Missoula working-class celebrates International Workers Day, May 1st

Missoula, May 1 (Al-Masakin)–There were no arrests on this sunny May 1st at a demonstration commemorating International Worker’s Day organized by the Missoula chapter of the IWW.  The demonstration began at 2pm on the University of Montana campus where students stood at top of a proverbial “Soap Box” adjacent to a paper-maché “Profit Pig” and decried the student loan crisis. 

One student said that after graduate studies and taking a local job as a teacher he is burdened with $112,000 in student loan debt.  Another former student said she graduated in 1998 with $60,000 in student loan debt which, on account of interest, has ballooned into more than $120,000.  The students and former students demanded “Bail us out!” and “People over profit.”

Other speaks discussed the Haymarket rebellion of 1886 which brought the American working class the eight hour work day.  Others called for financial regime change and suggested “Public Utility Banking” as an alternative.  Many demonstrators displayed the Anarcho-Syndicalist “Red and Black” banner.  They spoke collectively about socialism, communalism, unionism, and activism.  Many wore red scarves around their necks.  There were about 150 people in attendance.

Demonstrators held signs that said, inter alia, “May Day is the Real Labor Day,” and “Think Beyond Capitalism.”

At 2:30 the march began, after making a pass by the University of Montana’s Main Hall were students demanded a cancellation of the student load debts and free education, the march proceeded down University Avenue to Hellgate High School.  Along the way demonstrators chanted “Exploitation and Starvation can’t be solved by a Corporation…That’s bullshit get off it, the enemy is Profit!”  They also sang the traditional Union song “Solidarity Forever…the Union makes us strong.”

The protest continued north on Higgins Avenue where it soon came under surveillance of the Missoula Police Department who tried in vain to channel the marchers on to the sidewalk.  One officer said that he would be satisfied if the march was at the very least confined to one lane.

Demonstrators began to chant “Whose streets?…Our streets!” as the crossed the Higgins bridge into downtown Missoula.  Attempts to block the protesters with police cars failed as demonstrators turned west on Broadway and rallied at the Wells Fargo bank at Woody and Main where they demanded “Bail us out…bail us out!  It’s the People’s Bank…Whose bank?…Our bank!”

After a few short speeches and a song, demonstrators were urged to think of “a world beyond capitalism,” and agreed to meet and discusthis on the 133th anniversary of the Haymarket massacre, Monday, May 4 at the Union Hall at 7pm.

EHC / EHC