May 1 Brings Out The Socialists And Communists In 1930s New York

Socialists Hold May Day Celebration In Central Park
Shown above is a scene on the Mall in Central Park, New York City on May Day as the Socialists listened to the various speakers. The Mall was crowded to capacity. credit: Acme May 1, 1935

In 1930s New York socialism was a popular draw. But some might feel it was not the right “ism.” Fascism, Nazism and Communism also had their disciples in the city.  So you might drift further downtown to Union Square on May Day where the Communists would hold their assembly. This undated photo below shows Union Square packed with what the news slug labels as “Communists,” along with worker’s rights proponents and union supporters plus some nazi’s and facists.

Communists gather at Union Square – photo Brown Brothers

May Day in New York does not hold the same sway today. Gatherings will occur around the city on May 1, but celebrants on the far left probably do not give this day significantly more importance than any other day in their lives.

Modern education has conditioned a couple of generations to embrace the ideas of Socialism and Communism, even if they don’t self-identify as fellow travelers.

Now, on any given day there are surely many more of these super-left leaning warriors catatonically walking New York’s streets, especially in the area of Columbia and New York University who believe in one of the two”isms,” than at either of these 1930s gatherings.