On May 1, hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Fresno for May Day, an international holiday celebrating labor rights, to advocate for livable wages and protest the Trump administration.
The protest started at Blackstone and Alluvial Avenues, where demonstrators and organizers waited to march, American and Mexican flags flowing against the heated wind. Others held signs shaped like Monarch butterflies and banners reading, “Workers should have power, not the billionaires.”
For organizer Atticus Martin, a member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation Central Valley, the day holds deep meaning for working people in the region, especially those who are undocumented.
“Capitalists always want to find the cheapest way to make a buck, and typically they do so by employing immigrants,” Martin said. “They are the most exploited portion of the working class, and they, just like anybody, deserve to be recognized.”
A 2019 Economic Policy Institute report finds that 37.1% of unauthorized undocumented workers were victims of minimum wage violations, compared to 15.6% of U.S.-born citizens.
Martin believes this year’s May Day is a big deal and serves as a reminder to the working class of how billionaires shape every move around the people who work under them, directly impacting the quality of their lives. He hopes that by showing up alongside his organization, PSL, they can raise awareness about labor rights and help combat the low wages and poor working conditions that many workers face.
Around 5:10 p.m., demonstrators marched from Blackstone near Alluvial to the Mexican Consulate. When they arrived, they were greeted with cold water bottles and speakers eager to carry on the message of May Day’s importance.
Lucia Tierrez, a protester, said she felt it was important to show up for May Day in support of her Latino undocumented community, highlighting how much Latinos have contributed to the American working class.
“You know, our people are great. They’re hard workers, they’re good people. They’re not hurting anybody,” Tierrez said.
“Seeing demonstrators of diverse backgrounds holding signs against the Trump administration and its treatment of undocumented immigrants, she feels a deep sense of unity and appreciation for her community.
After taking a break at the consulate, at 6 p.m., a crowd of demonstrators began marching, chanting “Hey hey, ho ho, Trump and Elon have got to go,” as they headed south on North Palm Avenue to West Herndon Avenue to protest at the Tesla dealership.
As the protesters arrived at the Tesla dealership, a truck hauling a flatbed carried a karaoke machine, large speakers and flags from the United States, El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico to represent the Latino working class. Many organizers began calling for action from local representatives to speak out against the Trump administration, while also giving thanks to the demonstrators who showed up and marched for two hours in the heat.
One of the speakers was Sukaina Hussain, the deputy director of strategic initiatives for the California Immigrant Policy Center (CIPC).
“I’m here as an immigrant, I’m here as a woman, I’m here as a Muslim, and I am here as one of the communities that have been attacked by this administration,” Hussain said into the microphone.
Hussain is angry about the Trump administration’s actions in wanting to cut $800 billion in health care funding to the American public. She explained that in Fresno County, more than half of the population relies on Medi-Cal, and she fears this will hit the most vulnerable — especially the working class.
While emotions ran high and speakers voiced frustration with the current administration, organizers emphasized that their message was ultimately about solidarity and the ongoing fight for labor rights.
