Historically, May Day (May 1), also known as International Workers’ Day, has been a protest hotbed for labor unions worldwide. Denver unions took to Capitol Hill on Thursday, but this time, joined by many more concerned citizens and activists, now united around a new purpose.
That purpose? Charged pushback against President Donald Trump and his administration.
“It’s a rededication of ourselves to the struggles for our workers rights,” said Eliza Lucero, Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) organizer who led chants from the front of the march. “It’s a collaboration of the labor battles that have been fought and won through blood.”
Many of the protestors focused their criticism of the administration around its treatment of laborers and anti-union policies.
“A small oligarchy of corporate elites rigged our economy, turning good jobs into precarious gigs, replacing stable hours with unpredictable algorithms and training worker protections for shareholder profits,” Communications Workers of America representative Elliot Awatt said. “Change only comes when workers stand together.”
Protestors also looked at state policy, specifically SB25-005, a Colorado state bill awaiting Governor Jared Polis’ signature. The bill would repeal the Labor Peace Act’s requirement that workers in the state win two elections to secure union representation, essentially making it easier for union groups to strengthen themselves.
“We demand Governor Polis sign the Worker Protection Act, and we pledge to stand together, one struggle, one fight, one victory,” Awatt said.
Trevor, 40, a local concerned citizen, has visited many rallies, especially recently. He’s motivated by his family, who escaped the Soviet Union in the 40’s.
“It’s in my blood, you could say, to resist authoritarianism. Those are our family stories,” he said. “Fascism is is universal in its targets. It oppresses everyone.”
Has the meaning of May Day changed with the 2025 administration? Lucero says no; but she knows activists need to join together to strengthen their side of the fight.
“The principles of May Day and worker solidarity and the fight for labor rights are the same,” Lucero said. “Right now we’re seeing a resurgence of resistance, because so many different issues are under attack, so many different organizations and labor unions that have previously focused on isolated issues are realizing that we have to come together and be coordinated.”
Trevor agreed. “The struggle that we are all facing is going to unite, and is uniting a lot of previously disparate movements, causes and peoples,” he said. “We’re seeing the coalescing of a lot of different movements on every major protest day.”
Many organizers view protests as only part of the fight against the Trump administration, and highlighted that more action was crucial.
“We have to organize every single day,” Colorado Defenders Union Communications Co-Chair Carly Hamilton said. “Ask your coworkers about raising kids as a working parent. Ask them about their struggles to get off work to take care of a sick family member. Ask them how long they can keep doing this working and living under these conditions, both in the workplace and as a member of a community that is under attack.”
Though Lucero played a leading part in the rally, she has no pleasure for her work – simply due diligence.
“I don’t take any sort of particular joy from being at the front of these things, I think that it’s a duty and a job that I view as being serious,” she said. “Everyone has a really important role right now to become their own political actor and stand up and speak out.”
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A woman, holding a “Unite For Freedom” sign, listens to speakers below the Capitol steps.
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Former Colorado Representative Tim Hernandez speaks to the crowd, highlighting the significance of multiple social movements coming together at the same time.
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An elderly protester sits in a wheelchair watching the speakers, with a sign reading “Granny wasn’t born yesterday, it ain’t Biden’s fault.”
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A speaker from the Communications Workers of America Union (CWA) speaks to the crowd.
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An elderly man watches the speakers, holding a sign that criticises federal legislators, saying “CONGRESS, GROW A PAIR.”
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A view of the rally, with the Civic Center in the background, from the top of the Capitol stairs.
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A mariachi band, including singers, a guitarist, a violinist, and a trumpeter serenade the rally as protesters move to begin the march.
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The front line of the protest moves down 13th Street, holding a banner emblazoned “Workers Should Have Power, Not the Billionaires!”
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A man shouts a chant into a megaphone as the protest moves down the street.
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A marcher holds up the Mexican flag as she walks away from the capitol. Many protestors aimed to celebrate their country and heritage, as well as draw attention to recent deportations of Mexican workers.
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A marcher wearing a mask turning billionaire and head of Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency Elon Musk into a clown walks with the protest. They hold a sign mocking Musk, saying “I Need More!” and wearing a model of a Tesla Cybertruck around their waist.
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Marchers walk behind the leading truck, raising their fists as they shout chants.
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A marcher cheers along with others as they walk.
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The light rail stands still at a stoplight so the protest can pass by.
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A protestor eyes those next to them, holding a sign that reads “Whether they’re red or blue, billionaires don’t give a f**k about you.”
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A marcher shouts a chant while holding up a sign that reads “Prison without due process is a concentration camp.”
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Party for Socialism and Liberation Organizer Eliza Lucero (right) and other organizers lead protester chants from the bed of the pace truck at the front.
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A child holds out a toy while they’re carried through the march, parents holding signs.
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A protestor holds up a sign reading “If you want 1933, we’ll give you 1789,” referencing the French Revolution.
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Viewers watching from a light rail stop photograph the marchers steaming past.
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A woman holds up her phone, recording the protest with a smile
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A marcher raises her fist, smiling in the middle of the crowd.
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A protester holds up a May Day sign above the crowd. May 1 has long been a holiday for laborer rallies and union activism.
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Protestors could be seen from the inside mirror of the organizer truck as they gathered to listen to speeches.
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An organizer shouts “Solidarity!” from the top of the leading truck’s bed.
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A speaker yells to the crowd outside the Federal Circuit Court, which was the halfway point of the march.
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Protestors gather behind the organizers’ truck bed, chanting and listening to speeches.
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Protesters march down Lincoln and shout chants.
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A marcher smiles up at an American flag flying above his head.
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A marcher screams a Pro-Palestine chant.
