May Day, May 1st: Observing the workers struggle against the ruthless and unethical business practices led by the “robber barons” of the late 19th century. The most notorious of these barons included John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, Cornelius Vanderbilt and J.P. Morgan. This massively imbalanced system allowed the Barons to exploit their workers in a take-it-or-leave-it attitude. Unions? Collective bargaining? Not without a struggle. A lot of struggle.

On May 4, 1886, in Chicago a large protest took place in Haymarket Square. What happened that day is considered the catalyst that became May Day/International Workers Day: The Haymarket protest turned violent when a bomb was thrown at the Chicago Police, killing several officers. Although it was not certain as to who threw that bomb, several “anarchists/immigrants” were charged with conspiracy to commit murder. Four of them were hanged. In spite of not being able to identify the bomb-thrower. The labor movement continued, destined to improve the lives of workers from the greed and callousness of a cold-blooded capitalist system. Ultimately, workers secured an eight-hour workday and in 1955 the American Federation of Labor was created.

There is also another May 4 that resonates historically. May 4, 1970. Kent State University. Students protesting the expanding U.S. involvement of the Viet Nam conflict. Tragically, the protest also turned deadly when some members of the Ohio National Guard opened fire on the student’s, most simply exercising their constitutional right to do exactly what they were doing. There were some clashes with the Guardsmen leading up to the shootings. Four students died from their gunshot wounds. None of the Guard were charged with murder.  They were indicted on charges of violating the civil rights of the dead students, but acquitted in a bench trial.

The word struggle applies to the historical events of May 1, and May 4. Protests. Pushback. Fighting for justice. Fairness. Be it 1886 or 1970, these events evoke the nature of a seeming constant struggle against exploitation, oppression, and basic human rights. Protests are happening around the world at this moment. Labor is still fighting against the modern-day oligarchs. Union membership has shrunk to around 11% of the workforce. It is 2025 and women are in the crosshairs of misogynistic legislation and an extremist judicial branch of government. Education is under attack. The free press is being undermined. Healthcare remains a viciously for-profit entity. Protestors have gathered by the millions across the country, seeking a saner, safer, respectful way of life for everyone. It would not be an exaggeration to say the wheels of progress over the last 140 years have now been shifted into reverse gear.

Nature provides for May to be a time of beautiful blooms of many splendorous colors. Humankind and its endless follies seem to often write an epitaph for the flowers of May, cut down for senseless and selfish motivations. Unable, seemingly, to control its darker impulses.