Only the beginning of the struggle

May Day 2025 saw hundreds of thousands take to the streets to build solidarity and to protest against the capitalist class and state’s war on working and oppressed people, which has only intensified under the Trump administration. Unions, grassroots organizations, and individual activists sprang into action around the U.S. The organizing coalition May Day Strong reports that more than 1,000 events were organized in over 800 cities and towns and describes this year as featuring “the most May Day events in U.S. history.” Weaving together a number of issues that could be misperceived as distinct, these actions touched on and were motivated by not only resistance to Trump but also solidarity with Palestinians, trans and queer folks, immigrants, and activists. What drove many to the streets, no doubt, was also the desire to publicly and collectively push back against the racism and xenophobia mobilized by the Trump administration, and by many administrations before, to scapegoat working and oppressed people and turn the working class against itself. While these actions were marked by a kind of political eclecticism and unevenness—with chants and signs trapped firmly within the liberal, even pro-Constitutional, framework up against chants and signs grounded in calls for working-class political independence and self-emancipation—they are a heartening spark of possibility. They reveal the mass dissatisfaction of hundreds of thousands with the socio-material status quo and their willingness to try to change things for the better. As Eleanor Marx argued many May Days ago, such actions are “only the beginning of the struggle.” In what follows, Tempest comrades report on their experiences this May Day.

Duluth, MN and Superior, WI

On May Day in Duluth, there was a rally held in solidarity with federal workers. It was organized by the Northwoods Socialist Collective, and about 150 folks participated.  The protest was held during rush hour in front of the Federal Building.  To protect the jobs of federal workers, private sector workers took turns reading statements on behalf of federal workers and their unions.  Among the groups that helped with the event was DSA, the local chapter of 50501, and United Steelworkers Local 9460.

At the same time, across the bridge in Superior WI, one of the local Indivisible groups held an anti-Trump sign holding event in front of City Hall that drew the same number of people.

Adam Ritscher

Pittsburgh, PA

Starting at the United Steelworkers building in downtown Pittsburgh at 5 pm, over 2000 people mobilized in a May Day rally and march.  It was supported by unions (most visibly the United Steel Workers and United Electrical Workers), immigrant rights groups, community groups, and Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey. Participating organizations included Pittsburgh’s Labor Council for Latin American Advancement and Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, Casa San Jose, League of Women Voters, and many more. The spirited participants rallied in defense of immigrants’ rights, workers’ rights, women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, democracy, decent health care and education and housing for all, environmental protection, and more.

Paul LeBlanc 

Madison, WI

Madison, Wisconsin had May Day protests on two days. On May 1, despite torrential rain, hundreds of students walked out from East High School and West High School, converging on the State Capitol for a rally. The following day there were two events. The immigrant rights organization Voces de la Frontera organized a “Day Without Immigrants and Workers” rally and march, which drew over 1500 people. Several union locals had banners on the march, along with the South Central Federation of Labor. At the same time, hundreds rallied on the University of Wisconsin campus for a Stand Up for Science teach-in and march. The two protests met at the Capitol and close to 3,000 people held a noisy rally inside the building.

Phil Gasper

New York City

The 5:00 pm rally and short march in NYC was many thousands, but it was very hard to get an overview. The NY Central Labor Council endorsed the NYC MayDayStrong event. Unlike in Chicago or Baltimore, though, they did little to build it outside their unions. The day was different than previous anti-Trump protests because of the many union contingents. Several unions had a banner and a handful of people (hard to tell if staffers or members), but some had large contingents, especially Liuna locals 79 and 101 (laborers). Still, a majority of the people showing up were not with union groups. There was also a lot of signage about immigration. There were also several small immigrant groups & NGOs, with banners, but not the kind of massive immigrant participation characteristic of demonstrations built in the communities. Palestine was not as integrated an issue. However, some Arab-led groups and the left-led unofficial “Labor for Palestine” contingent brought the issue into the march. UFT had a presence, separate from MORE, and the people in their contingent chanted union, anti-cut, and anti-deportation chants, but would not pick up those around Palestine.

The socialist Left marched mostly in their own contingents, some small, but DSA covered a full block with people holding their red “We are the many” signs. Their focus seemed to be handing out info on their Zohran for NYC mayor campaign. The activist Rise and Resist, active in local Tesla Takedowns and the like, had a huge banner defending immigrants and a large, loud contingent.

