Frozen in time
- POSTED ON: 30 Apr, 2020
- TOTAL VIEWS: 675 Views
- POSTED BY: Bhavya Venkatesh
- ARTICLE POINTS: 100 Points
May 1 is a public holiday in many countries around the world. While the day is observed under various names – International Workers’ Day or Workers’ Day or Labour Day – the intent is similar. It is a day to commemorate past labour struggles against workers’ rights violations, including long workdays and weeks, poor conditions of work and child labour. Every year, people around the world take to the streets to commemorate this day.
Various statues and monuments have been erected in countries around the world in connection with labour rights. Take a look at a few of them. In each card, move the slider to discover the statue.
1. The Haymarket Martyrs’ Monument, Chicago, the U.S.A.
The Haymarket Affair is generally considered to be the origin of International Workers’ Day. It was a violent confrontation between police and labour protesters in Chicago in 1886. The monument commemorates the defendants involved in the unrest and bombing.
2. Ode to Labour, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Inaugurated in 1927, this piece of art was created by renowned Argentine sculptor Rogelio Yrurtia. It stands as his most ambitious work.
3. The Triumph of Labour, Chennai, India
The Triumph of Labour is a statue at the Marina Beach in Chennai. An important landmark in the city and a focal point of the city’s May Day celebrations, it shows four men toiling to move a rock, depicting the hard work of the working class.
4. Statue of Emma Miller, Brisbane, Australia
Emma Miller was a campaigner for women’s and workers’ rights. She championed the cause of equal pay and equal opportunity for women. This statue is one of a trio of statues in King George Square, Brisbane.
5. Monument to the Fallen Shipyard Workers of 1970, Gdańsk, Poland
This is one of the most recognisable landmarks in Gdańsk. It commemorates the 42 or more victims of a 1970 workers’ protest which was suppressed.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons