Support for workers marks May Day protests in California

Updated May 1, 2026, 11:08 p.m. ETA familiar scene played out in Los Angeles on Friday, May 1: Hundreds of people protesting and cheering on the calls made by labor and community leaders as part of May Day demonstrations across California and nationwide.U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, leave. No war in Iran. But on May 1, a particular kind of message was emphasized — dignity for workers.The MacArthur Park area was flooded with people before noon, the same area where community and labor organizers gathered to call for people to come out for a rally and march on May Day, also known as International Workers’ Day.“We the people are the power that will ensure that our elected representatives respond to our needs, our vision for a better life: good paying jobs, affordable housing and ICE and Border Patrol out of our communities,” said Angelica Salas, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights executive director.CHIRLA was among the organizations present. So were other unions and community organizations — and a California governor hopeful, Xavier Becerra.Salas said that people are marching for the scores of people in the nation without legal status.“They need protection, and the only protection that they need is permanent residency