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Labor History Map of Indianapolis |
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More than 500 people gathered on the State House steps to recognize May Day (May 1) in 1930, about six months after the stock market crashed and the country was thrown into economic depression. Approximately sixty percent of the demonstrators were black men, women, and children. The demonstration was organized by the local communist movement, with the help of an Indianapolis Board of Safety decision that prevented the police from disrupting meetings of communists unless the speakers advocated violence or lawlessness.
The main speaker of the day, Joseph Dallet of Chicago, extolled the virtues of the Communist Party, saying, "The Communist Party will carry membership of unemployed workers without cost to them."After his two hour speech, Dallet organized the crowd into a marching column and led them east on Market Street "with banners flying," around Monument Circle to Tomlinson hall (City Market), where more speakers addressed the growing crowd. During the march, demonstrators chanted: "We Want Work or Wages"
Throughout the demonstration the following banners were in evidence: "Long live the revolutionary solidarity of the working class - Join the Communist Party"
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| AEofI, May 14, 1930 | ||||