Fox News host John Roberts celebrated International Workers’ Day, also known as May Day, in his own special way on Friday, seemingly suggesting that the unofficial holiday is “communist.”
“This is May 1, which means that in communist countries around the world, it’s May Day, celebrate the laborers,” Roberts said. “There are a number of marches and rallies in this country as well.”
Roberts then turned to one of Fox News’ favorite targets, the city of Chicago, criticizing Mayor Brandon Johnson for encouraging students to walk out of school and join May Day demonstrations.
While not recognized as a federal holiday, May Day in the United States commemorates the 1886 nationwide strike demanding an eight-hour workday. Its roots largely trace back to the May 4, 1886, Chicago Haymarket Affair, where protests in the city turned violent, resulting in the deaths of several law enforcement officers and civilians as well as the eventual executions of multiple labor organizers.
There have been some efforts to change the date of official federal holiday of Labor Day from September 1 to May 1, but they have been unsuccessful.
Nationwide demonstrations took place on Friday, with many organizations calling for a boycott of work, school and spending in protest of the Trump administration’s policies, NPR reported.