LA organizers call for May Day march on anniversary of 2006 immigrant rallies

Community organizers in Los Angeles on Tuesday urged workers, students and families to fill the streets May 1, invoking the 20th anniversary of the 2006 "Day Without an Immigrant" marches that shook the nation.

The rally, organized under the theme "Sole El Pueblo Shuts it Down: No Work, No School, No Shopping," revives the spirit of "La Gran Marcha" — described as one of the largest public demonstrations in U.S. history — and underscores the ongoing role of immigrants in the American labor movement.

Organizers held a news conference Tuesday in the city's Westlake District to announce the event and lay out a boycott asking participants to stay home from work and school and avoid shopping on May 1, according to ABC7 Los Angeles.

A.J. Holman of the California Immigrant Policy Center framed the demonstration as a show of collective strength. "On May 1st, this Friday, we march — documented and undocumented, native-born and foreign-born, workers, students, families," Holman said. "We will fill these streets because collective action is our power, and the people, united, will not be ignored."

Leslie Chang of the L.A. chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America said organizers are drawing a direct line between May Day's labor history and immigrant advocacy. "May Day historically has been International Workers Day," Chang said at the news conference. "This year in particular, we are really emphasizing the point that immigrants have also been part of the workers movement for a long time. None of this would be possible without immigrants."

The march is billed as a commemoration of "La Gran Marcha," the 2006 "Day Without an Immigrant" demonstrations described in the ABC7 Los Angeles report as among the largest public demonstrations in U.S. history.

Organizers said the event is open to documented and undocumented workers, students and families alike.

The May 1st rally and march is set for Friday in Los Angeles, with organizers calling on participants to honor the work, school and shopping boycott throughout the day.