Thousands Rally in LA on May Day to Demand Worker and Immigrant Rights Amid Rising ICE Raids

Thousands of Angelenos flooded MacArthur Park this Friday for a powerful May Day rally demanding justice for workers and immigrants. The event marked two decades since La Gran Marcha, when millions nationwide protested proposed laws criminalizing undocumented immigrants. This year’s gathering carried urgent new weight as the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration raids continue to terrorize communities.

From before dawn, crowds assembled under a sea of international flags, chanting “¡Si Se Puede!” and brandishing signs demanding an end to ICE’s brutal tactics. Rosemary Ibarra, who traveled from Lancaster, captured the mood: “We’re here to say no more ICE and to show that we’re stronger together. Power of the people.”

The march, which wound from MacArthur Park to Gloria Molina Grand Park, was a vivid display of solidarity. María de la Luz Martínez, holding a combined Mexican and US flag, spoke for those too afraid to show up: “We are human, not animals.” Her words strike at the heart of the administration’s dehumanizing rhetoric and policies.

The rally was also a somber reminder of the exhaustion many feel after relentless raids, but activists like TJ Gonzalez brought hope, walking the grounds with his parrot Pepe to lift spirits. Carmina Calderon Santos, carrying her baby, emphasized the essential role immigrant workers play in keeping the city running. “Protest is just a tool,” she said, “but now we must show up at City Hall, educate our neighbors, and keep fighting.”

Young activists like 17-year-old Sabrina Navarro are already mobilizing the next generation. Holding a sign mocking Trump’s baseless claims about immigrants, she urged peers to wield their voices against intimidation and authoritarianism.

This May Day rally was not just a moment of protest; it was a declaration that the fight for immigrant and worker rights will not be silenced by raids or fear. As the Trump administration escalates its crackdown, communities are doubling down on resistance, demanding accountability and respect for human dignity.