With all kinds of harangues demanding an end to deportations, respect for workers, more taxes for the rich and an end to President Donald Trump’s agenda, hundreds of New Yorkers commemorated International Labor Day this Friday. The protesters joined the national call to have a day without classes, without shopping and businesses without employees.
The mobilization in the Big Apple, which was added to the national day of protest, included several congregations that, from very early until late at night, gathered in different parts of the city under the slogans “no wars, no ICE and no billionaires” and “workers above billionaires.”
Union Sq., Washington Sq. Park, Prospect Park, MacDonald Park, Bryant Park and other sites throughout the five boroughs, were spaces for the concentrations, which according to information from the organizers of the Could Day Solid NYC collective, union groups, community organizations and immigrant associations, seek to make it clear that despite the abuses that thousands of people in New York are facing, they will continue to raise their voices so that “respect for the law and human dignity prevail.”
“Higher wages, better working conditions and greater protections for workers” were part of the cries of the protesters, who agreed that they are daily victims of economic inequality, unjust immigration laws and the impact of global conflicts that affect the cost of living. The call was for reforms to be implemented that protect the working class and immigrant families.
“It is not fair that we have to continue going out to protest to demand basic common sense protections that we deserve in this country, such as good working conditions, salaries that are enough to live with dignity, no persecution of immigrants and an end to labor slavery,” commented Eduardo Becerra, a construction worker, who joined the May 1 protest in Union Square.
“We will not remain silent. We are going to continue fighting and if the federal government continues to insist on applauding all the atrocities that President Trump insists on promoting, here we are going to insist with our protests. Our votes will speak at the polls,” added the Colombian worker. “The President, the governor and the mayor must listen to what we workers denounce, because we are the majority. And in a democracy the majority speaks, not just the rich and corporations.”
And while holding a banner with the phrase “No more ICE in New York,” Julián Castillo, who arrived from the Bronx to the demonstration in Union Square, demanded that as a way to pay tribute to the working class, a good part of it of immigrant origin, the State promote improvements that allow them to live in peace.
“I know that New York is a sanctuary site, and although our leaders are not racist like Trump, there still needs to be more protections for our people. ICE is persecuting immigrants with and without papers and has spread fear among our people. That cannot continue,” said the restaurant industry worker. “I implore the Governor and the mayor to do more for us, to come down hard on federal agents and to put more taxes on millionaires so that in this city salaries can be increased and finance more social programs that the poor need.”
The National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA) also took advantage of the date to demand that the work of thousands of women dedicated to these tasks be valued, many of whom are still denied the wages, protections and respect they deserve, and that the power of the most vulnerable be increased.
“This year, as domestic workers and working families face deep economic insecurity, attacks on immigrant communities, and a growing climate of fear and instability, we renew our commitment to the long fight ahead: building a stronger labor movement, grounded in unity, care, and collective power,” NDWA said. “We fight for a future in which domestic workers—and all workers—can live and work without fear, earn decent wages that support their families, and enjoy the rights, dignity and protections that every person deserves.”
“ICE out, ICE out. This is a city of immigrants. Here in New York we don’t want ICE,” were other harangues that the protesters shouted, while waving banners against TRump and the federal government’s agenda, which they described as “dangerous.”
“It is urgent that political leaders not only in New York but throughout the country unite in a bloc against Trump and his hateful policies. We do not want kings, we do not want wars and we need millionaires to pay more taxes because it is fair in defense of the working classes,” he said.
Cynthia Lopezwho stressed that in the midst of state budget negotiations in Albany, it must be a priority to approve increasing the tax on the richest.
Gustavo Gordillo, co-president of the Democratic Socialists of America in New York City (NYC-DSA), stated that the protests of this May 1 present a set of clearly and specific demands preferred by the workers, which cannot be ignored, because the costs are choking millions of people.
“As Trump continues his illegal wars around the world and prices rise, the basic necessities of life are no longer affordable for the vast majority of workers, while billionaires and corrupt politicians continue to profit,” said the political leader, while joining the call for Albany to give the green light to urgent protections.
“The NYC-DSA stands in solidarity with New York unions and the working class movement to demand the approval of the ‘Unusual York for All’ and ‘Dignity Now now not Detention’ initiatives, as well as a state budget that taxes billionaires and corporations, reinvesting the profits obtained at the expense of the work of others in the public good,” Gordillo warned.
Governor Hochul’s name was heard among the Union Square protesters, almost as much as Trump’s, amid the clamor that the budget not leave out the order that the richest pay higher taxes.
“We have the power. United we have the power and Albany has to listen to us. I respect the working classes, ice out of our communities, and by preference, Governor Hochul, stand on the side of working families and not corporations: taxes for the millionaires,” said Steven Fordam, who highlighted that taxing the richest will protect health care, food assistance and other essential services.
“May Day has always been a day in which working people demand dignity, justice and a voice in the decisions that shape their lives. And today, that means facing a system in which corporate power and political influence are driving up costs and preventing the implementation of real solutions,” said Joseph Geevarghese, executive director of the organization Our Revolution. “Across the country, people are organizing to demand something different: an economy that works for working people, and not just the rich.”
James Davis, president of the Non-public Professional Congress, union of educators of the CUNY university campuses, stressed the importance of consolidating the union movement and supporting the different communities that came together in the demonstration.
“On May Day, we demonstrate our strength as a labor movement that understands the need for solidarity between union and non-union workers, between native-born and immigrant workers, and between our students, faculty and staff,” he declared.
A demonstration was also held outside the Mayor’s Office in which home caregivers took the opportunity to ask the Municipal administration to put an end to the 24-hour shifts, which they denounce has become a way to legalize slavery, since they are only paid for 13 hours.
The rally in Union Square ended with a call not to foment more wars and a total rejection of the Trump administration’s incursion into Iran, an act that protesters considered irresponsible and a violation of human rights and international politics.
“I hope that the United States under Trump will stop considering that he can do whatever he wants whenever he has any interest, but while this government lasts, with these demonstrations that are happening throughout the country, we are speaking clearly and loudly to the president to tell him that he is not the king and that we will continue protesting and resisting while he leaves,” he commented. Lucas Menin.
“The hope is that soon this entire painful chapter in which fundamental laws have been violated will one day end and we can see a new dawn for everyone in this country of immigrants, workers, artists and diverse beings where we used to fit,” added the law student, while a young girl with a baby in tow offered him sweets and asked for support.
Data
- May 1st marks International Labor Day
- 1,000 cities and municipalities throughout the country participated in the national day
- No to ICE, no to war, taxes on millionaires, expanding democracy, no to corporate domination and defending free and fair elections were several of the cries