For May Day 2025, revolutionaries around the country coordinated their efforts to raise up the struggle of the workers movement and the class as a whole. As part of this, the New Labor Organizing Committee issued a call to its fraternal organizations to organize mass meetings of workers to mobilize, politicize and organize them around their demands, and a national agitprop campaign was carried out to spread awareness of NLOC into the poor and working class neighborhoods. In addition comrades organized events and actions generally to commemorate International Workers’ Day, and in particular realized work to support the campaign to defend the Durham 5.
The Partisan is happy to highlight the images and brief reports we received from actions around the country in the following article [Note- this article was updated on May 10th with additional images and reports from areas and organizations that submitted material to The Partisan].
National
The People’s Defense Committees, a new national organization for community and neighborhood defense, were announced nationally on May 1st.
NLOC issued the following announcement to be included on all local shop papers for the month of May:
“The first day of May is International Workers’ Day, and in the US, it is also a day of remembrance in the labor movement for the martyrs of the Haymarket Square incident. On May 1, 1886, a general strike movement began in the United States in support of the eight hour workday. This culminated in a large rally at Haymarket Square in Chicago a few days later, where an explosive device from an unknown source was detonated, which the government seized on as an opportunity to arrest and execute individuals who supported the eight hour struggle, including organizers who had not even been present at Haymarket.
In the present day, as part of the struggle in the education sector, on April 16 students and faculty of North Carolina Central University held a public rally in protest against the University’s inadequate housing conditions. The Student Panthers, a chapter of the Revolutionary Student Union, who represent five student protestors who were targeted for repression by NCCU and local police, calls for solidarity with their demand to ensure academic immunity for those arrested, to drop any and all charges, and to heed the call for adequate housing. More information can be found at “Defend the Durham 5!” on revolutionarystudentsunion.wordpress.com.
Long live International Workers’ Day!”
Akron, OH
Neighborhood activists in Akron, OH held an event in a local park in celebration of May Day and spoke with local community members.
Charlotte, NC
Revolutionary labor and neighborhood organizations in Charlotte, NC celebrated International Workers’ Day by organizing a “Workers’ Panel.” Local workers and activists discussed struggles on a local, national and international level along with the general strategy needed to build a revolutionary movement in the city.
The Partisan also received images from the national postering campaign, as well as a banner seen locally with the slogan “Long Live Internal Workers’ Day”.
Chicago, IL
Workers, students and organizers in Chicago attended a presentation and mass discussion on State Unionism and New Labor organizing. The event was hosted by the Revolutionary Maoist Coalition of Chicago and the La Clark Youth League (RSU) and attended by members of Borikén Liberation Front and a representative of the newly-founded revolutionary arts and culture organization Toreador. The presentation covered the development of the state unions and explained the need for a new labor movement based primarily on organizing shop floor units through the development of shop papers and the coordination of local workers circles. An organizer with Baristas’ Voice took questions and the attendees discussed topics related to the labor movement and socialist revolution in the United States.
The Partisan also received images from the national postering campaign in support of NLOC and the Durham 5, as well as banners seen locally with slogans like “Long Live Internal Workers’ Day!”, and “Reconstitute the CPUSA”.
Columbus, OH
Revolutionary workers and students in Columbus, OH organized a mass meeting on workers’ grievances and demands in their workplaces and neighborhoods. After the initial speeches, the event was rained out due to a major local storm, and the continuation of the mass meeting is to be held this week.
The Partisan also received images from the national postering campaign in support of NLOC and the Durham 5, as well as banners and graffiti seen locally with slogans like “Workers of the World Unite”, “Down with Empire”, and “Reconstitute the CPUSA”.
Denton, TX
Revolutionary students and activists in Denton, Texas organized a meeting on community defense and social investigation/class analysis (SICA) in celebration of May Day.
Durham, NC
In defiance of local State repression, revolutionary students and activists in Durham, NC held a mass community meeting during which presentations were given on organizing for daily demands, SICA, and the Durham 5. The Partisan also received images from the local postering campaign in Durham in anticipation for their event in celebration of International Workers’ Day.
Harrisonburg, VA
The Partisan received images from the national postering campaign in support of NLOC and the Durham 5 in Harrisonburg, VA in celebration of International Workers’ Day.
New York City, NY
The Partisan received images from a march held by revolutionaries in working class and nationally oppressed neighborhoods of Harlem, New York City in celebration of International Workers’ Day. This march was preceded by a set of agitational outings into those and other neighborhoods on behalf of the various campaigns going on nationally.
Oklahoma City, OK
Revolutionary workers and students in Oklahoma City organized and participated in two events in celebration of International Workers’ Day, specifically focused on the current capitalist offensive, immigrant defense, the workers movement, and Palestinian liberation.
The Partisan also received images from banners and graffiti seen locally with slogans like “Workers Take Back Your Power – IWD” and “TRABAJADORES USEN SU PODER – IWD”.
Pittsburgh, PA
Revolutionary workers in Pittsburgh, PA organized a study group on the state unionism paper and a short presentation about May 1st with copies of shop papers from various NLOC organizations.
Providence, RI
Revolutionary workers and students in Providence, RI organized and participated in two events in celebration of International Workers’ Day. The workers contingent organized a mass meeting where workshops were given on shop papers and organizing for demands by NLOC representatives, and physical copies of Labor Storm distributed.
The Partisan also received images from the national postering campaign, as well as graffiti seen locally with the slogan “Reconstitute the CPUSA”.
Concurrent with the worker mass meeting, revolutionary students attended a local rally elsewhere in the city and gave a speech on the importance of May Day, the urgent need for independent working class organizing and socialist revolution. Video of an excerpt of the speech can be found here.
Washington DC
Revolutionary students and workers in Washington, DC organized a mass meeting and study on the class conscious labor movement, community defense, and organizing the mass movement, and The Partisan also received images from the national postering campaign as well.
Washtenaw, MI
Revolutionary students in Washtenaw, Michigan held an action during which topics like the importance of revolutionary working class leadership in the student movement, and carried out the national agitation/propaganda campaign despite recent intense State repression against local revolutionary work.
Worcester, MA
The Partisan received images from the national postering campaign in celebration of International Workers’ Day in Worcester, Massachusetts.
The Partisan also received images from protests local revolutionary students and workers in Atlanta, Albany and Princeton NJ sent contingents to.
