Retired SEIU organizer, Al Piper, gave some historical background about labor history, the Haymarket riot and how it lead to May 1st being celebrated internationally as labor day. He mentioned Springfield's role as burial place and one-time home to labor legend John L. Lewis. It's disappointing that our city does so little to recognize our connection to one of the most important figures in American history.
(The Springfield festival was more peaceful than the original)
I caught the last song of Tom Irwin's show, heard another great set by local jam-grass band, the Reel Channel Cats, and heard Gypsy Collabo get going. I skipped out before the Sarah Schneider Band got started, even though she's on of my local favorites, because it got pretty cold.
The other speaker was a UIS professor who gave a predictable speech about Obama not being liberal enough along with some cliche lines from a middle-class Marxist perspective.
Incidentally, you may remember that Pat Quinn said he would model himself after Governor John Altgeld, who pardoned the falsely convicted Haymarket anarchists.
It was a fun event that managed to attract an age-diverse audience (not an easy thing to do in Springfield) so I hope it happens again next year.