It's recognized as a time to march and rally in support of protecting workers' rights, unions, federal employees, and public service jobs.
There were demonstrations in Manhattan as protesters gathered at Foley Square just steps away from City Hall. A large crowd of over a thousand people then began marching around the block.
It was peaceful but demonstrators are fired up about protecting their rights -- especially under the Trump administration.
"Right now, we're seeing workers across the board attacked, be it our federal workers, our brothers and sisters in labor or immigrant workers," said Murad Awawdeh, president and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition. "And we're standing here together, and we're not going to take this fight sitting down. "We're standing up and fighting back because all our communities deserve dignity and respect."
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez surprised the crowd shortly before they started marching, speaking briefly in favor of policies and programs that benefit labor workers and immigrants. She also spoke out against billionaires and the Trump administration's recent policies that she says New Yorkers should be fighting against.
Protesters also gathered and marched from Union Square Thursday afternoon.
"We have to stand up and protect our workers, and so all across the nation, you know, we're coming together," said Grant Miner, president of Student Workers of Columbia.
Protesters say their message this year is about fighting back against President Donald Trump's policies targeting immigrants, federal workers and diversity programs.
"I think because of the workers, you know, they have rights as well," protester Blanca Valle said. "And he's fired federal workers just to feed and to give tax cuts to his billionaire friend. That's really unfair. And that's not right."
Demonstrations coincided with tensions at college campuses as well - specifically regarding the recent detention of Columbia University graduate and pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil by ICE.
Similar protests against the Trump administration took place across the U.S. in cities like Chicago, LA, Phoenix and San Francisco.
Internationally, people in Japan, Greece, the Philippines, Guatemala and more also rallied in support of labor workers.
The roots of May Day stretch back over a century to a turbulent and pivotal time in U.S. labor history.
In the 1880s, unions pushing for better workplace conditions began advocating for an eight-hour workday with widespread demonstrations and strikes. In May 1886, a Chicago labor rally turned deadly when a bomb was thrown and police retaliated with gunfire. Several labor activists, most of them immigrants, were convicted of conspiracy to incite violence among other charges. Four were hanged.
Unions later recommended that the workers be honored every May 1. A sculpture in Chicago's Haymarket Square commemorates them with an inscription that reads: "Dedicated to all workers of the world."
(Some information from the Associated Press)
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