Haymarket Riot

The Haymarket Riot occurred on May 4, 1886, in Chicago, during a labor protest advocating for better working conditions and an eight-hour workday. When police attempted to disperse a rally held at Haymarket Square, someone threw a bomb that killed police officers and civilians. In response, law enforcement fired into the crowd, resulting in injuries and deaths. The incident heightened tensions between workers and authorities, and several anarchists involved were controversially convicted. The Haymarket Riot is seen as a pivotal event in the labor movement, highlighting the struggle for workers' rights and influencing labor reforms and the push for an annual International Workers' Day.