Hey John,

Most Americans have heard of Labor Day, but not May Day (International Workers Day) - this is by design.

(check out our whole educational May Day graphic series)

May Day originated in America as a radical mass strike that ground the American economy to a halt and demanded an 8 hour workday. The holiday quickly spread across the world, becoming International Workers’ Day.

In the decades since, presidents like Grover Cleveland and Dwight Eisenhower have tried to erase International Workers Day in America.

But the need for working class solidarity has never been greater. Today, the wealth gap between the mega-wealthy and everybody else is larger than it was on the first May Day in 1886.

It’s easy to feel powerless, like the world is lost. Young people have lived through decades of a failed economy, a failing democracy, and a complete lack of failure to address an existential climate crisis.

At the root of all of this? Billionaires who think their never-ending profits are more important than everyday people’s lives and livelihoods.

We deserve better, and the only way we’re going to get there is the same way everyday people throughout history have brought about massive, sudden change: mass non-cooperation.

We need another generational May Day strike in order to win a Green New Deal.

Find an action near you, and turn out tomorrow to send a message to the billionaires who are trying to buy our democracy and take advantage of working people:

We are powerful. We are united. And we are just getting started.

In Solidarity,

Team Sunrise