Thursday, May 1 | United States – Tens of thousands of protesters flooded streets in nearly 1,000 cities across the United States on Thursday to mark International Workers’ Day with mass demonstrations aimed at defending labor rights and standing in solidarity with immigrant communities. The coordinated May Day rallies were backed by hundreds of organizations, ranging from labor unions to immigrant justice groups, in what became the third major wave of anti-Trump protests in less than a month.

Organizers, who had previously mobilized millions for the 5 April “Hands Off” rallies and the 19 April “Day of Action,” said that while turnout was expected to be slightly lower due to the weekday timing of 1 May, significant numbers still gathered in cities from New York and Los Angeles to Seattle and Anchorage, Alaska.

“This is a war on working people – and we will not stand down,” read a statement from the national day of action’s official website. “They’re defunding our schools, privatizing public services, attacking unions, and targeting immigrant families with fear and violence.”

Protests Nationwide, Voices Amplified

In New York City, demonstrators assembled throughout the day, including a major rally in Union Square. Among them was Saidi Moseley, 25, an education coordinator and one of the event organizers. “Today, we saw lots of new people who are getting energized and activated,” Moseley said. “The Trump administration is clearly coming for all of these rights that we’ve won, and all of us are taking up the task to fight back.”

A wide range of voices echoed similar concerns. Betsy Waters, a 67-year-old full-time volunteer, held a sign reading “due process for all.” Having participated in several protests, she said, “I feel that we have to be out here. We have to be out here making a stand as much as we can… What is happening in our country is just not right.”

Lydia Howrilka, a 25-year-old librarian from Queens, held a sign declaring “Only you can stop fascism.” She said, “I am standing in solidarity with my immigrant brothers and sisters in New York. I am standing in defense of democracy.”

Another speaker, Grant Miner, president of the Student Workers of Columbia union (UAW 2710), condemned the university’s suppression of student voices. Recently expelled from Columbia University in March for involvement in pro-Palestinian protests, Miner said, “I’m trying to speak out about the things that are affecting my workers, including the ongoing cuts to higher education, as well as the targeting of students for student protests.”

Washington, DC: Deportation and Labor Tragedies in Focus

In Washington, DC, up to 3,000 protesters were expected to gather outside the White House and other symbolic locations. Cathryn Jackson, policy director at Casa—an organization supporting immigrant and working-class families—highlighted the plight of Kilmar Ábrego García, an immigrant deported and now imprisoned in El Salvador. His wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, was among the speakers at the DC rally.

“We’re seeing people abducted off the streets every day in some of the most violent and cruel ways,” Jackson said. “This rally today is about solidarity… no matter what the Trump administration tries to do, we are determined to fight back.”

Jackson also invoked the memory of Miguel Luna, a construction worker who died in the 2024 Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore along with five others—all Latin American immigrants. “This is the story of men working in the middle of the night while all of us were sleeping… and then being treated the way we are in return,” she said.

Illinois Representative Delia Ramirez, a Democrat and daughter of Guatemalan immigrants, addressed the crowd at Franklin Park: “We’re united because we understand that this president wants to silence us… But we are not going to be silenced.”

National Unity and Cross-Movement Solidarity

Jorge Mújica, strategic organizer for Arise Chicago and a lead coordinator of the city’s May Day events, said on Democracy Now that the Trump administration’s broad attacks have “enabled us to gather a really broad coalition” encompassing federal workers, students, teachers, and community organizers. “They are attacking everybody at the same time,” he said. “The Trump administration miscalculated completely.”

The protest website emphasized inclusivity and mutual struggle: “Everyone deserves respect and dignity, no matter who they are, where they were born, or what language they speak… Our fight for fair wages, safe workplaces, and dignity on the job is the same fight for immigrant justice.”

Backdrop: Trump’s 100 Days and Declining Approval

The protests come just days after President Donald Trump crossed the 100-day mark in office, a period marked by sweeping deregulation, aggressive immigration enforcement, and repeated attacks on democratic institutions. His approval rating, once positive, has slipped into net disapproval territory, with more Americans voicing opposition than support.

Activists say that far from being discouraged, Trump’s actions have galvanized a growing national resistance movement. “The only thing that will stop fascism is mobilization,” said Rep. Ramirez, adding, “As long as you keep organizing, I can amplify that voice and continue to stand up to fascism.”