In the face of nationwide ICE raids that have terrorized immigrant communities and torn families apart, immigrant workers again took the day to demand justice. The demonstrations in the Bay Area occurred simultaneously with other major immigrant rights demonstrations around the country.
Thousands gathered at Dolores Park in San Francisco and the demonstration grew to 10,000 as the march began. Families, labor unions, and students who walked out of school formed contingents and had a significant presence at the demonstration.
Directly across the bay, thousands marched in Oakland. San Jose held the largest demonstration in the Bay Area on May 1, where over 20,000 marched and rallied. The march began with several thousand people, but grew close to 30,000 as students and workers joined the four-mile march route to San Jose’s City Hall.
The May 1 demonstrations in the Bay Area and across the country were a strong reminder to the ruling class that the immigrant rights movement is resilient, and its resistance will continue.