The Haymarket Affair

The Haymarket Affair was a labor protest that took place on May 4, 1886, in Haymarket Square, Chicago. It began as a peaceful rally supporting workers striking for an eight-hour workday. The event turned violent when a bomb was thrown at the police, killing several officers and civilians. In the aftermath, eight anarchists were arrested, and four were executed despite a lack of evidence linking them to the bombing. The incident highlighted tensions between labor movements and law enforcement, and it became a symbol of the struggle for workers' rights and the fight against political repression.