The Magic Of May Day.

          Did you experience it? The magic of May Day, a day that can shape our world, a day when our dreams can take root, a day when we are swayed by that inner feeling of humanity and a burning desire to destroy all that taints and poisons that humanity, a day of love and fire.

      The following is an article from Gods And Radicals, by Rhyd Wildermuth.

        ------ We are not the first to hold aloft the standard of the land and the people against the soldiers of Profit and Oppression, only another front in the struggle enjoined everywhere on the earth. Holding in our hands the threads of anarchist, Marxist, anti-colonialist, druidic, feminist, occult, environmentalist, and esoteric thought, we began a dance around a center constantly plaiting, constantly weaving in fierce celebration of all that makes the world beautiful and all that we refuse to let be taken from us.
      The forests are dying, but we join those who refuse to let them be killed. Water and air are being poisoned, but we hold in our own hands poison which can stop those who have done so. The poor and dispossessed of the world are ground in the works of Empire’s machines, but like the saboteurs of old we know how simple it can be to stop those gears from turning forever.
      We know the power of mead and molotov, the beauty of ancient forest and shattered window, the sacred celebration of spiral dance and protest march. We speak in the quiet whispers of conspiracy and graveyard, swim in the currents of tumultuous ocean and political dissent, read the future in the bones of animals and the pale faces of politicians.
       We know our human and non-human comrades die daily on the bloody altars of finance and war, and we also know we are no comrades to them at all if we do not rise up with sharpened blades and whetted minds against the priest and police who preside over such foul sacrifice.
       It is the first of May. Beltane to some, a day a resistance to others, and both to us.
       May the scent of hawthorne blossom and tear gas be the incense we offer to the earth, the laughter of children around maypoles and the chants against police be the melodies which wake the summer, may the light from burning bonfires and barricades greet the strengthening sun, and may this be the Beltane upon which we look back and smile, remembering what new world we woke with our endless dance. 

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Glasgow's May Day Picnic On The Green.

 

       Well here we are, Saturday 29th. May, on the eve of Glasgow's STUC sanitized and choreographed sedate May Day march through the city. Naturally it will not be on May Day as our political parties and trade unions usually avoid celebrating on that particular day, so as not to disturb the consumer process. This year by a drastic blunder, in the plans of the STUC, their slow trudge through the city will start at George Square, 11:30am but because they failed to book a suitable venue in time, it will end up, against their better wishes, in the open air, at the bandstand in Kelvingrove Park. However there is a group of Glasgow's fair citizens who feel that May Day should always be celebrated on May Day and in the open-air, in a free come as you please, friendly fashion. So to that end there will be a May Day Picnic, on The Green, on Monday, May 1st. May Day. It should kick off at around 2pm, so bring what you expect to find, and enjoy songs, music, poetry and friendly chat. May Day on the Green, by the people, for the people, free from our political messiahs, and their vacuous promises to lead us to the promised land.

Glasgow's May Day Picnic on The Green, 

Monday May 1st. 2pm.

at the east end of the Green, 

along from Templeton's factory, 

next to Free Wheel North 

See you all there.

Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk

Glasgow's May Day With A Wee Difference.

        

          May Day celebrations took place across the world, and so they should, it is our day, the day when we come together to celebrate our working class heroes and our victories. It is a time for solidarity with all those involved in the struggle for equality and freedom, a time to renew old friendships, a time to make new friends. In this, Glasgow is no different, it has its May Day celebration, though this year there was a wee difference. There was the usual sanctioned, sedate, march through the city centre, ending up at The Fruit Market in Candleriggs for the usual speeches by the usual political ballerinas. It was a fair turnout, considering the weather forecast was for heavy rain, but the weather was kind, and though cold it was dry. My own guesstimate was around the 1,500 mark. All the usual banners were there lead, off by a pipe band.

 

 

         Then there was that wee difference. A group of locals decide to try to organise a May Day picnic on Glasgow Green, after the march, where we feel that Glasgow May Day used to be celebrated, and should be celebrated. Again despite the horrible weather forecast, about 30 or so turned up, and the place was soon festoon by banners and flags. We had poets, guitar player/singer and face-painting for the kids, even the rather mature kids. Food appeared from generous volunteers and great time was had by all. Everybody agreed that it was a great success and hope to repeat it next year, with greater numbers. A heart felt glow of gratitude to all those who turned up and made it possible. See you next year, on The Green.

 

Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk

This Is The Week That Is!!

    

  

         Great week leading up to May Day, some events in Glasgow that are worth a visit. The first is the Glasgow Anarchist Collective (GAC) event Thursday 28th April.

