Thousands march across the US on May Day, united in disdain for Donald Trump

May Day protest organisers were expecting a surge of thousands of demonstrators on Monday as rights groups came together for annual worker’s protests, galvanised by the Trump administration . May Day activism is usually led by labour unions but this year they will be joined by a broad coalition supporting rights for women, religious and LGBT people, immigrants and ethnic minorities. The turnout is expected to rival the 2006 May Day protests , which saw more than a million march in protest of a proposed immigration law that ultimately failed. “It’s really a day that is going to be focused on immigrant rights and workers’ rights,” Kica Matos, a spokeswoman for the Fair Immigration Reform Movement, said. “We have been very intentional about lifting up the voices of not just immigrants but other progressive allies that support the rights of immigrants.” The day will include a migrant’s strike across the US, in an action reminiscent of February’s Day Without Immigrants protests, which saw businesses across the US close for a day. In 2015, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , 16.7 per cent of the US labour force was foreign born. That population is more likely to work in service occupations, construction and transportation than the native-born population. In the aftermath of the February protests, there were rumours May Day would be focused on the same action. On Monday, demonstrations were scheduled to vary by locality. Some cities, including Las Vegas, were hosting marches in the evening, while some rural areas, including Homestead, Florida, were to see farm worker strikes and boycotts. White House rhetoric and attempted policy changes have targeted such workers and other migrants, particularly those who live in the US without legal status. Past administrations have opted to focus deportation efforts on violent criminals and drug dealers, but in the two months following Donald Trump’s inauguration, more than 90 per cent of removal proceedings have been against people who have committed no crime other than living in the country without permission. The week after Trump took office, he signed an executive order that temporarily suspended refugee admissions to the US and suspended admission for people from seven Muslim-majority countries. Amid mass protests at airports across the country, the order was blocked by a federal court. This year’s May Day actions follow this and other major demonstrations in the first 100 days of Trump’s presidency, including Saturday’s People’s Climate Marches, the March for Science in April and the Women’s March on the day after the inauguration in January. On Saturday night, Trump commemorated his 100th day in office with a rally in Pennsylvania . Trump recited lyrics from the song The Snake , which depicts a woman caring for an ill snake in her home before it bites her, and said it served as a metaphor for the border. “So let’s dedicate this to General Kelly, the Border Patrol, and the Ice agents for doing such an incredible job. All right?” he said. These remarks were met by cheers, but the president’s policies are less popular in his hometown, New York City. He will return for the first time as president on Thursday. Protesters will greet him, including a band of activists clad in Star Wars gear because he is visiting on May 4 , the day celebrated with the phrase: “May the fourth be with you.” The city’s plans for May Day included a set of demonstrations around the city, culminating with a rally downtown. Mayor Bill de Blasio and other city officials were to speak at the rally. De Blasio and mayors of other “sanctuary cities” – which limit cooperation with federal immigration law enforcement – have resisted the White House’s push for more aggressive deportations because they say the policy threatens public safety. On Monday morning in Austin, Texas, activists stormed Governor Greg Abbott’s office in protest against a bill banning sanctuary cities, which is expected to pass this week. In Los Angeles, organisers said hundreds of thousands of people were expected at an event where 100 labour and community groups planned to show a “united” front against Trump. Jorge-Mario Cabrera, spokesman for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, said 30 to 40 groups had participated in such protests in recent years.