ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — From worker rights rallies to social justice marches, activists across the country are marking May Day with demonstrations on Thursday.
In some countries, May Day is a public holiday honoring labor, but activists planning marches in the United States said much of their message is about fighting back against President Donald Trump’s policies targeting immigrants, federal workers and diversity programs.
“(Elon) Musk, Trump and their fellow profiteers are trying to create a race to the bottom — on wages, on benefits, on dignity itself. They want to erase labor rights, break our unions and silence immigrant voices,” a website for the Asheville and Hendersonville events said.
Organizers said activists are standing united, organizing for a world where every family has housing, health care, fair wages, union protection, and safety — regardless of race, ZIP code or immigration status.
“They’re defunding our schools, privatizing public services, attacking unions and targeting immigrant families with fear and violence. This is a war on working people — and we will not stand down,” the website said.
“This is the beginning of a new era — one where working families lead, immigrants are protected and no one is left behind. This is not charity. This is not a request. We are reclaiming our power from corporate elites, and we will not be intimidated by Trump, Musk or their billionaire backers. They’ve ruled for too long. Their time is up.”
About 75 people attended the Hendersonville event at the Historic Courthouse, organizers estimated.
In Asheville, organizers estimated that more than 1,000 people had already crowded into Pack Square Pavilion by 3 p.m., while more people were headed that way with signs in hand.