Baltimore organizations join nationwide May Day protests
Several Baltimore-area organizations rallied Thursday for May Day, protesting recent policy changes by the Trump Organization.
May Day, which is also known as International Workers' Day, is observed annually. This year, some workers are taking the opportunity to voice opposition to changes by the federal government that, they say, have attacked healthcare, jobs, immigrant rights and student protections.
Who participated in Baltimore's May Day protest?
The Baltimore Teacher Union, Baltimore NAACP, and American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees are among the groups that participated in the May Day protests.
A number of marches converged at McKeldin Square in Downtown Baltimore before the main rally, including:
- Baltimore Teachers Union
- Hands Off Our Students & Faculty!
- 99 vs 1 March
- Cultural Workers March
- March for Palestine
- Family & Kids March for Justice
- March for Migrant Justice
- March for Worker Justice
What prompted the May Day rallies?
Recent changes by the Trump administration have angered many residents in Baltimore and the greater Maryland area.
Last month, protestors gathered outside Baltimore City Hall as part of the "Hands Off!" movement, which protested recent efforts to reduce the size of the federal workforce.
Those efforts have included staffing cuts at the Department of Veterans Affairs, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Social Security Administration.
Maryland is home to approximately 160,000 federal civilian employees, which represents 6% of all state jobs, according to the governor's office.
Groups are also protesting against federal immigration policies, dissolution of diversity policies and in favor of LGBTQ+ rights.
