So, like, workers around the world are getting ready to rally on May Day, which is like a big deal in some places but not so much in others. In the good old U.S. of A., activists are using the day to protest against Trump’s policies that target immigrants, federal workers, and diversity programs. From Tokyo to Chicago, thousands are expected to show up, but some immigrants might stay home due to fear sparked by the Trump administration.
Jorge Mujica, a labor leader from Chicago, believes that everyone is feeling the heat right now. Chicago has a history of big turnouts for May Day rallies, so it’s expected to be a lively event. The roots of May Day, also known as International Workers Day, go way back to the 1880s when unions were fighting for better working conditions and an eight-hour workday. A labor rally in Chicago turned violent in May 1886, leading to the conviction and hanging of several labor activists.
Unions decided to honor these workers every May 1, leading to the tradition we have today. May Day demonstrations have been happening all over the world in recent years, with some turning into clashes with the police. Last year in Paris, tear gas was fired as protesters demanded better pay and working conditions. In New York City, tensions ran high over pro-Palestinian student encampments, resulting in numerous arrests during May Day demonstrations.
This year, organizers in various cities are calling for unity across different causes and groups. The American Civil Liberty Union of New York is advocating for a world where every family has housing, healthcare, fair wages, union protection, and safety, regardless of race, immigration status, or zip code. Bernie Sanders is expected to attend a workers rally at Philadelphia City Hall, and demonstrations are planned in cities like Los Angeles, Seattle, and Washington, D.C.
The focus of May Day rallies in the U.S. shifted to immigration in 2006 when millions took to the streets to protest legislation that would’ve criminalized living in the U.S. without legal permission. Since then, the crowds have dwindled as advocacy groups have splintered. This year in Chicago, the activism is set to last until Cinco de Mayo with boycotts and walkouts, focusing on workers’ rights and combating anti-immigrant rhetoric from the Trump administration.
May Day is a public holiday for workers in countries like France, Kenya, Russia, and China, where it lasts five days. In Hawaii, it’s Lei Day, a celebration of Hawaiian culture through the giving of lei. Other places mark the holiday by leaving May Day baskets on doorsteps. Annapolis, Maryland, holds a May Day Basket Competition to welcome the beauty of spring.
So, yeah, May Day is all about standing up for workers’ rights, fighting against injustices, and coming together for a better world. It’s a day of activism, unity, and celebration across the globe.
