SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
'Quiet No More': Hundreds of Thousands Ready to Strike on May Day
'The only way to take action against our rigged economy is by coming together and working to raise wages and working standards for all of us'
Apr 30, 2017
Hundreds of thousands of immigrants and allies are expected to strike and protest on Monday, taking part in what organizers are hoping will be the largest national strike since the May Day demonstrations of 2006.
"I definitely think this is going to be one of the biggest May Day marches," Kent Wong, executive director of the UCLA Labor Center, told The Nation, which noted that "[t]he turbulent Trump era and draconian attacks on immigrant communities all but guarantee a bigger and more passionate turnout than usual this year."
"This Day Without Immigrants is the first step in a series of strikes and boycotts that will change the conversation on immigration in the United States," said Maria Fernanda Cabello, the May 1st campaign coordinator with Movimiento Cosecha.
"We believe that when the country recognizes it depends on immigrant labor to function, we will win permanent protection from deportation for the 11 million undocumented immigrants; the right to travel freely to visit our loved ones abroad; and the right to be treated with dignity and respect," she said. "After years of broken promises, raids, driving in fear of being pulled over, not being able to bury our loved ones, Trump is just the final straw."
Still, while the nationwide campaign is focused on immigrant rights, workers everywhere are being urged to participate given the Trump administration's blatant disdain for labor protections and ordinary Americans.
"We are sick and tired of a political and economic system that prioritizes corporate profits over the basic needs of our communities," Jobs With Justice says in its call-to-action. "We know that the change we need won't come from President [Donald] Trump, his corporate cabinet, or billionaire-backed politicians in Congress."
"The only way to take action against our rigged economy is by coming together and working to raise wages and working standards for all of us," the labor advocacy group continued. "While some of us were born here and others came here to escape hardships and build a new life, we share many of the same struggles. We've seen corporations attack our rights to join together and negotiate for a fair return on our work, and right-wing threats against us and our families regularly used to force us to remain silent. But we will remain quiet no more."
Furthermore, progressive advocacy groups are framing May Day as a chance to highlight the intersectional nature of key movements, including those pursuing labor rights, climate action, and racial justice. Already, dozens of climate groups have pledged their support for striking workers.
And Mother Jones reports that on Monday, "a coalition of nearly 40 advocacy groups, is holding actions across the nation related to workers' rights, police brutality and incarceration, immigrants' rights, environmental justice, indigenous sovereignty, and LGBT issues--and more broadly railing against a Trump agenda organizers say puts them all at risk."
The effort, organized under the banner "Beyond the Moment," recognizes that "it's going to take all of our movements in order to fight and win right now," Patrisse Cullors, a co-founder of one of the Black Lives Matter groups involved, told Mother Jones.
Fight for $15 has a "How to Strike" guide and The Nation has a run-down of some of the bigger rallies and actions slated for Monday.
Find a full list of events here, and follow online under the hashtags #MayDay; #undiasininmigrantes; or #beyondthemoment:
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. If you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Deirdre Fulton
Deirdre Fulton is a former Common Dreams senior editor and staff writer. Previously she worked as an editor and writer for the Portland Phoenix and the Boston Phoenix, where she was honored by the New England Press Association and the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies. A Boston University graduate, Deirdre is a co-founder of the Maine-based Lorem Ipsum Theater Collective and the PortFringe theater festival. She writes young adult fiction in her spare time.
black lives matterimmigrationjobs with justicelaborpandemicpeople powertrump resistanceworkersimmigrantsproteststrikemay day
Hundreds of thousands of immigrants and allies are expected to strike and protest on Monday, taking part in what organizers are hoping will be the largest national strike since the May Day demonstrations of 2006.
"I definitely think this is going to be one of the biggest May Day marches," Kent Wong, executive director of the UCLA Labor Center, told The Nation, which noted that "[t]he turbulent Trump era and draconian attacks on immigrant communities all but guarantee a bigger and more passionate turnout than usual this year."
"This Day Without Immigrants is the first step in a series of strikes and boycotts that will change the conversation on immigration in the United States," said Maria Fernanda Cabello, the May 1st campaign coordinator with Movimiento Cosecha.
"We believe that when the country recognizes it depends on immigrant labor to function, we will win permanent protection from deportation for the 11 million undocumented immigrants; the right to travel freely to visit our loved ones abroad; and the right to be treated with dignity and respect," she said. "After years of broken promises, raids, driving in fear of being pulled over, not being able to bury our loved ones, Trump is just the final straw."
Still, while the nationwide campaign is focused on immigrant rights, workers everywhere are being urged to participate given the Trump administration's blatant disdain for labor protections and ordinary Americans.
"We are sick and tired of a political and economic system that prioritizes corporate profits over the basic needs of our communities," Jobs With Justice says in its call-to-action. "We know that the change we need won't come from President [Donald] Trump, his corporate cabinet, or billionaire-backed politicians in Congress."
