Chants echoed through the streets, and signs calling for issues such as due process and fascism were held high as Tucsonans joined together in protest on May Day at the Southside Presbyterian Church on Thursday, May 1.

May day, also recognized as International workers’ day, is a day of protest around the world commemorating the struggle for workers’ rights. 

This year, in addition to workers’ rights, many Tucsonans joined others across the United States to protest for immigrant rights and against policies implemented by the Trump administration and against the war in Gaza.

“I care about so many of these issues because as you look around, you see people wearing buttons that say ‘be kind,’ and these are issues that matter so much to the people, especially people not in power,” said Christy Stewart, a facilitator at the protest. 

Stewart was a teacher for 35 years and is a volunteer coordinator for Casa Alitas, which helps find a safe place for refugees to live in the U.S. 

“We need to care, and this is heartening. There’s thousands of people here today and that is glorious and joy bringing,” Stewart said.

Hundreds of people gathered Thursday evening, signs ready, to march down 22nd Street, making their way through Fourth Avenue, 29th Street and 10th Avenue for about two hours, before returning to Southside Presbyterian.

Many Tucsonans came to protest President Donald Trump and recent policies that have gone into effect during his first 100 days in office. 

“He thinks he’s the king of our country and the king of the U.S., and he’s taking people’s rights away. So it’s really scary,” marcher Deborah Folkers said. 

Folkers said people across the country are protesting to ask members of Congress to take constituents’ concerns seriously. 

Marchers compared Trump to past dictators and authoritarians and expressed fear about the future of the United States. 

“I wrote a book about Project 2025, and it scared the crap out of me,” said Larry Butler, author of “Platform Wars!: Do You Know What Your Party Is Up To?” 

“(Benito) Mussolini defined it as the marriage of government and corporate power. We’re seeing that, we’ve seen it every day from inauguration all day long.” said Butler. 

Protester Donna Fritz said she attended the protest because “a lot of people don’t pay attention.” 

“I was one of those people who did not pay attention. I was caught up in my job and family and things like that,” she said. “Now, coming to these events like this and being around like-minded people, it gives me more and it makes me want to do more. It is an inspiration.” 

May Day has a long history, said Steven Valencia, chair of Jobs with Justice Arizona, a labor coalition fighting for workers rights. 

“People died for this,” he said. “The Haymarket Massacre, the Women’s Movement, Civil Rights Movement, students of all kinds, multiracial coalitions have all come together in the past and today in order to fight for what’s right.” 

Jane Hood, a local voter, said she is “very, very upset.”

She said she and others she knows are being  impacted both personally and professionally by Trump’s recent executive orders.

“It’s affecting me personally to hear this news, and it breaks my heart,” she said. “The economy has gone south and it is all to make Trump some money.” 

John Maier said he marched because he wants the country to treat immigrants more fairly.

“My father was an immigrant, and he served in U.S. forces in World War II. That is why I am here,” he said. 

May Day protests erupted across Arizona and around the country last Thursday. Thousands of people gathered in front of the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix, and others gathered in Flagstaff and Sedona. 

May Day Strong helped organize protests in all 50 states where citizens and grassroots organizations banned together to express their support for workers’ rights and their dissatisfaction with the Trump administration.

Arizona Sonoran News is a news service of the University of Arizona School of Journalism.