On May Day, expected protests and boycotts are set to unfold in cities across the U.S., with the rallying cry of “Workers over billionaires.” Nearly 500 groups are coordinating over 750 events, including around 200 virtual gatherings in major hubs like New York, Washington, DC, Minneapolis, Chicago, and Los Angeles.
Mayday Strong, the main organizer, mentioned, “On May 1, 2026, workers, students, and families will come together to demand a society that values workers above wealth. Many will not participate in their normal routines, skipping school, work, and shopping.”
The origins of May Day trace back to the 19th century when Marxists, socialists, and labor unions initiated a day of strikes in Paris. Following the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution, it became a national holiday in the Soviet Union.
The first significant May Day protests occurred in 1886, mainly in Chicago, where a massive turnout of labor activists demanded an eight-hour workday. However, the situation escalated, leading to violence shortly after the demonstrations began.
Reportedly, on May 3, 1886, clashes between violent agitators from the McCormick Harvester Machinery Company and police resulted in fatal shots being fired into the crowd.
The next day, an unidentified individual threw a bomb at police during the Haymarket Square protests, igniting a fierce conflict that caused multiple casualties among law enforcement and demonstrators. This tragic event is now referred to as the “Haymaker Affair,” raising ongoing debates regarding its legal proceedings and injustices.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has expressed support for this Friday’s events, highlighting the importance of “meaningful solidarity and community resistance” as fundamental to these historic demonstrations. His remarks underscored the significance of participating in these events to reclaim a voice and honor a storied past: “In Chicago, workers rallied for an eight-hour day and exposed the reality of the Gilded Age.”
Nonetheless, there are doubts among economists about the potential effects of a single-day boycott on major businesses or wealthy elites. Some critics argue that a brief boycott won’t truly influence consumer spending, with many likely returning to their usual habits shortly after.
Peter Morisi, an economics professor, noted the tendency for consumers to quickly revert, purchasing the same items on different days: “If you skip shopping today, you’ll just go tomorrow. It’s like getting distracted at the movies; you’ll still see the same show later.” He also suggested that the disruptions could unintentionally affect local businesses rather than the billionaires targeted by protestors.
