May Day In Philadelphia — Ends With 70 Protesters Arrested
A huge crowd showed up in Center City Philly on Thursday to mark International Workers’ Day—aka May Day.
All across the country, organizers used this year’s events to speak out against what they see as the Trump administration’s attack on workers’ rights, diversity programs, and federal employees. In Philly, labor and immigration leaders gathered with Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders right outside City Hall for the “For the Workers, Not the Billionaires” May Day Rally.
“We’ve got a government run by and for the super-rich, and we’re not going to let that stand,” Sanders told the crowd. Meanwhile, aerial footage from Chopper 6 showed demonstrators marching through Center City. Around 7 p.m., a smaller group blocked the busy intersection at Broad and Vine, and things got tense as police stepped in. According to Philadelphia police, 70 people were arrested for blocking the highway.
“The protest started off peaceful, but once it blocked a major road, it caused serious traffic issues and safety concerns,” the police said in a statement. “Officers gave multiple warnings to clear the area.”
Labor leaders say they’re pushing back against Trump’s policies on workers’ rights, immigration, and diversity. “We’re standing with our union siblings, immigrant rights groups, and allies to fight for a future where everyone—not just the wealthy—can thrive,” said Daniel P. Bauder, president of the Philadelphia AFL-CIO.
Trump, on the other hand, insists he’s just keeping his promises on immigration and the economy. Union members disagree—they say they’re fighting for fair wages, better services, and basic rights. That includes folks from AFGE LOCAL 1793, which represents workers at the Philly VA Medical Center.
“This chaos is hurting us and making things really tough at our medical center,” said Yule Owens Jr., the union’s vice president. “We’re here to stand up for ourselves and show solidarity with others doing the same.”
Trump also says his policies, like cutting down the size of the federal government, are about making things better for taxpayers.
May Day itself has a long and powerful history in the labor movement. Back in the 1880s, workers started demanding an eight-hour workday, and things came to a head in May 1886 when a labor rally in Chicago turned violent. A bomb was thrown, police fired back, and several labor activists—most of them immigrants—were convicted and later executed. To honor them, unions declared May 1st a day to recognize workers around the world. There’s even a statue in Chicago’s Haymarket Square that pays tribute to them.
These days, May Day events happen all over the globe—from peaceful marches to loud rallies—where people raise their voices about workers’ rights, economic justice, and global issues like the war in Gaza.
