May 1, also known as May Day or International Workers' Day, has played a significant role in the history of Rhode Island. Here are five interesting facts about this day in Rhode Island's past:

1. May Day was a significant date for the labor movement in Rhode Island. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, May Day was marked by labor strikes and protests throughout the state. Some of the most notable strikes occurred in the textile mills of Woonsocket and Pawtucket, where workers demanded better wages and working conditions.

2. May Day was also a day of celebration for Rhode Island's Italian-American community. In the early 20th century, Italian immigrants in Rhode Island marked May Day with parades and festivities, often featuring traditional Italian music and costumes.

3. In 1933, Rhode Island became the first state in the country to observe May Day as an official state holiday. The holiday was intended to honor the contributions of workers to the state's economy and culture.

4. During World War II, May Day celebrations in Rhode Island were curtailed due to concerns about wartime security. But after the war, May Day resumed its place as a day of labor activism and community celebration.

5. In recent years, May Day has continued to be a day of protest and activism in Rhode Island. In 2017, for example, hundreds of immigrants and their allies marched through downtown Providence to protest the Trump administration's immigration policies. The march was one of many May Day protests that took place across the country that year.