On Thursday, May 1, Lawrence University Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) held a “May Day Rally” at 6 p.m. in Houdini Plaza on College Avenue in support of workers’, immigrants’, women’s and LGBTQ+ rights. According to SDS member senior Alex Stanger, May Day serves as an important occasion for uniting working-class individuals. Stanger noted that May Day was initially declared an international workers’ holiday in 1889 by the Second International, a socialist organization. This declaration, they said, commemorated the Haymarket Massacre of 1886 in Chicago, where workers were striking for an eight-hour workday and several individuals, including police officers, were killed in a bombing and subsequent unrest. Stanger explained that the fight for an eight-hour workday in the United States gained momentum on May 1, 1886, with widespread strikes and protests across the country.
According to Stanger, the speeches at the rally highlighted the interconnectedness of the struggles faced by various groups. Stanger stated that numerous identity groups are often treated unfairly in the workforce: immigrant workers experience exploitation, women workers continue to face wage disparities and LGBTQ+ workers encounter discrimination in employment. Stanger conveyed that these intersecting identities within the working class necessitate a unified movement to challenge these forms of oppression.
Stanger said that rally participants emphasized the importance of solidarity between Lawrence students and the broader Appleton community. They encouraged on behalf of SDS students to engage with local organizations and individuals through organizing and volunteer work to build collective power.
Stanger stated that SDS advocates for a living wage and personal respect for all workers, both on and off campus. They expressed concern that current economic trends will further exacerbate the difficulties associated with the existing wage levels. There was a high turnout at the rally, which enabled participants to march to the courthouse and back to Houdini Plaza. Stanger extended gratitude to the rally’s speakers for their effective articulation of the interconnectedness of worker, immigrant, women and LGBTQ+ rights.
According to Stanger, the issues addressed at the rally held personal significance for some attendees, including individuals who identify as workers and members of the LGBTQ+ community with prior experience as union members. They hoped that the rally would contribute to the development of a stronger and more interconnected community, emphasizing that multiple speakers stressed the need for mutual support that extends beyond the boundaries of the university and the city.