"The only way to take action against our rigged economy is by coming together and working to raise wages and working standards for all of us," the labor advocacy group continued. "While some of us were born here and others came here to escape hardships and build a new life, we share many of the same struggles. We've seen corporations attack our rights to join together and negotiate for a fair return on our work, and right-wing threats against us and our families regularly used to force us to remain silent. But we will remain quiet no more."
Furthermore, progressive advocacy groups are framing May Day as a chance to highlight the intersectional nature of key movements, including those pursuing labor rights, climate action, and racial justice. Already, dozens of climate groups have pledged their support for striking workers.
And Mother Jones reports that on Monday, "a coalition of nearly 40 advocacy groups, is holding actions across the nation related to workers' rights, police brutality and incarceration, immigrants' rights, environmental justice, indigenous sovereignty, and LGBT issues--and more broadly railing against a Trump agenda organizers say puts them all at risk."
The effort, organized under the banner "Beyond the Moment," recognizes that "it's going to take all of our movements in order to fight and win right now," Patrisse Cullors, a co-founder of one of the Black Lives Matter groups involved, told Mother Jones.
Fight for $15 has a "How to Strike" guide and The Nation has a run-down of some of the bigger rallies and actions slated for Monday.
Find a full list of events here, and follow online under the hashtags #MayDay; #undiasininmigrantes; or #beyondthemoment:
Deirdre Fulton
Deirdre Fulton is a former Common Dreams senior editor and staff writer. Previously she worked as an editor and writer for the Portland Phoenix and the Boston Phoenix, where she was honored by the New England Press Association and the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies. A Boston University graduate, Deirdre is a co-founder of the Maine-based Lorem Ipsum Theater Collective and the PortFringe theater festival. She writes young adult fiction in her spare time.
Hundreds of thousands of immigrants and allies are expected to strike and protest on Monday, taking part in what organizers are hoping will be the largest national strike since the May Day demonstrations of 2006.
"I definitely think this is going to be one of the biggest May Day marches," Kent Wong, executive director of the UCLA Labor Center, told The Nation, which noted that "[t]he turbulent Trump era and draconian attacks on immigrant communities all but guarantee a bigger and more passionate turnout than usual this year."
"This Day Without Immigrants is the first step in a series of strikes and boycotts that will change the conversation on immigration in the United States," said Maria Fernanda Cabello, the May 1st campaign coordinator with Movimiento Cosecha.
"We believe that when the country recognizes it depends on immigrant labor to function, we will win permanent protection from deportation for the 11 million undocumented immigrants; the right to travel freely to visit our loved ones abroad; and the right to be treated with dignity and respect," she said. "After years of broken promises, raids, driving in fear of being pulled over, not being able to bury our loved ones, Trump is just the final straw."
Still, while the nationwide campaign is focused on immigrant rights, workers everywhere are being urged to participate given the Trump administration's blatant disdain for labor protections and ordinary Americans.
"We are sick and tired of a political and economic system that prioritizes corporate profits over the basic needs of our communities," Jobs With Justice says in its call-to-action. "We know that the change we need won't come from President [Donald] Trump, his corporate cabinet, or billionaire-backed politicians in Congress."
"The only way to take action against our rigged economy is by coming together and working to raise wages and working standards for all of us," the labor advocacy group continued. "While some of us were born here and others came here to escape hardships and build a new life, we share many of the same struggles. We've seen corporations attack our rights to join together and negotiate for a fair return on our work, and right-wing threats against us and our families regularly used to force us to remain silent. But we will remain quiet no more."
Furthermore, progressive advocacy groups are framing May Day as a chance to highlight the intersectional nature of key movements, including those pursuing labor rights, climate action, and racial justice. Already, dozens of climate groups have pledged their support for striking workers.
And Mother Jones reports that on Monday, "a coalition of nearly 40 advocacy groups, is holding actions across the nation related to workers' rights, police brutality and incarceration, immigrants' rights, environmental justice, indigenous sovereignty, and LGBT issues--and more broadly railing against a Trump agenda organizers say puts them all at risk."
The effort, organized under the banner "Beyond the Moment," recognizes that "it's going to take all of our movements in order to fight and win right now," Patrisse Cullors, a co-founder of one of the Black Lives Matter groups involved, told Mother Jones.
Fight for $15 has a "How to Strike" guide and The Nation has a run-down of some of the bigger rallies and actions slated for Monday.
Find a full list of events here, and follow online under the hashtags #MayDay; #undiasininmigrantes; or #beyondthemoment:
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.
To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good.
News & Opinion
Trending
Common Dreams, Inc. Founded 1997. Registered 501(c3) Non-Profit
Privacy Policy