Yesterday marked the annual celebration known as International Workers’ Day, or May Day, around the world. It is recognized as a holiday to commemorate workers’ struggles for normal, fair eight-hour work days. Particularly popular in New York City, the day was an opportunity for Occupy Wall Street to gain a second wind and remind New Yorkers that we are still fighting for equal pay and fair treatment as workers.
May Day is an essential part of American history that should be remembered and celebrated each year. The labor force has had to fight for centuries to slowly improve conditions, and International Worker’s Day reflects how far they have come and how much work is still ahead of them.
The large turnout and fanfare accompanying this year’s May Day is reflective of one fact: These days, many Americans are not only thinking about these issues but are also galvanized enough to speak out together against problems the system has. OWS is largely responsible for inspiring this fervor. What OWS has accomplished in this regard is highly commendable.
However, while the movement has been highly effective in creating mass support for the redistribution of wealth in our country, it has also struggled to organize itself around one message and has used wopportunities like May Day to bolster more support and rejuvenate itself. While the movement’s message is important to the progress of our country, single day holidays cannot give the movement the fire that it had at its inception.
Overall, there seems to be a growing disconnect between the people who are involved in OWS and the people in charge of the government. Vibrant discussions about a variety of reforms heard in Union Square on a daily basis are not met with proposed changes from Congress or President Barack Obama. For OWS to leave a sustained mark on the nation, these two agendas need to intersect at some level. Similar to the Tea Party in 2010, members of OWS will have to enter the political arena for the upcoming congressional elections.