“History is the best way to ground any kind of activism:” Kathryn Lehman on May Day 2026

May Day is coming up this Friday, May 1. KGNU’s Abby O’Brien sat down with Kathryn Lehman to talk about the origins of this important day in labor rights history and discuss upcoming events around the region this May Day.

Lehman is a program coordinator for  Boulder County Community Services, a local shop steward, and  a member of the contract bargaining committee for the Boulder County Employees Union (BCEU).

Lehman said, “ I think that history is the best way to ground any kind of activism or organizing work that any of us are doing… You’ll learn about worker struggles happening in your community right now, whether it’s Boulder County or United Campus Workers. There’s going to be posters and info tables, and chants. It’s also a way to join the national movement around workers’ rights.”

More information about Boulder’s May Day events can be found at https://boulderdowntown.com/do/may-day-international-workers-day-rally-and-celebration.