Protesters across the nation rally for wages, housing and economic concerns.<\/p>\n
PHOENIX \u2014 Thousands of rallies took place across the country Friday for International Workers\u2019 Day, also known as May Day, including several in Arizona.<\/p>\n
In downtown Phoenix, hundreds took to the streets demanding better conditions for workers and greater affordability for families. The event began at Margaret T. Hance Park, where organizers and protesters gathered before marching through the city.<\/p>\n
>> Live, local, breaking.\u00a0<\/strong>Download the 12News app<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Together, demonstrators chanted a unified message: \u201cWorkers over billionaires.\u201d<\/p>\n Participants marched past restaurants, office buildings and neighbors.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re emphasizing the importance of our labor force and as the backbone of not only our democracy but also our ability to thrive,\u201d said Hector Garcia.<\/p>\n Phoenix police accompanied the march, guiding participants along the route before they returned to the park to continue the demonstration.<\/p>\n \u201cLooking at the US, we have all the resources provided to us. We are the wealthiest nation and we should be able to create a society that actually works and benefits the workers rather than against it,\u201d said Dania Duran with the Party of Socialism and Liberation.<\/p>\n \u201cWe really want to tax the rich; we want a redistribution of wealth to the rest of the country. The top one percent should not hold all the power, should not hold all the money,\u201d said 17-year-old Nathan Taylortaft.<\/p>\n Organizers also encouraged people to refrain from going to work or school and to avoid shopping at major corporations or big box stores as part of the day\u2019s actions.<\/p>\n \u201cThey are taking the affordability away from the working-class people and even some of the poor people that were able to get by,\u201d said Ruth, who lives in north Phoenix.<\/p>\n While the demonstration centered on workers\u2019 rights and wages, participants also highlighted broader economic concerns facing Arizonans.<\/p>\n \u201cFor me its pretty much the economy. The war in Iran is causing gas prices to go up. Grocery prices are going up,\u201d said David Carlson.<\/p>\n Protesters cited rising housing costs, rent prices and utility rates, as well as concerns about artificial intelligence potentially replacing jobs.<\/p>\n \u201cWe still see the rising of child poverty, we\u2019re still seeing our veterans who have like fought so hard for us out on the streets, nothing to eat\u2026 And how is that when we live in such an abundantly rich society?\u201d Duran said.<\/p>\n Organizers said they hoped the event would encourage people experiencing these challenges to speak out and be heard.<\/p>\n No counterprotests were observed. Police maintained a presence around the park and along the march route.<\/p>\n You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere thanks to the 12+ app!\u00a0<\/p>\n The free 12+ app from 12News lets users stream live events \u2014 including daily newscasts like “Today in AZ” and “12 News” and our daily lifestyle program, “Arizona Midday”\u2014on Roku,<\/a> Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n 12+ \u00a0showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona.\u00a0<\/p>\n Users can also watch on-demand videos of top stories, local politics, I-Team investigations, Arizona-specific features and vintage videos from the 12News archives.\u00a0<\/p>\n Roku: Add the channel from the Roku store<\/a> or by searching for “12 News KPNX.”\u00a0<\/p>\n