Which individual called for armed self-defense at Haymarket Square before the bombing?

The correct answer is August Spies. He was a prominent labor activist and anarchist who spoke at the Haymarket Square rally in Chicago on May 4, 1886. The rally was held in support of workers striking for an eight-hour workday. During his speeches, Spies and other speakers called for labor rights and expressed the need for self-defense in the face of violent repression from police, especially following previous attacks on striking workers. His advocacy for armed self-defense was in response to the growing tensions and violent actions taken against labor organizers and demonstrations by law enforcement.

In contrast, while Albert Parsons was also a key figure in the labor movement and spoke at Haymarket, he did not emphasize armed self-defense as extensively as Spies. Samuel Gompers was a significant labor leader but was more focused on practical reforms and building a strong union movement rather than advocating for armed resistance. Uriah Stephens, as a founder of the Knights of Labor, championed worker rights primarily through peaceful means and did not play a direct role in the events at Haymarket Square.