Event: May Day Demonstrations Across the U.S.
Planned for Friday, May Day demonstrations across the United States will see organizers calling for a boycott of work, school, and shopping. The protests are aimed at the Trump administration's policies and what activists describe as a "billionaire takeover of government."
Organizers and Participants
- The National Education Association (NEA), the largest labor union in the US, is a key organizer.
- Over 500 labor unions, student groups, and community organizations are expected to participate.
- The Sunrise Movement said more than 100,000 students were expected to miss school.
"The message is that the country should focus on workers over billionaires." — Becky Pringle, President of the National Education Association
Specific Locations and Actions
- In North Carolina, approximately 20 public school districts will be closed due to planned staff absences.
- Educators and school workers will rally in Raleigh to pressure the state legislature for more education funding.
- The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education voted to cancel school on May 1 due to expected staff absences.
- Events are also planned in Boston, San Francisco, Chicago, Los Angeles, Seattle, New York City, Minneapolis, Washington, D.C., Albuquerque, and Portland, Ore.
Bryan Proffitt, vice president of the North Carolina Association of Educators, said the rally aims for "more investment in public schools, an end to corporate tax cuts, restoration of democracy, and expansion of union rights."
Statements
- NEA President Becky Pringle said the message is that the country should focus on workers over billionaires.
- North Carolina State Sen. Amy Galey, a Republican, criticized the school closures, stating they "would not benefit students."
- Stacy Davis Gates, president of the Illinois Federation of Teachers and the Chicago Teachers Union, said "billionaires need to pay their fair share."
Background
May 1 is traditionally a day of protest in the US, originating from the 19th-century movement for an 8-hour workday. The White House issued a statement that the Trump administration has stood up for American workers, citing trade deals, manufacturing investments, tax cuts, and border security. President Trump previously declared May 1 as "Loyalty Day."