Photo Credit: Chicago Teachers Union
More than 1,500 marches, rallies, and protests took place From May 1st through May 3rd in more than 1000 cities and towns in all 50 states.
The events were organized by a May Day Strong coalition of more than 200 organizations including the Chicago Teachers Union, National Education Association, American Federation of Teachers, Communication Workers of America, Association of Flight Attendants-CWA and United Electrical Workers, as well as the Sunrise Movement, the Center for Popular Democracy, Indivisible, and other issue-based organizations, from Palestine organizing to reproductive justice to immigrant rights.
In Philadelphia, hundreds of unionized hotel, food service and casino workers sat down on the main highway through the city center. The action was organized by UNITE HERE Local 274, the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFGE District 3, AFSCME District 47, Teamsters Local 623, various SEIU locals, the Federal Unionists Network, the Democratic Socialists of America, and Make the Road Pennsylvania and other immigrant rights groups. 70 sit downers were arrested.
A statement from the Philadelphia AFL-CIO said the protesters were “inspired by the actions of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the March on Washington, and Dr. Martin Luther King and the Memphis Sanitation Workers’ Strike.” Philadelphia AFL-CIO President Daniel Bauder said, “What we saw today, from the large crowds who rallied with us at City Hall, to the over 50 leaders and activists who were arrested with me earlier this evening, makes it abundantly clear that workers in Philly will not sit back while our rights are stripped away by billionaires like Donald Trump and Elon Musk.”
Follow-up actions promoted by May Day Strong include:
- Hands Off Our Schools! campaign
- Millions of “workers over billionaires” one-on-one conversations
- June 14 No Kings Day
For more on past and future May Day Strong actions: https://maydaystrong.org