May Day

Happy belated International Workers' Day y'all, hope yours was a riot! Come to think of it, the reason Americans celebrate Labor Day in September is because they were afraid it would be a riot if it happened on May Day. Guess there's something about reminding people of how many folks the police killed because they were demanding an eight hour workday that doesn't sit well with the 'order must prevail' types.

Had us a gathering here in Louisville to mark the occasion, naturally it was in Injustice Square Park. Lefties may be a fractious bunch but one thing they can usually agree on is 'no war but class war.' Naturally that meant that Israel giving the Mariupol treatment to Gaza was one of the main topics of the day.

Was far from the only topic however, closer to home we've got a transportation crisis, an affordable housing crisis, and a luxury property developer for a mayor who's too busy taking care of his buddies to do much else.

Heard from an array of labor and community organizers, who were quick to point out that the US couldn't do what it is doing but for the fact that Americans spend three months out of every year slaving away for Uncle Sam.

Was a bit weird being back in the square again, lots of familiar faces from 2020 and all of LMPD's spotlights and surveillance gear was still right where I remembered it on all the rooftops.

There were plenty of unfamiliar folks too, masks were making a comeback. Watching the feeds from the universities lately, it's been hard to shake the sense of déjà vu. Throw in a bunch of guns and tear gas and it'd feel just like the end of May of 2020.

This t-shirt should be standard issue for anyone setting foot in the United States but it goes double for any sort of protest or action.

Hey, hey, LBJ . . . Never mind, wrong war.

"Meet the new war, same as the old war"
--From The Who's upcoming release, We Do Get Fooled Again

There wasn't a May Day march this year, just took over the square instead. After we'd heard from everybody there was free food and live music.

Speaking of music, should probably close with some. First heard that Crazy Horse Is Alive on Oct 6th of last year and I've never been more convinced it's true.

Stay safe out there y'all.