On May 1, hundreds rallied and marched down Lake St. in Minneapolis in support of immigrant rights.  The demonstration was organized by the MN Immigrant Rights Action Coalition and the May 1st Coalition around the following demands: 

• Stop the Raids and Deportations
• Drivers Licenses for All
• Unconditional Legalization for All Now
• Support the Employee Free Choice Act

People around the world marched for workers' and immigrants' rights on May 1st. In the United States, labor day has been traditionally celebrated in September, but since 2006 the immigration movement has brought back the tradition of celebrating international workers day on May 1st, in commemoration of the Haymarket massacre in Chicago.

In Washington, DC, the day began with an ICE raid at 6 am. It was reported that one of the ICE officers woke up residents by saying, "Where's all the Hispanic people in this building?"

"Without immigrants this country of ours—because it's ours as well—would not be in any way near as good as it is," said Oscar Chacon, Executive Director of the National Alliance of Latin American and Caribbean Communities. "It is because of immigrants of yesterday, immigrants of today, and immigrants of tomorrow, that this nation is indeed still, in spite of all the difficulties, a beacon of hope."

The message of the immigrant mobilization was simple and direct, end the raids and detentions, and establish a new immigration policy based on human, civil, and labor rights.

LOCAL REPORTS:: Boston, MA, Video | Chicago, IL | Houston, TX | Los Angeles, CA | Miami | Minneapolis, MN | New York, NY, Video | Portland, OR | Poughkeepsie, NY | San Francisco Bay Area 1, 2 | Seattle, WA | Washington DC, Audio | Worcester, MA

Photos & Essay Reports from around the World from National Immigrant Solidarity Network | A New May Day Rises from The Indypendent | May Day Immigrant Rights Retrospective from PepperSpray Productions

RELATED: NACLA Launches Campaign to Send "Open Veins of Latin America" to the White House | James P. Cannon: A Native Son's Revolutionary Road | "Shut Down ICE!" 30 Arrested in Civil Disobedience at Bloomington Facility | Workers Rally for Employee Free Choice

Did I miss something? What happened? It was MAY DAY. The crowds were all there. The political will was there. People of color were there. The BLACK BLOC was there. And... no police riot. No pepper spray, no batons in my back, no stomping hooves smashing down on sandal-clad feet, not even a wave of false arrests. No "snatch and grab" teams, no Todd Wyatt pepper spraying babies. Hell, I wasn't even tailed by a sneering pod of riot pigs as I left the rally. So... what gives? Who canceled the annual police riot? [ Read More | A Few Photogs from May Day 09 | Video and Audio Selections From May Day 2009 | Our May Day Demands | Riot Hits San Francisco On May Day! | Mayday Protests in EU massive and unruly ]

Protestors around the city called for an end to raids and deportations.

May Day 2009 in New York City was celebrated in the rain, as over a thousand people gathered in different locations in the metropolitan area to rally for immigrant rights.

May First in DC, started out with a 6am ICE raid in an apartment complex in the middle of Mt Pleasant. One of the ICE officers woke up residents by saying, "Where's all the Hispanic people in this building?" This is what May first means to ICE. Instead, the National Capitol Immigration Coalition (NCIC) has made May First "their" day. Locally noone else has wanted May First, with its legacy of international worker's of the world unite, so immigration rights have become the exclusive focus of May Day for past few years. Over 1,500 march for immigrant rights Critical Mass: 50+ take Key Bridge, Whitehurst Freeway Free Speech march takes U st, 18th st before being dispersed

Outdoor public events in the City of Los Angeles have always been unpredictable and the history of May Day events over the years is no exception to this. Early reports of Friday’s May Day events indicate that this year was festive and free of police violence experienced in past years.

There were multiple May Day marches and events this year in the Los Angeles area on Friday. There were also dozens of high school student walkouts in East LA and many local community marches throughout the Southern California region.

One Indymedia reporter with one of downtown marches reported a very positive and festive march with a wide diversity of people and a great youth turnout. The crowds cheered as student walkout marches from local high schools joined the main march. Another reporter in Riverside estimates 500 people demonstrated at Riverside City Hall. Local grassroots groups and union locals together with UCR students made up the Riverside demonstration.

