Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets across the United States and around the world on May 1 to mark International Workers’ Day — or May Day — transforming the annual labour celebration into a powerful, coordinated protest against US President Donald Trump’s policies. From New York to Berlin, Los Angeles to Manila, the message was clear: workers, immigrants, and civil society are pushing back against what they see as authoritarian drift and economic injustice under the current US administration.
Mass Mobilisation in the US: Workers Over Billionaires
In the United States, rallies unfolded in dozens of major cities with a strong focus on labour protections, immigration rights, and what organisers described as a broad assault on democratic norms. In Washington, D.C., demonstrators gathered outside the White House, chanting slogans such as “People over profits” and “Resist the regime.” Organisers from the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), which represents over two million workers nationwide, framed the day’s events as “a collective response to Trump’s war on working families.”
“We’re bringing the fight to the billionaires and politicians who are trying to divide us with fear and lies,” declared SEIU President April Verrett. “An attack on one of us is an attack on all.”
READ MORE: From Tokyo to Turin to L.A., Trump’s Policies Fuel Global May Day Protests
In Los Angeles, thousands flooded downtown streets, many holding placards reading “Migration is beautiful” and “Immigrants make America great.” The city’s demonstration drew particular attention to recent changes to federal policy that have restricted immigration pathways and targeted migrant workers with new enforcement strategies.
New York City saw two major protests: one near federal courthouses focusing on the erosion of judicial independence and the other a march led by labour groups and LGBTQIA+ activists. Veronica Salama, a lawyer with the New York Civil Liberties Union, delivered an impassioned speech decrying what she called “escalating repression.”
“We recognise the interconnectedness of our struggles,” Salama told the crowd, referencing the recent arrest of Palestinian activist and Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil as symbolic of wider civil liberties concerns.
Meanwhile, in Atlanta, CDC workers past and present gathered at a downtown park to protest looming budget cuts that could cost 2,400 jobs at the health agency headquartered in the city. “Without the CDC, bad things will happen,” warned retired employee Deblina Datta. “We’re standing for our fellow labourers — laid off or let go without reason.”
Europe Unites in Condemnation of ‘Trumpisation’
Across the Atlantic, the protests carried an even more explicitly internationalist tone. In France, union leaders condemned the “Trumpisation” of global politics, accusing the US administration of fomenting conflict and undermining multilateral cooperation.
Left-wing leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon addressed crowds in Paris, lambasting what he called the “Americanisation of European dependency.” He cited Washington’s military posture and trade policies as primary contributors to social instability in Europe. “If the North Americans don’t want our goods anymore, we can just sell them to others,” Mélenchon said defiantly.
In Berlin, demonstrators unfurled banners denouncing fascism and authoritarianism. Crowds condemned the rise of Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which many speakers linked ideologically to Trumpism. “Trump has given oxygen to the far-right movement across Europe,” said activist Hannah Blume. “We’re pushing back before it’s too late.”
Swiss protesters in Bern carried signs that read “Workers United Against Authoritarianism” and “Say No to Fascism and War.” In Madrid and Barcelona, the focus shifted to economic demands, including a call for a four-day work week. But many there, too, cited the global impact of Trump’s policies. “The arrival of the far right to a country like the United States is a major global shift,” said Ángel López, a 56-year-old public transport worker.
Rising Economic Fears in Asia
The ripple effects of US economic nationalism were also felt in Asia. In Taiwan, President Lai Ching-te took the occasion to address domestic workers and industry leaders, warning that Trump’s renewed tariffs on electronics and semiconductors could harm the island’s crucial tech sector. He unveiled a 410-billion New Taiwan dollar ($12.8 billion) stimulus package aimed at protecting local jobs.
About 2,500 union members marched in Taipei, warning that trade disputes could have devastating consequences for Taiwanese labourers. “This is why we hope the government can propose plans to protect the rights of labourers,” said union leader Carlos Wang.
In Manila, protest leader Mong Palatino slammed “Trump’s tariff wars,” saying they were already disrupting supply chains and affecting Filipino livelihoods. Thousands gathered outside the presidential palace, demanding higher wages and stronger protections for small businesses.
Indonesia also witnessed mass participation. President Prabowo Subianto addressed a rally in Jakarta’s National Monument Park, pledging to “eliminate poverty from Indonesia.” Around 200,000 people reportedly joined nationwide events, with union leaders calling for an end to labour outsourcing and stronger protections for migrant workers.
Türkiye Protests Expand to Rule of Law
In Türkiye, May Day rallies took on an additional political layer following the March imprisonment of Istanbul’s opposition mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu. Tens of thousands gathered in Kadikoy on Istanbul’s Asian side, waving Turkish flags and chanting for democracy and workers’ rights.
Access to central Istanbul was heavily restricted by authorities, with major transit lines shut down and over 400 protesters detained before midday, including several lawyers. Protesters held signs demanding “Justice for Imamoglu” and “Free the Press.”
Shared Global Themes: Anti-Fascism and Worker Solidarity
While the protests spanned continents and touched on local concerns, they shared recurring themes: opposition to authoritarianism, concern over shrinking labour protections, and anxiety about economic instability stemming from trade nationalism.
One viral image from Berlin showed a drag performer holding a sign that read “Fascism is not pretty,” encapsulating the fusion of labour rights, civil liberties, and cultural resistance that marked this year’s May Day.
Back in the US, smaller but passionate demonstrations took place in unexpected places. In Massachusetts, May Day protesters staged a symbolic “Revolution 2.0” at a site commemorating the American Revolution, suggesting that today’s struggles are extensions of centuries-old battles for rights and representation.
What’s Next?
While protests alone may not reverse policies or economic tides, they demonstrate growing public frustration with the Trump administration’s direction and its international ripple effects. With the US election cycle heating up and economic uncertainty looming, labour leaders across the world have pledged to intensify their mobilisation efforts.
“May Day is not just a holiday — it’s a call to action,” said Carlos Wang in Taipei. “We’re united not only in our struggles, but in our hope for change.”
As workers, students, and activists continue to organise globally, one message resounded from city to city: the fight for fair wages, human dignity, and democratic principles knows no borders.
