Haymarket Martyrs' Monument — Attraction in Proviso Township

Classic. Beautiful. Evocative. An activist memorial. Bronze figures. A caped, hooded woman with smock, apron. Fierce grim determination on her face. Intense. Fixed gaze. Right arm across her chest. As if hand on sword, ready to defend herself. Fight. An active not passive female flgure. Never looking away, ever vigilant as she holds in her left hand a laurel wreath held above her fallen comrade, a reclining male figure in overalls. No longer present: The flowing black metal woven wreath of flower stems and leaves across its base just above its portentous inscription. An extremely formidable memorial. Not just figures or frequently quoted words. The movement of the statue itself. Gradually from a strong base. Progressively. In tiers. Sixteen feet of granite. A triangular cap. Pointing ever upward. Ever forward. Beautifully designed by Albert Weinert in 1893. Funded by an anarchist coalition, the Pioneer Aid and Support Organization, headed by Lucy Parsons, wife of Albert R. Parsons. Thought inspired by sentiment from the Marseillaise, as 'Warrior sons cut down by mercenary phalanxes'. On the back plaque: 'Vile chains' - shown broken. Spiny acanthus leaves on either side. Ceremonial black. Inscribed with the words of the pardon from the Illinois governor. At a nearby raised plaque the names of those seen as unfairly jailed. Sentenced. Executed by hanging or dead by another means. Declared a national historic monument 1997: "Represents the labor movements struggle for workers rights and possesses national significance in commemorating the history of the USA." Those convicted. Not just interested in an eight hour day. A higher living wage. Passionate socialists committed to ending capitalism. Radical social restructuring. Articulate anarchist leaders. Staff of the radical German anarchist newspaper. Bomb makers. Some who would rather die than admit guilt and plea for clemency. Vehemently opposed to social injustice, class exploitation of the workers. At the time anarchy a modified socialist reactive posturing; defensive preparation in case of violence, explosives, guns in readiness for the revolution. Not the black flag as it has become. Yet part of the labor movement and its unions. Waldheim, formed by German masonic lodges, was the only cemetery that would accept their remains. It was frequently used by immigrants, as it did not discriminate by religion or ethnicity. Later it merged with Forest Home. This is now maintained by the ILHS. Over 8000 attended its dedication. International representation. Flags from European Unions and American groups. Martyrdom is born of fervor. As a religious passion of self-sacrifice to advance a cause, against an intractable oppression. If only in men's hearts. When meaningful dialogue and constructive solutions fail, that hatred, rigidity - on any side- would impel violent action as a last resort, is tragic. I pray that compassion, understanding and reason guide men's souls and illuminate their minds for a...

A nice monument for an incident which had incredible effect on every worker's life. It's located in the centre of the cemetery, had slight difficulty in finding it. Once you enter walk towards the cemetery building/chapel in the centre & it's near that. A more detailed description plaque would...

Few remember it was all about the eight hour work day. Few remember it's why there's a May Day. Few remember these last words, "There will be a time when our silence will be more powerful than the voices you...