Protests against President Donald Trump and his administration—organized under the banner “Workers Over Billionaires”—are scheduled nationwide this Labor Day.
Jackson Potter, vice president of the Chicago Teachers Union and one of the organizers, told Newsweek that May Day Strong partnered with the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) to deliver “a Labor Day that’s representative and reflective of the best parts of our tradition.”
According to Potter, the demonstrations are designed to “fight against the oligarchs and challenge the militarization of our cities while working people fall further behind and billionaires continue to benefit.”
Why It Matters
These actions are part of a growing wave of protests against the Trump administration.
Earlier this summer, millions turned out on June 14 for nationwide “No Kings” rallies, timed to coincide with a military parade in Washington, D.C., celebrating the Army’s 250th anniversary and Trump’s 79th birthday. More recently, “Rage Against the Regime” protests filled hundreds of U.S. cities on August 2.
What To Know
Organizers say more than 900 events are scheduled across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., with the potential for hundreds of thousands—or even millions—to participate.
Potter believes Trump’s threats to deploy the National Guard to cities, including Chicago, and his attacks on Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson could fuel even larger crowds.
“This could become much more massive and historic as a result of his threats, the attack on our Black mayor,” Potter said.
Traditionally, Labor Day has been “largely apolitical,” Potter noted, recalling childhood memories of barbecues and the occasional union speech. But this year, he said, is “very different,” with workers from across industries—including bricklayers, dockworkers, teachers, healthcare staff, and professors—joining in solidarity.
What People Are Saying
A statement on the May Day Strong website reads:
“Labor and community are planning more than a barbecue on Labor Day this year because we have to stop the billionaire takeover. Billionaires are stealing from working families, destroying our democracy, and building private armies to attack our towns and cities.
Just like any bad boss, the way we stop the takeover is with collective action. We are May Day Strong, working people rising up to stop the billionaire takeover—not just through the ballot box or the courts, but through building a bigger and stronger movement.”
On the political front, Trump told reporters Friday: “Chicago is a mess. You have an incompetent mayor, grossly incompetent.”
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson pushed back, telling CNN’s Anderson Cooper: “What Trump is proposing is a military occupation of the city of Chicago and cities across America. Our city is not calling for that. This is unconstitutional, illegal, and costly. We’re doing good work in Chicago, prioritizing community safety and bringing people together to reduce violence.”
Johnson added that instead of threatening cities, “The President really should be working with us to develop safe and affordable communities.”
What’s Next
The protests are scheduled for September 1.
