May Day Protests Draw Crowds Across U.S. with Work and School Boycotts
Thousands of protesters across America participated in May Day demonstrations on Friday, May 1, calling for boycotts of work, school, and shopping to protest Trump administration policies and corporate influence in government. Major unions and educators led the nationwide "May Day Strong" events from Boston to San Francisco.
Mass Demonstrations Mark International Labor Day
May Day demonstrations drew crowds across the country on Friday, with organizers calling for a boycott of work, school and shopping to protest the Trump administration's policies and what activists describe as a billionaire takeover of government.
Key Organizers and Scale
The National Education Association, the nation's largest labor union with 3 million members, was a key organizer of Friday's protests, with NEA President Becky Pringle telling NPR that the message this year is that the country should be "focusing on workers over billionaires."
School Closures and Impact
In North Carolina's biggest city, Charlotte, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education issued a statement saying it had voted to call off school on May 1 due to the number of staff absences expected that day. May Day events were also planned in Chicago, Los Angeles, Seattle, New York City, Minneapolis, Washington, D.C., Albuquerque and Portland, Ore., among other cities.
Educator Demands
The movement's aim is "more investment in public schools, an end to corporate tax cuts, a restoration of our democracy, and the expansion of union rights."