NEW YORK CITY (WABC) — Hundreds of demonstrators poured into Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village, determined to take a stand against large corporations and to stand up for organized labor.
“The system doesn’t work for the 99.9% of people,” one demonstrator said.
“I feel that corporations, the billionaires and also employers have been taking advantage of us. And this is our day to prove to them that we do, as a union, have power,” Maria Silva, a 32BJ/SEIU member, said.
It was the largest of several May Day rallies and protests across the city. Several demonstrators were arrested in the afternoon while blocking the entrance to the New York Stock Exchange.
Along Fifth Avenue, more than 100 protesters marched to the Midtown offices of Amazon. Matt Multari is an Amazon delivery worker.
“Since the 80s, it’s been a systematic dismantling of unions, of institutions, whether they were state or otherwise, that provided opportunities for the average person to move up,” he said.
This year’s May Day protests happened six months after voters elected a democratic socialist mayor. Mayor Mamdani released a video in the morning supporting the demonstrators. In the video, he said, “We have done an incredible thing. And somehow, we have more work to do.”
A major theme in this year’s May Day protests is taxing New York’s ultra-wealthy residents and nonresidents, many of whom are now pushing back on Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposal for a tax on luxury second homes. Demonstrators said they believe that this year, the momentum is with them.
“I mean, I truly believe our movement is growing every single day. And that makes me feel good that people are recognizing that we have power, regular people. We have power. We can stand up, we can fight back, and we can do something about this,” former Amazon worker Sultana Hossain said.
According to organizers with May Day Strong NYC and labor groups including the New York Immigration Coalition and AFL-CIO, workers, students, immigrants, and families tool part under the theme “Workers Over Billionaires.” Demonstrators are calling for higher wages, improved working conditions, and stronger protections for workers.
Themes also include “Tax the Rich,” “No ICE, No War,” and “People Over Billionaires,” reflecting broader concerns about economic inequality, immigration enforcement, and global conflict.
May Day, also known as International Workers’ Day, is observed annually on May 1 and has long been associated with labor movements and worker advocacy around the world.
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