      GAC invite you to a screening of 'Culture Jam: Hijacking Commercial Culture'
        "Culturejam: Hijacking Commercial Culture delivers a fascinating rap on the 20th Century movement called Culture Jamming. Pranksters and subversive artists are causing a bit of brand damage to corporate mindshare. Jammers, cultural commentators, a billboard advertiser and a constitutional lawyer take us on a wild roller coaster ride through the back streets of our mental environment. Stopping over in San Francisco, New York's Times Square, and Toronto, we catch the jamming in action with Batman-inspired Jack Napier of the Billboard Liberation Front, Disney arch-enemy Reverend Billy from the Church of Stop Shopping and Media Tigress Carly Stasko. Culturejam asks: Is Culture Jamming civil disobedience? Senseless vandalism? The only form of self defence left?"
        Please feel free to come down from 7.00pm as we look to start about 7.30pm. Tea and coffee will be provided!
        If you've any questions about the event or how to get there, feel free to get in touch. We're showing the film at the Fred Paton Centre, a short 5 minute walk from George's X underground.
Hopefully see you there! GAC

      Then the following night, Friday 29th. April, there is the story of one of Glasgow's larger than life woman anarchists, Ethel MacDonald.

     GMB Glasgow General Apex Branch have organised a free screening of ‘An Anarchist's Story: The Life of Ethel MacDonald’ based on local writer Chris Dolan’s biography of the same title.
       In 1936, with civil war sweeping through Spain, Ethel Macdonald – a working-class girl from Motherwell – was to become, for a year, one of the world's most famous voices as she sent dispatches and broadcasts back from the Spanish Anarchist camp in Barcelona to the UK. ‘An Anarchist's Story: The Life of Ethel MacDonald’ uses contemporary accounts, Ethel’s own words and those of her close associates to unravel the mystery of this activist and examines the unique impact that she had during this fascinating period of European history.
      The film will be introduced by a local trade unionist and Chris Dolan. The screening will be followed by an opportunity to discuss some of the issues raised in the film with Chris Dolan, David Archibald and others.

       Then, let's not forget that there will be a May Day picnic on The Green, Sunday May 1st.

          An other appeal for those interested in getting May Day back on the Green, get in touch, bring what you expect to find, come and do your thing, just let us know what you hope to do.
MAY DAY IN THE GREEN
        Sunday 1st May from 1.30pm (to around 4pm) informal picnic with poets, singers, musicians. The location will be at the other side of the Peoples Palace in Glasgow Green, near the "washing lines" and canopy. Part of a project to return Mayday to the people from the Bureaucrats of the STUC & Politicians. This will be after the May Day march from George Square at 11.30 and complementary to street stalls at Buchanan St.

 Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk

 

May Day On The Green.

Bring MAY DAY back to the Green!

        Tired of the ritual Glasgow May Day, a boring walk through the city, to sit in a hall listening to "our leaders", pontificating and spouting about how they will save the world. Well, a group of us are trying to bring May Day back to The Green and make it what it was meant to be, a family day, a fun day, a day to celebrate the solidarity of the working class.

       Sunday, May 1st we are organising a family get-together/picnic in the Green, Based at Free Cycle North, with activities and bikes, in and around the green. With a little bit of the history of May Day. Bring what you expect to find, it is our day. It is early days yet, but we expect face painting, music, singing and performance poetry, among other events, and a picnic, with some eats. It should kick off on The Green around 1:00pm and end by 3:30pm app. on May 1st.
You can have your march around the city and come back to the Green to meet up with friends and comrades and have a friendly afternoon with all the family. May Day belongs to the people, and belongs on the Green, let's bring it back. Bring a picnic and food to share.
        We will be doing some banner and sign making at the Electron Club this Saturday 23rd, from 2:00 come along and help. Electron, CCA 350 Sauchiehall St, Glasgow G2 3JD

PLEASE FORWARD AND GET INVOLVED.

        If you can sing, dance, juggle, face-paint play an instrument, ride a mono-cycle, read a poem, or any other wee skill that might entertain the people, bring it along. If you feel you would like to take part, please do get in touch. The more the merrier, it is growing in momentum, Glasgow can make it better and bigger.

annarky@radicalglasgow.me.uk
bob@citystrolls.com

 

Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk

May Day On Glasgow Green.

 

 

       Just a reminder, to all those interested in May Day on The Green. We are hoping to get loads of those people who think they can contribute in some way, or who are just interested in seeing this event happen  to come to Sunday's meeting. It will happen if we want it to happen.

