May Day 'Shutdown' Gears Up to Challenge Trump and Corporate Power Nationwide

The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor was buzzing in mid-April as union organizers distributed bilingual flyers demanding “No Work, No School, and No Shopping on May 1st.” Their target is clear: President Donald Trump, whom Roofers Union Local 36’s Cliff Smith called a “fascist in the White House,” and his administration’s ongoing threats to democracy and workers’ rights.

This nationwide “shutdown” or “general strike” is planned in cities from coast to coast, backed by a coalition of over 500 labor, community, and pro-democracy groups under the May Day Strong banner. The movement aims to demonstrate the collective power of workers by withholding their labor, sending a warning to business leaders who might support Trump’s attempts to steal elections.

Los Angeles holds special significance for this action. The city was the site of the massive 2006 “Day Without an Immigrant” march that helped defeat anti-immigrant legislation. This year’s march, themed “Workers Over Billionaires,” will start at MacArthur Park, a community recently targeted by a militarized federal raid. Neidi Dominguez, executive director of Organized Power in Numbers, emphasized the importance of international worker solidarity amid ICE raids, attacks on voting rights, and ongoing wars.

With only 12% of American workers unionized, organizers stress alliances with racial justice, immigrant rights, climate, and progressive groups. Indivisible, Democratic Socialists of America, and the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights in Los Angeles are among those amplifying the call for a shutdown.

Minneapolis’s January resistance to federal immigration raids, including a massive strike that closed schools and businesses after the killing of Renée Good by ICE, serves as a powerful model. Surveys show nearly a quarter of Minnesota voters participated in that action, highlighting its broad impact.

Across the country, unions are endorsing walkouts and rallies. North Carolina’s largest school districts plan closures, while New Jersey’s coalition of unions representing over a million members backs May Day protests, even if some avoid calling it a “strike” for legal reasons. Organizers encourage workers to use sick days or time off to participate without violating contracts.

Labor experts note the importance of mobilizing non-union workers alongside union members to maximize impact. This May Day push builds on pandemic-era work stoppages and growing worker activism, signaling a rising tide of resistance against Trump’s authoritarian agenda and corporate greed.

As the midterms approach, this coordinated effort aims to send a clear message: workers will not stand idly by while democracy and immigrant rights are under attack. May Day 2026 could be a turning point in reclaiming power from billionaires and fascists alike.