From the Newswire: May Day 2009 on Broadway a photo essay by William John Cox | | Timeline of call ins to the LA-IMC newsroom | | Cell Phone Photos from Downtown March | | Downtown LA May Day Protests by Robert Stuart Lowden

Reports from Riverside: May 1, 2009 Riverside Immigrants Rights/Labor Rights march and rally by Flowerguerrilla | | May Day 2009, Riverside, Part 1 & Part 2 by Rockero | | The Inland Empire Marches on May Day by Jennaya Dunlap | | Impressive May Day in Riverside by Kevin Akin

May 1st belongs to the people! International Workers' Rights Day is our day! A day to celebrate victories, mourn the dead and fight like hell for the living. This year we will be together in the streets of downtown Portland to demonstrate for our rights and to demand a just economy that works for all of us.

May Day 2009[:] March and Rally for Immigrant and Workers' Rights!
Economic Justice for All

May 1st, 2009[:] South Park Blocks, Downtown Portland

1pm - Posters and Party
4pm - Rally with speakers and entertainment
5pm - March

Migrant workers and families, from unions, groups of faith and the community will take the streets Friday, May 1st, united under a platform of worker demands.

May 1st, 3 PM
Judkins Playfield
(Behind St. Mary's Church - 611 20th Ave S)

The march will proceed through downtown Seattle and will finish at Occidental Park (Pioneer Square) with a rally with speakers and music.

About 400 people marched from East Boston to Chelsea to Everett to observe May Day--a day for workers' and immigrants' rights. Organized by several local organizations such as Centro Presente, the Chelsea Collaborative, the East Boston Ecumenical Community Council (EBEC), the American Friends Service Committee, and the Boston May Day Coalition, people marched the streets under the motto “Yesterday We Voted for Change, Today We Demand Change!”

"Without immigrants this country of ours--because it's ours as well--would not be in any way near as good as it is," said Oscar Chacon, Executive Director of the National Alliance of Latin American and Caribbean Communities. "It is because of immigrants of yesterday, immigrants of today, and immigrants of tomorrow, that this nation is indeed still, in spite of all the difficulties, a beacon of hope." Read More | Video

The Boston Anti-Authoritarian Movement's 21st newsletter celebrates May Day 2009.

There are numerous events planned throughout the region for this year’s May Day. A march and demonstration in front of the main Los Angeles ICE detention facility in Downtown Los Angeles is planned and is expected to be sizeable. There are also many feeder marches from local communities such as Echo Park planning to rally downtown in the late afternoon. In Riverside a march on City Hall under the banner: Día Internacional del Trabajo has been called by local community organizers and there are dozens of similar such events planned throughout the Southern California area.

Latest from the Newswire: Workers' Day-May Day- Primero de Mayo- Dia de los Trabajadores | | May Day March for Immigrants Rights An interview with Ron Gochez of the Southern California Immigration Coalition, the Unión del Barrio, and member of the Association of Raza Educators by Brian Elerding | | EPCC STATEMENT FOR MAY 1 RALLY IN LA| | ALL OUT IN THE STREET! May Day 2009 National Immigrant Workers Mobilization! by Lee Siu Hin

"Everybody recognizes that the system is broken. Why would there be any reason to keep that system going for any amount of time until we can change it?" Eduardo Cardenas, a member of the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Coalition, is discussing the May 1 March for Immigrants' and Workers' Rights. MIRAc, the May 1 coalition and community members call for an executive order to halt immigration raids and deportations until a comprehensive immigration reform bill is passed, unconditional legalization for all immigrants, driver's licenses for all and the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act.

In San Francisco, calling for mass action in defense of jobs and families, union contingents, students and an anarchist bloc gathered at Dolores Park in San Francisco at noon and marched to Civic Center for an afternoon rally. The Alexander Berkman Social Club sponsored a picnic at Dolores Park.

In the East Bay city of Hayward, participants gathered at Weeks Park then marched to City Hall to demand passage of an ordinance that would make Hayward a Sanctuary City. At UC Berkeley, a rally at at Sproul Plaza, was followed by a march to Ashby BART. In Oakland, a program at Fruitvale Plaza preceded a march to City Hall.

In San José, demonstrators were greeted by entertainment at City Hall by the Raging Grannies. The immigrant rights action started off with a march from Mi Pueblo Shopping Center at King and Story. After the rally, spontaneous singing and dancing broke out on the street in front of the City Hall plaza in celebration of International Workers Day and the upcoming Cinco de Mayo events planned in the city.

In the Central Valley towns of Fresno and Reedley, the day was marked with songs of the labor movement. Speaking events focused on worker-related topics from farms to the threat of fundamentalism to justice and sustainability. A March for Legalization started at Fresno's Eaton Plaza.

