Thousands march in LA for May Day workers and immigrants rally

Thousands of demonstrators marched through Los Angeles on Friday, stepping off from MacArthur Park and heading toward Grand Park in one of Southern California's largest International Workers' Day gatherings in recent years.

The march, held under the theme "Solo el Pueblo Shuts It Down!" and reported by ABC7 Los Angeles, pressed for workers' and immigrants' rights at a moment when those concerns resonate across Orange County's large immigrant workforce as well.

The march began at 10 a.m. at MacArthur Park, with participants proceeding to Grand Park in the city's civic center, according to ABC7 Los Angeles. Organizers urged workers, students and shoppers to stay out in solidarity — framing the walkout as an act of collective power.

Erika Schwerdt, of the nonprofit Strength Based Community Change, pointed to the day's historical roots. "It's important to remember that May Day is the reason why we have an 8-hour work day," she said.

Schwerdt cast the rally as a demonstration of economic leverage. "That's because we're the workers. We're the ones that run this city. Without us, these companies wouldn't have anything," she said.

Beyond labor solidarity, organizers also pressed for broader policy changes. "We want to support our community with an economy that works for everyone. We want to make sure that billionaires are taxed so that we provide for social structures that are needed like education, healthcare, community support," Schwerdt said.

The Los Angeles march was one of several held across Southern California on Friday as part of nationwide International Workers' Day events, with immigrants' rights and economic equity as unifying themes.

The Los Angeles demonstration is among the country's largest May Day events, reflecting sustained pressure from labor and immigration advocates for federal and local policy action.