politics
Thousands Protest Trump Policies on May Day Across US
Thousands participated in May Day demonstrations nationwide, including walkouts and marches, as part of the 'May Day Strong' events calling for no work, no school, and no shopping. Protests targeted Trump administration policies on immigration, labor rights, and economic inequality.
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Thousands of workers, students, and activists participated in May Day protests across the United States on May 1, 2026, as part of 'May Day Strong' events. Organizers called for an economic blackout, urging people to skip work, school, and shopping to protest Trump administration policies.
Demonstrations included marches, rallies, and block parties in multiple cities. Protests focused on demands for expanded worker protections, immigration reforms, a pathway to citizenship, increased funding for education and health care, and an end to additional funding for federal immigration agencies.
at MacArthur Park, followed by a march to Grand Park. Participants included janitors, security officers, airport workers, and stadium employees affiliated with SEIU-United Service Workers West.
On the East Coast, events started early in the morning.
In Manhattan, a group of Amazon workers, Teamsters, and local politicians marched from the New York Public Library's main branch to Amazon's corporate offices, demanding the company cut contracts with ICE and the Department of Homeland Security. In Washington, D.C., protesters shut down intersections, holding banners reading “Workers over billionaires” and “Healthcare not warfare”.
In North Carolina, at least 15 school districts closed to allow teachers to join a statewide rally for public education funding. In Chicago, the Chicago Teachers Union secured May Day as a day of civic action, leading to school cancellations. School closures also occurred in Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
In Portland, Oregon, protesters occupied a hotel lobby where DHS officials were reportedly staying. The protests built on earlier actions, including a January effort in Minnesota where tens of thousands skipped school and work to protest federal immigration agents.
The National Education Association, with 3 million members, helped organize the events. In North Carolina, educators rallied in Raleigh for more investment in public schools, an end to corporate tax cuts, and expanded union rights. About 20 public school districts closed due to staff absences.
