CHICAGO — Activists worldwide initiated May Day demonstrations on Thursday, engaging in events ranging from worker rights rallies to marches championing social justice issues. Although certain countries recognize this day as a public holiday to honor labor, advocates in the United States are utilizing their platforms to push back against policies set forth by President Donald Trump targeting immigrants, federal workers, and diversity initiatives.
Expectations mount as thousands gather for demonstrations spreading from Tokyo to Chicago. However, across parts of the U.S., a fear fomented by the current administration may deter some immigrants from participating actively. “Everybody is under attack right now,” expressed Jorge Mujica, a seasoned labor leader based in Chicago, where May Day demonstrations have historically seen impressive turnouts.
The origins of May Day, also known as International Workers Day, can be traced back over a century to a critical period in the U.S.’s labor history. During the 1880s, unions advocating for improved working conditions rallied for an eight-hour workday through widespread demonstrations and strikes. In a harrowing incident in May 1886, a labor rally in Chicago turned deadly when a bomb was thrown, and the ensuing police response involved gunfire. Several labor activists, primarily immigrants, were convicted for inciting violence, with four eventually hanged.
Later, unions suggested honoring the fallen workers annually on May 1. A sculpture in Chicago’s Haymarket Square stands as a testament to their legacy, inscribed with the words: “Dedicated to all workers of the world.”
Recent years have witnessed May Day marches, rallies, and riots globally, where unions strive for better workers’ rights, groups voice economic frustrations, or activists call for an end to conflicts, such as in Gaza. While the majority of these demonstrations remain peaceful, clashes with law enforcement have occurred.
In Paris last year, police employed tear gas as thousands of demonstrators took to the streets seeking better wages and working conditions. In New York City, May Day rallies coincided with increasing campus tensions over pro-Palestinian student encampments, leading to multiple arrests. This year’s activities in numerous cities, including New York, call for unity across diverse causes and organizations. “We’re organizing for a world where every family has housing, health care, fair wages, union protection, and safety — regardless of race, immigration status, or zip code,” declared the American Civil Liberties Union of New York.
Noteworthy U.S. demonstrations will include a workers rally at Philadelphia City Hall featuring Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, alongside activities in Los Angeles, Seattle, Washington, D.C., and at the Colorado State Capitol.
While labor and immigrant rights have long been interconnected, May Day rallies in the U.S. took a decisive shift toward immigration reform in 2006. This was when approximately 1 million individuals, including nearly 500,000 in Chicago alone, protested against federal legislation that aimed to criminalize residing in the U.S. without legal permission. Since that pivotal year, the size of May 1 demonstrations has waned as advocacy groups splintered and moved their efforts to other areas such as voters’ rights.
In Chicago this year, organizers anticipate an activist effort starting Thursday that extends through Cinco de Mayo, accompanied by boycotts and walkouts. Their focus remains on workers’ rights and countering escalating anti-immigrant rhetoric from the Trump administration. Despite the lingering fears within immigrant communities stemming from Trump’s stringent enforcement actions, especially in sanctuary cities like Chicago, efforts are underway to broaden outreach to a wider array of unions, including those representing teachers and nurses.
“There’s a lot of fear out there,” recognized Omar Lopez, a veteran Chicago organizer.
May Day is celebrated in various countries worldwide, including France, Kenya, and China, marked by a five-day holiday. In Russia, Communist-led May Day gatherings were historically grand occasions. It’s also a traditional celebration of spring, often observed in ways unrelated to street protests or civil demonstrations.
In Hawaii, May 1 is known as Lei Day, characterized as a statewide celebration rather than an official holiday, focusing on Hawaiian culture and the aloha spirit, typically involving the crafting and exchange of lei, necklaces usually made of flowers.
In other regions, people commemorate the day by delivering May Day baskets filled with gifts and flowers to the doorsteps of friends. Annapolis in Maryland is preparing to host its 70th May Day Basket Competition, where residents and businesses vie for the most stunning floral displays. “It’s our community’s way of saying goodbye to winter and welcoming the beauty and energy of spring,” stated Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley.