Protesters from workers' unions protest during a march to mark the May Day, which is also International Workers' Day, in Hong Kong on Thursday. The slogans, from left, read "Less holiday, Long working hours, No compensation." Image via Kin Cheung)/AP.
As Marx famously said, "the history of all hitherto existing society is the history of struggles between superheroes and clowns."
Sohel Rana, the politically "untouchable" Bangladeshi political boss, businessman, and alleged drug runner, has finally been touched. All it took was 400 deaths. Rana, the owner (and namesake) of the building whose horrific collapse injured thousands and killed over 400 people last week, was arrested earlier this week, and throughout Wednesday, May Day protesters were calling for his execution.
There are a some striking images coming out of today's May Day protests, but this must be the most absurd. It's is a picture of self-declared 'citizen superhero' Phoenix Jones and his sidekick at Seattle's May Day protests, which have at times erupted in violence. Phoenix Jones has been wandering around Seattle today, allegedly dousing protesters with a comically large bottle of pepper spray.
It's May Day, which is sort of like Anarchist Super Bowl. So it's probably no coincidence that the Justice Department arrested five "self-described anarchists" in a plot to blow up a bridge near Cleveland today, according to the AP. The plot was an FBI sting, with fake "bombs" supplied by the feds, as most plots are these days.
It's May Day! International Workers' Day! When we get together and march with our working brothers and sisters in memory of lost comrades. Sometimes there are sing-alongs! And riots! Let's all hold hands and sing The Internationale, then march on Union Square! Of course, we won't—Americans (outside of some hippies in Minneapolis) don't really celebrate May Day anymore (well, some immigrants do too). Have we forgotten the Haymarket affair already? (Yes.) In 1958, by the way, Dwight Eisenhower proclaimed May 1 to be both "Loyalty Day" and "Law Day." Subtlety was not particularly prized then (nor now). President Bush's annual Law Day proclamation always brings tears to our loyal eyes. Now we prepare for Cinco de Mayo, the holiday that celebrates when the Mexicans out-drank the French.
