The Occupy Movement is kicking it up a notch. Tomorrow, May 1st, Occupy is calling for a general strike of the 99%, a continuation of the historical May Day, which has been International Workers Day for over a century. Regardless of your political leanings, the hype around tomorrow’s events calls for some attention.
In Bryant Park, there will be free food, a free market, public art, the Occupy Library, and a rehearsal for the Guitarmy, which will later be led by Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine. In Madison Square Park, the Free University will pop up. The Occupy Movement is encouraging professors to bring their classes and encouraging educators to give free lectures, workshops and skill-shares. Following a march to Union Square, the May Day Solidarity Rally will occur, with performances by Das Racist, Dan Deacon, Tom Morello, Immortal Technique, and Bobby Sanabria. According to Brooklyn Vegan, BUST favorites JD Samson and MEN have also joined the lineup.
Occupy’s contentious history and public image aside, the idea behind May Day is certainly compelling. Rejecting narratives of consumerism and capitalism, May Day encourages people to stop acting like political subjects and to start acting like people. The website explains, “It’s a day for recognizing that we are all workers, whether we’re rank-and-file union members, the precariously employed, students, or stay-at-home parents. It’s a day to recognize the value of our work, and the power we have to collectively change our working conditions and our world.”
And they’re doing it with some pretty killer music, too.
For a full list of events, check out the May Day NYC website.
Image source maydaynyc.org
