Thousands of people across the United States joined coordinated May Day demonstrations and economic boycotts under the banner “May Day Strong.” The movement, held on International Workers’ Day, called for “no school, no work, no shopping,” with walkouts, marches, rallies, and block parties organized in multiple cities. In New York, Amazon workers, Teamsters members, and local politicians marched from the public library to Amazon’s corporate office, urging the company to end its contracts with ICE and the Department of Homeland Security.

In Washington, D.C., activists from “Free DC” blocked intersections carrying banners reading “Workers vs. Billionaires” and “Healthcare, not war.” Six young members of the Sunrise Movement were arrested in Minneapolis for blocking a bridge, while others staged a sit-in at a Portland hotel reportedly housing DHS officials. Labor unions, immigrant rights groups, political organizations, and student activists united around demands for immigration reform, anti-war policies, and higher taxes on the wealthy.

Teachers and students also joined the movement, with several school districts closing and unions declaring strikes. Organizers described the day as preparation for a potential general strike, with the United Auto Workers president calling for a major labor action in 2028.