What to know about May Day and how it has grown over the years

By SOPHIA TAREEN CHICAGO AP From worker rights rallies to marches for social justice activists around the globe kicked off May Day demonstrations on Thursday In certain countries it s a society holiday honoring labor but activists planning marches in the United States say much of their message is about fighting back against President Donald Trump s policies targeting immigrants federal workers and diversity programs Thousands are expected at demonstrations from Tokyo to Chicago In certain parts of the U S though fear sowed by the Trump administration is expected to keep specific immigrants home Everybody is under attack right now stated Jorge Mujica a longtime labor leader from Chicago where May Day rallies historically have had a large turnout FILE More than demonstrators march to show endorsement for immigrant rights in Chicago May AP Photo Jeff Roberson File FILE A supporter of French far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon raises his fist as his leader delivers his speech during a protest over the president s labor improvement in Paris France Sept AP Photo Christophe Ena File FILE Protesters march during the May Day demonstration Wednesday May in Paris AP Photo Thomas Padilla File FILE Supporters of French far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon are gathered on Republique square to listen their leader during a protest over the president s labor reorganization in Paris France Saturday Sept AP Photo Francois Mori File Show Caption of FILE More than demonstrators march to show aid for immigrant rights in Chicago May AP Photo Jeff Roberson File Expand What is May Day The roots of May Day or International Workers Day stretch back over a century to a turbulent and pivotal time in U S labor history In the s unions pushing for better workplace conditions began advocating for an eight-hour workday with widespread demonstrations and strikes In May a Chicago labor rally turned deadly when a bomb was thrown and police retaliated with gunfire Several labor activists bulk of them immigrants were convicted of conspiracy to incite violence among other charges Four were hanged Unions later recommended that the workers be honored every May A sculpture in Chicago s Haymarket Square commemorates them with an inscription that reads Dedicated to all workers of the world May Day rallies and riots May Day marches rallies and riots have taken place worldwide in up-to-date years as unions push for better rights for workers groups air economic grievances or activists call for an end to the war in Gaza While most of demonstrations have been peaceful there have been clashes with police Last year police in Paris fired tear gas as thousands of protesters marched through the French capital seeking better pay and working conditions In New York City May Day demonstrations coincided with rising tensions at college campuses over pro-Palestinian pupil encampments resulting in numerous arrests This year organizers in numerous cities including New York are calling for unity across multiple causes and groups We re organizing for a world where every family has housing physical condition care fair wages union protection and safety regardless of race immigration status or zip code the American Civil Liberty Union of New York stated in a message Other notable U S demonstrations include a workers rally at Philadelphia City Hall with Vermont Sen Bernie Sanders and demonstrations at the Colorado State Capitol and in Los Angeles Seattle and Washington D C May Day immigration marches While labor and immigrant rights are historically intertwined the focus of May Day rallies in the U S shifted to immigration in That s when roughly million people including nearly half a million in Chicago alone took to the streets to protest federal bill that would ve made living in the U S without legal permission a felony Crowds for May demonstrations have since dwindled with advocacy groups splintering and shifting activism arenas such as voters rights This year in Chicago organizers say activism starting Thursday will last until Cinco de Mayo with boycotts and walkouts Their focus is workers rights but also rising anti-immigrant rhetoric from Trump s administration Organizers acknowledge a chilling effect on immigrant communities since Trump has cracked down on enforcement especially in so-called sanctuary cities including Chicago They re expecting lower numbers of immigrants but are expanding their outreach to more unions including for teachers and nurses There s a lot fear out there announced Omar Lopez a longtime Chicago organizer Who celebrates May Day In chosen countries May Day is a society holiday for workers including France Kenya and China where it lasts five days In Russia Communist-led May Day celebrations were once massive affairs It s also a traditional spring celebration that s observed in tactics that don t involve marching in the streets or civil disobedience In Hawaii May is called Lei Day which isn t an official holiday but a statewide celebration of the Hawaiian way of life and the aloha spirit through the creation and giving of lei usually a necklace of flowers Elsewhere people mark the holiday by leaving May Day baskets filled with gifts and flowers on the doorsteps of friends The city of Annapolis Maryland is set to hold its th May Day Basket Competition where residents and businesses outdo each other for the best floral arrangements It s our neighborhood s way of saying goodbye to winter and welcoming the beauty and strength of spring Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley disclosed