On May 4, 1886, the long simmering tensions between workers fighting for the 8-hour day and police acting the behest of corporate bosses boiled over. A day earlier, two striking workers were shot dead by police during a peaceful picket at Chicago’s McCormick Harvesting Machine. Labor leaders called for a rally for the next day at Haymarket Square in Chicago. The police had their eye on one of the most energetic and vocal leaders of the workers: German immigrant, union leader and news editor August Spies. On May 4, he arrived at Haymarket Square to urge the workers not to give up their fight for an 8-hour work day. The day would end as one of the most infamous and deadly in America’s labor history. In part two of the Haymarket story, tensions among workers, police and fiery speakers such as Spies created the perfect storm for a catastrophe for workers who came to Haymarket to hear him speak and paved the way for Spies’ final journey – to the gallows. #PROUAW #UnionHistory #Haymarket ... See MoreSee Less