May 1 is recognized around the world as International Workers’ Day. But in its birthplace — the United States — May Day has been a minor date in the political calendar.
That may be changing. Last year, an estimated 1,000 May Day demonstrations took place across the United States. This year there were over 3,000, according to May Day Strong, a coalition of more than 500 labor, political, and nonprofit advocacy groups.
The increase was helped by the fact that the nation’s largest teachers union was a big part of the coalition this year. Three-million-member National Education Association (NEA) put out a toolkit encouraging members to coordinate locally with other groups to organize events promoting the May Day Strong coalition slogan, “Workers over Billionaires.” Portland Association of Teachers and Vancouver Education Association, both NEA affiliates, were at the center of organizing local May Day events in Portland and Vancouver, Washington, for example.
In Portland, over 1,000 people gathered at the South Park Blocks and marched through downtown. The march was led by eight blue-shirted members of Portland Association of Teachers and included small contingents from Letter Carriers Branch 82, ILWU Local 5, SEIU-represented custodians at Portland Public Schools, school bus drivers represented by Transit Union Local 757, and members of Industrial Workers of the World. The unionists were joined by members of Democratic Socialists of America and at least five smaller socialist and communist groups, and by members of Ainsworth United Church of Christ.
In Vancouver, over a hundred gathered at Marshall Park for a rally and May pole dance, followed by a march.
Other May Day events were held in Gresham, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, Medford, McMinnville, Canby, Estacada, and other small towns, even if some of them were as small as banner hangs, honk-and-waves, or park meet-ups.
The Salem May Day rally — organized by the farmworker advocacy group Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noreste (PCUN) — took place outside the state capitol, and was attended by Oregon Governor Tina Kotek.
MORE: See lots more photos here.