Bicyclists in Santa Cruz met at the Bike Church at noon and rode to the Plaza de Watsonville where they protested Wells Fargo and joined up with activities planned by the Watsonville Brown Berets and other community organizations. The Watsonville activities included speakers, free consultations with lawyers, and a march to demand comprehensive immigration reform with pathways to citizenship. Others in Santa Cruz rallied at UCSC then marched to the Beach Flats.

May Day in Olympia!

Freedom from racism is a gay right -- Ending racism is a gay fight! An injury to one is an injury to all!

Join the LGBT Contingent in the May Day Rally and March!

Why are there two separate May Day rallies in New York City this Friday? What is the reason for this division in the workers movement?

On Friday, May 1st from 4:00 - 9:00pm there will be May Day activities in the Watsonville Plaza, including speakers, free consultations with lawyers, films, and more. At 6:00pm, people throughout the Monterey Bay Area will rally and march to demand justice, human rights, and comprehensive immigration reform with pathways to citizenship.

The Mayday parade; an annual and much loved south Minneapolis community event. Each year, the celebration begins as a planning session made up of a small and dedicated group of local residents. They engage in a sort of ‘idea storm’, toss around socially topical themes, and strategize as to how to express these concepts in a creative and energizing way - with giant puppets, sweet music, and adorably rambunctious children dressed as an assortment of critters. If you’ve ever had the opportunity to experience one of these parades, you know that they never disappoint.

More upcoming events: ¡Únete con el bloque anticapilatista en este primero de mayo! / Anti-Capitalist Bloc call-out for May 1st March

Organizers expect hundreds of workers, immigrants and community supporters to come out for the 2009 Mayday Rally, entitled “Workers Seeking Justice for All” on Friday, May 1st in front of City Hall, Worcester. Speakers will address issues including community solutions to the economic crisis, immigration reform and raids, workers organizing and the Free Choice Act, and contributions that immigrants offer to the city. Several performers including Maury Kungfu’s Lion Dancers, Uruguayan Murga troupe “La Klandestina”, a multicultural youth hip-hop team from the Toxic Soil Busters, and Ritmos Dance Academy.

May Day 2009 is approaching fast, and immigrant rights and workers’ rights groups are organizing for a strong showing in the face of the economic crisis.

Capitalizing on the massive outpouring of immigrant support in 2006, immigrants are seeking to hold President Obama’s feet to the fire, demanding comprehensive immigration reform that would grant legal status to the estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants residing in the United States.

Karen Yi reports on May Day 2009, writing, “The government has committed trillions of dollars to bail out Wall Street in less than a year. And as the Obama administration and the corporate elite bicker over what money goes where, those most affected by the economic crisis have been seemingly shut out of negotiations.

Caught in between the finger-pointing and bank bailouts are the communities that are absorbing the brunt of foreclosures and rising unemployment. But this May 1, the unemployed, the homeless and immigrants are taking their demands to the streets.

The New York May 1st Coalition, a committee of more than 40 immigrant and worker rights organizations in the New York region, will rally at noon at Union Square to celebrate International Workers’ Day (May Day) and to hold President Barack Obama accountable on his 100th day in office.” For the rest of the story, see the link to “Working to Reclaim May Day” below, as well as two other stories by Karen Yi focusing on day laborers and the inhumane immigrant detention system. Also in this issue of the Indypendent: The growing use of robotics in warfare; CUNY students struggle with the economic crisis; and an on-the-ground report from Gaza by Democracy Now! producer Anjali Kamat.

Working to Reclaim May Day || Dreams Day-by-Day || Injustice Behind Bars || Economic Downturn Crunches College Students: As State Budget Deficit Forces Tuition Increases, Local Students Take a Stand || CUNY Rising || Rockefeller Reforms Need Rehab || Harlem to Kabul || Community Calendar || Reader Comments || Robot Wars || The Original Tea Party || Inside Gaza: The Land of Ghosts || Israel’s Killer Election || Walled In || Reporting Dangerously from Zimbabwe || A Face of Cambodian Courage || Liberating the Bricks in the Wall: A Review of Everywhere All The Time: A New Deschooling Reader || Jacking in to the Future: A Review of Sleep Dealer || A Glimpse From the Belly of the Beast: A Review of Mumia Abu-Jamal’s Latest Book || I’ll Have a “Draught Dodger!”: Canadian Parliament Votes Again to Let U.S. War Resisters Stay