There were also a lot of unaffiliated people, union members and not, at both the union-backed rally and the smaller PSL (Party for Socialism and Liberation)-led rally earlier, who said they just had to come out and do something. It wasn’t difficult to get people talking if you tried. Several people agreed in discussion that opposition was initially shocked into silence but is now coming out again, and that the Trump coalition looks weaker than at first. We handed out flyers for an upcoming Tempest meeting to a very small percentage of the march. Unfortunately, the earlier PSL rally marched uptown, away from the afternoon union rally, not towards it, but did at least announce it (and their contingent) at the end.

Towards the end of the union rally, Chris Dols, president of Local 98 of International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, and organizer with the rank-and-file Federal Unionist Network, spoke. He said that in Trump’s first term he looked on Federal Plaza from his office, and thought if only the various groups resisting Trump could be joined by the organized working class they would have the power to stop Trump for good: “Well, they are getting a second chance, and so are we.” He then introduced the final speaker, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Many individuals attending the rally were genuinely excited to have her appear (unlike at Palestine rallies, where she is largely seen to have backed down on the issue and is dismissed). Ocasio-Cortez talked of coming GOP attacks on Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security, and ended her speech calling out the few GOP representatives in the area who would vote for the cuts, saying our (a large crowd including many unionists) assignment was to let them know we would vote them out “next year.” It was a masterful lesson in using radical language and prestige to get people who want to do something now to stay home and wait for elections.

At the end of the rally, it looked like a turnout of 5,000 people. Then, as we all marched down Broadway, it looked more like 10,000, stretching for blocks. Although I did not hear much direction for further organizing from the stage, the march was spirited and positive, and most people were glad to have these issues coming together on May Day.

Eric F. 

Additions to Eric’s initial report:

One quick note:  Mahmoud Khalil’s lawyer also spoke at the CLC rally before the march.

Hakan Y. 

New York City

I attended two demonstrations on May Day. One was held in Union Square by the Party of Socialism and Liberation (“PSL”) and the other was held by the New York Labor Council in Foley Square.

This was my first time being active on the frontlines, so I was a little nervous going into the crowd with Tempest pamphlets. However, as I started talking to people, I realized they were open to hearing more about a revolutionary socialist group. In fact, most people at the Union Square Event seemed to be mobilized, from the most sectarian left group to a newly formed coalition of professional workers. Everyone was interested in meeting each other to talk and share ideas.

I would say the earlier event was in contrast to the second. For the second, the goal was to come out and show our numbers. While the noon event was maybe only a few hundred people at most, the crowd at Foley Square numbered in the thousands. This gave us less time to talk, but it felt really good to be out there with our signs, banners, and most importantly our comrades.

I’m not sure what will come from this movement-wise, but I am hopeful that the connections we made will help our organizing efforts in NYC. I am also hopeful that May Day is finally having an impact on a new layer of younger folks in the U.S. I believe we can pull this day out of the pile of “soviet kitsch” so people can remember it is a day about workers taking a stand for themselves and for other working people the world over.

Anonymous comrade

Burlington, VT

May Day in Vermont was an enormous success. About five weeks before May 1, Tempest helped bring together a small group of organizers from unions and other left wing organizations to plan for May Day.

The politics of the event emphasized the connection between the attacks on unions and the attacks on immigrants, the trans community, and other vulnerable populations. Roughly 2,500 people (a huge turnout for the small state of Vermont!) turned out for the event. After a few brief speeches from union leaders and local activists, the crowd marched to the ICE data collection facility located in Williston, VT while chanting “No borders, no nations, stop the deportations!” In front of the facility, speakers such as Wafic Faour, a leading member of the local Palestine solidarity movement, highlighted the connection between Palestine and immigrant rights here in the US.

After the stop at the ICE facility, the crowd marched to join the Migrant Justice picket at the Hannaford’s grocery store. This picket was part of Migrant Justice’s years’ long Milk with Dignity campaign calling on companies to respect the human rights of the undocumented migrants working on dairy farms in Vermont.

May Day was truly inspiring from start to finish. It was amazing to see thousands of local Vermonters join in solidarity with one another. Everyone there understood the need for collective struggle against the rising tide of fascism in the country and this May Day laid the groundwork for building that struggle moving forward.

Nolan R. 

Featured Image credit: Infrogmation; modified by Tempest.

Featured Image credit: Battlesnake1; modified by Tempest.

Featured Image credit: Fibonaci Blue; modified by Tempest.