Thousands gather across LA for this year's May Day marches

This morning, thousands of people throughout Los Angeles County gathered in different localities to commemorate International Workers’ Day, also known as May Day.

In the City of Los Angeles, thousands of people congregated at MacArthur Park to rally and march to signal the power of workers and the immigrant community throughout the United States.

This year's theme, “Sole El Pueblo Shuts it Down: No Work, No School, No Shopping,” also marks the 20th anniversary of “La Gran Marcha” in 2006, recognized as one of the largest public demonstrations in the nation’s history. 

During "La Gran Marcha,” more than 1 million people showed up on the streets of L.A. to march in demand of humane treatment for the undocumented community, fair immigration reform and recognition of the contributions of immigrants.

Today, 20 years later, community organizers and local immigration advocates said these demands hold a greater significance and relevance than they did in 2006, especially as immigration enforcement has intensified significantly with high-frequency and aggressive raids impacting many working-class communities. 

“Our broken immigration system is at the core of many of our political and economic challenges, impacting working families and everyday costs, regardless of political affiliation,” said Anglica Salas, executive director for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), one of the 125 organizations composing the L.A. May Day Coalition. “In addition to our ongoing fight for workers’ justice and dignity, May Day is more than a celebration of unity and resilience; let it be a call to action. When we organize, when we mobilize, when we stand shoulder to shoulder, we are unstoppable and we can shut it down for justice and love.”

The Community Self-Defense Coalition (CSDC), which since February 2025 has led community patrols and rapid response initiatives against ICE raids in L.A., held a press conference last week to invite community members to show up at L.A. City Hall at noon to show support for the immigrant community. 

“We have shown the country and the world that in L.A., we do fight and we do win. We have seen ICE retreat because people have come out to the streets and have fought tooth and nail to defend our community,” Ron Gochez, organizer with Union del Barrio, said. 

Gochez reminded people that although this year's theme asks people not to attend their jobs, many working-class people cannot afford that luxury. 

“If you have to work that day to pay the rent, that is OK, but the rest of the year we can still organize, fight back and defend our families and the entire working class,” he said. 

Like every year, a big part of International Workers’ Day is also about celebrating and honoring the strength of workers across California, as well as showing support for local labor movements, the contributions of immigrant workers and the dignity of all working-class people in the U.S. 

This year’s May Day is expected to be one of the largest in L.A.’s history, especially as this year marks the 40th anniversary of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA), the last major piece of legislation, which provided legal status to nearly 3 million undocumented individuals who had resided in the U.S. since 1982.

In the four decades since, comprehensive immigration reform has consistently failed to pass Congress, despite numerous proposals and bipartisan attempts, but the fight for legalization and federal permanent legal status continues. 

“This last year has been really hard. We have worked with fear; we have lived with uncertainty, but at the end of the day we are workers and we do not give up. We sustain this city with our sweat and hearts. In L.A., our immigrant communities are from everywhere in the world and we know our unity is our strength.” Maria, an organizer with Union del Barrio, said. 

UndocuProfessionals, a national community-funded organization and network designed to support and empower undocumented individuals, including DACA recipients and those without work authorization, has also invited the undocumented community to participate in May Day. 

“We refuse to be afraid,” the organization stated on social media. 

UndocuProfessionals also reminded people that immigrants have the right to participate in political protests, marches and demonstrations, protected by the First Amendment. 

“These rights apply to everyone in the U.S., regardless of immigration status. However, courts are not consistent in vindicating the First Amendment rights of immigrants. People who are undocumented, therefore, should plan carefully, because they cannot rely on the courts to protect their First Amendment rights,” the organization stated. 

To help the undocumented community, who might be participating in today’s marches, feel prepared, the organization constructed an informative graph with recommended best practices, including the following:

• Creating a safety plan 

• Carrying a document that lists resources that could provide legal support 

• Knowing who is organizing the event

• Knowing the protest route and emergency exits 

Other May Day rallies and marches are also scheduled to take place in different corners of L.A. and neighboring cities. 

CALÒ News will be at various marches throughout the region, bringing exclusive May Day coverage of these marches.

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MacArthur Park, Los Angeles

The rally will begin in MacArthur Park at 10 a.m. at the intersection of South Park View Street and Wilshire Boulevard and is organized by the Los Angeles May Day Coalition.

L.A. City Hall

The rally will begin in front of L.A. City Hall at 12 p.m. at 200 N. Spring St., Downtown L.A., and is organized byUnion del Barrio and the Community Self-Defense Coalition.

Boyle Heights, Los Angeles

The rally will begin in Mariachi Plaza at 3 p.m. and is organized byCentro CSO.

Orange County

The rally will begin in Sasscer Park at 507 W. 4th St, Santa Ana, CA 92701 and is organized by the Orange County May Day Coalition and CSO of Orange County.