these leaflets and posters and distribute them at May Day events (or simply on the streets or at work) this year. Last year tens of thousands of copies of these were distributed across the globe, from Chicago to Brazil to South Africa to Turkey to Latvia to New Zealand. See the end of the PDF pages for details.

The history in brief In 1887 four Chicago anarchists were executed. A fifth cheated the hangman by killing himself in prison. Three more were to spend 6 years in prison until pardoned by Governor Altgeld who said the trial that convicted them was characterised by "hysteria, packed juries and a biased judge". The state had, in the words of the prosecution put "Anarchy...on trial" and hoped their deaths would also be the death of the anarchist idea.

The anarchists were trade union organisers and May Day became an international workers day to remember their sacrifice. They were framed on false charges of throwing a bomb at police breaking up a demonstration in Chicago. This was part of a strike demanding an 8 hour day involving 400,000 workers in Chicago that started May 1st 1886 .

The anarchist idea did not die in Chicago in 1887. Today it inspires a new wave of struggle against global capitalism. Join in this struggle. Tell others about May Day

Print out and distribute your own May Day posters and leaflet/pamphlets from struggle.ws/about/mayday.html