So this is a re-posting of a previous article:

        Further to our desire to end the monotony of the May Day shuffle through town, culminating in boring speeches by the ballerinas of the political scene, we are holding a second meeting to flesh out our ideas. The May Day on The Green has created quite a widespread interest, so we are asking all you who wish to see this idea become a reality, please come along to the next meeting and throw your ideas into the hat. The shape it takes will depend on what we all want, and how much we want it, it is up to us. Nothing will happen unless we make it happen. 
Details of the next meeting:
PLACE: Electron Club room at the CCA 350, Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow
DATE: Sunday, 13 March 2016
START TIME: 14:00:00

PLANNED DURATION: 3 hours

END TIME: 17:00:00

Please come along and show your support, May Day belongs on The Green.

Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk

May Day on The Green.

 

      Further to our desire to end the monotony of the May Day shuffle through town, culminating in boring speeches by the ballerinas of the political scene, we are holding a second meeting to flesh out our ideas. The May Day on The Green has created quite a widespread interest, so we are asking all you who wish to see this idea become a reality, please come along to the next meeting and throw your ideas into the hat. The shape it takes will depend on what we all want, and how much we want it, it is up to us. Nothing will happen unless we make it happen.

May Day 2008, Buchanan Street, Glasgow.

Details of the next meeting:
PLACE: Electron Club room at the CCA 350, Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow
DATE: Sunday, 13 March 2016
START TIME: 14:00:00

PLANNED DURATION: 3 hours

END TIME: 17:00:00

Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk

May Day on The Green!!

        Tired of the ritual Glasgow May Day, a boring walk through the city and then sit in a cinema listening to "our leaders", spout how they will save the world. Well, a group of is are trying to bring May Day back to the Green and make it what it was meant to be, a family day, a fun day, a day of celebration. Sunday May 1st. we are organising a family get-together/picnic in the Green, with a little bit of the history of May Day. It is early days yet but there will face painting, music, singing and performance poetry, among other events, so bring what you expect to find. As I said, it is early days yet, but hopefully it should kick off around 1:30pm. on May 1st. So if you like, you should still be able to have your march around the city and come back to the Green to meet up with friends and comrades and have a friendly afternoon. May Day belongs to the people, and belongs on the Green, let's bring it back.

       More information will come out as the arrangements develop. Please throw your own ideas into the pot, and watch this space, we'll keep you informed.

Burrell Collection Photo. 

          May Day demonstration in Victoria Road, c 1930s. This parade is probably heading to the Queen's Park, where politicians and trade unionists would give speeches. The Independent Labour Party (ILP) are marching alongside the nearest tram.

       May Day was declared an international working class holiday by the International Working Men's Association (First International) in Paris in 1889. 1 May is the traditional date for May Day, but up until 1918 May Day rallies in Glasgow were held at the weekend. The 1918 rally was the first to be held on a weekday and the Glasgow Herald estimated that 70,000 people attended in spite of having to take a day off work.

          May Day Glasgow Green 1913, ahh, wouldn't it be lovely to see such numbers again?

 Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk

Glasgow's May Day, Sunday May, 3rd.

        Tomorrow, Sunday 3rd. May, Glasgow's "official sanctioned" May Day march and rally will gather at George Square at 11:00am and form up and march off at 11:30. The march will make its way through the city to O2 centre on the south side of the city. Let's make this a big one, get there, bring the kids, banners whistles and your hopes and dreams of a better world for all.

      Just to help get you in the right frame of mind, here is the last verse of Louis Zukofsky's poem, March Comrades.

March comrades in revolution
From hirer unchained
Till your gain
Be the freedom of all
The World's May Day! May!
May of the Freed of All the Earth! 

Then there are the words of August Spies: 

      "You may strangle this voice, but there will be a time when our silence will be more powerful than the voices you strangle today."

Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk

Glasgow, May 1st. May Day

         May 1st. May Day in Glasgow this year, was as usual, a friendly and good humoured affair, with a bonus this year, the weather wasn't bad at all. It is always good to meet up with friends, comrades and acquaintances that we have all been too busy to meet up with on a regular basis. The usual groups were there, IWW, Glasgow A. Fed, Glasgow Anarchist Collective, Solfed, Faslane Peace Camp, and others, with a good scattering of black  and red and black flags waving it the chill breeze. Lots of literature was handed out and sold, and lots of chats with the passing public. All these activities were well received by that public looking for a change to this brutal system that hits them with nothing but austerity and promises of more austerity, while the rich get richer.  

       Sunday, May 3rd. will see the Glasgow "official" May Day march and rally, gather at George Square 11.00am, setting off at 11:30am, marching through the city to the O2 centre on the Southside of the city. Hope to see you all there for another show of working class pride.

Some photos from Glasgow's Friday May 1st. May Day:

Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk