Thousands of Chicago Students Mobilize in Union-Led May Day Protest Against Budget Cuts and Trump Policies

Thousands of Chicago middle and high school students are set to take part in a union-driven day of civic action on May 1, spotlighting the city’s $1 billion school budget deficit and pushing back against the Trump administration’s authoritarian overreach.

The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) negotiated with Chicago Public Schools (CPS) to organize assemblies, history lessons, music performances, and an afternoon rally and march near downtown Chicago. These activities will celebrate union workers, highlight the district’s financial crisis, and protest recent immigration enforcement raids and other government actions.

While CTU initially pushed for a full school closure on May Day, CPS Superintendent Macquline King insisted that classes remain in session. Instead, students can voluntarily join the union’s field trips to the rally, supported by district-provided buses and bag lunches. The union expects participation to reach into the thousands, with the district allowing excused absences under an Illinois law permitting one civic engagement day per year for students in grades 6 through 12.

Union President Stacy Davis Gates framed the event as a strategic moment to engage students and families on critical issues threatening their communities and schools. “Our politics are school funding and the maintenance of our democracy,” she said. The CTU’s agenda encompasses a broad progressive platform, including calls for racial justice, LGBTQ rights, and voting rights, which has drawn criticism from conservative groups accusing the union of politicizing education.

Despite pushback, teachers at schools like Solorio Academy and Benito Juarez Community Academy are preparing assemblies that connect May Day’s labor history to current struggles, including the impact of ICE raids on immigrant families. Students will share personal stories and celebrate their community’s cultural richness through performances and discussions.

The district is scrambling to manage staff absences on May 1, tapping into a pool of 10,000 substitutes and coordinating with city bus services to ensure transportation. For students who opt out of the rally, schools will provide comparable civic engagement instruction during the afternoon.

This union-led day of action is more than a protest; it’s a direct challenge to the underfunding and political attacks that have plagued Chicago’s public schools under the Trump administration and local leadership. The CTU is leveraging May Day to mobilize the next generation in the fight for equitable education and democratic participation.