Thousands Rally in LA on May Day to Demand an End to ICE Raids

Thousands of Angelenos took to Wilshire Boulevard on May Day 2026, uniting janitors, educators, students, faith leaders, and labor unions in a powerful protest against federal immigration raids and economic inequality. Organized by the LA May Day Coalition, which represents more than 125 pro-immigrant and social justice organizations, the rally carried the defiant banner “Solo el Pueblo Shuts it Down – No Work, No School, No Shopping.”

The coalition condemned the Trump administration’s “domestic militarization of ICE,” accusing it of criminalizing people of color and forcing immigrant families to live in fear and the shadows of the American Dream. Their message was clear: solidarity among working people is stronger than the billionaires and bosses trying to divide them.

The march began with a rally at MacArthur Park, a historic site for immigrant rights activism. Speakers demanded an immediate end to ICE raids that have terrorized Los Angeles communities over the past year and called for living wages for all workers. The event also marked the 20th anniversary of the 2006 La Gran Marcha, when an estimated one million people protested proposed anti-immigrant legislation nationwide.

MacArthur Park’s history as a battleground for immigrant rights was underscored by memories of the 2007 rally, where LAPD officers violently attacked protesters and journalists, firing rubber bullets in what an internal audit later deemed an unprovoked assault.

From MacArthur Park, the crowd marched to Gloria Molina Grand Park at LA City Hall for a second rally. Among the marchers were car wash workers represented by CLEAN, the nation’s first organization advocating for legal protections and economic justice in that industry—workers heavily targeted by federal immigration enforcement.

This May Day mobilization affirms that despite ongoing federal repression, grassroots movements in Los Angeles remain resolute in fighting for immigrant rights, economic justice, and an end to ICE’s reign of terror.

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