Thousands of people flooded the streets of Southern California on May 1 to mark International Workers’ Day with powerful demonstrations calling for labor rights, immigrant protections, and social justice.
From the heart of downtown Los Angeles to the streets of Santa Ana, crowds carried colorful flags, handmade signs, and banners demanding fair wages, an end to deportations, and the abolition of ICE. The rallies—organized by coalitions of labor groups, immigrant rights activists, and community organizations—turned iconic intersections into spaces of resistance and solidarity.
In downtown L.A., Yolanda Mims-Reed joined the march to demand action: “We need fair wages. We need immigration rights. We need ICE out of our schools and our communities,” she said. “I’m here to stand in solidarity for everything we still have to fight for.”
Leticia Gutierrez of Boyle Heights said she came out to support those who power the U.S. economy: “Immigrants are the backbone of this country. Their contributions deserve to be recognized and protected.”
The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor president Yvonne Wheeler emphasized the unity behind the movement. “Immigrants are being deported, and workers are under attack. We must stand together. One fight, one message, one struggle.”
The day’s events included multiple rallies and marches across the region:
- Downtown L.A.: Marchers began at Olympic Blvd. and Figueroa St., shutting down streets to highlight immigrant workers’ contributions.
- Boyle Heights: Activists with Centro CSO marched from Mariachi Plaza to the Metropolitan Detention Center, calling for an end to deportations.
- MacArthur Park: Community groups like United Teachers Los Angeles and Stop LAPD Spying united to demand ICE’s abolition and defend vulnerable communities.
- Long Beach: Showing Up for Racial Justice hosted a rally at Lincoln Park with calls for racial equity and immigrant justice.
- Santa Ana: The OC May Day Coalition rallied at El Centro Cultural de México, denouncing ongoing attacks on immigrant and refugee families.
As the chants echoed and speeches stirred the crowds, one message resonated: unity is essential in the fight for justice. Organizers urged continued action beyond May Day to protect workers’ rights and immigrant communities year-round.
