The Parade! What's Working?

photos on this page by Mark Knobil

Hello! It’s getting to be time for the 4th annual Polish Hill May Day parade! May Day is an international holiday celebrating worker’s rights as well as the passage of winter into spring. It is celebrated and interpreted many different ways all over the world, and our tradition is becoming more our own each year. Previously we were lucky enough to have May Day land on a weekend, but this year we decided to move it to the next Saturday so that more people will be able to participate.
        What we have had in the past is a peaceful and inclusive parade full of homemade costumes, floats, banners, marching bands, all celebrating the lives of  the working people that are our friends, family, and community. We would like to recognize that this idea extends beyond our much-loved neighborhood as well, and that the world is covered with ordinary people like ourselves that make it all go around. How many people, that make our world possible, are we touched by every day and don’t speak of?

The parade will meet up and prepare at Noon at the dead end of lower Melwood which is actually North Oakland, and then depart at 12:30pm snaking up and onto Gold Way, continuing on Melwood after the Bloomfield bridge to Heron, taking Dobson to Brerton, and then finishing up at West Penn Park where there will be a picnic at which all are welcome to bring food. Like last year there will be a baseball match, maybe even a small tournament, to watch while we eat and relax.

Our theme this year is What's Working? Is Capitalism working? Is our government working? If not, What IS Working? Is wind energy Working? Is Global Warming Working? Is seed saving Working? How do we value work? Why is some work valued more then others? Is our self worth tangled up in what society calls work? Must you get paid for something to call it WORK? What's Working?

 Come ring a bell for the Everyday Worker - However you define it. Carry an umbrella to dance in the sun with and to share the shade of a new spring.Wear a costume. Bring flower petals. Create a float. Celebrate!



More Great Pictures from last year by Mark Noble Here