May Day rallies across US to target Trump immigration policy

NEW YORK, May 1: Labor unions and immigrant advocacy groups will lead May Day rallies in cities across the United States today, with organizers expecting larger-than-usual turnouts to protest the immigration policies of President Donald Trump.
The demonstrations could be the largest by immigrants since Trump’s inauguration on January 20, activists say, and some immigrant-run businesses plan to shut down for some or all of the day to protest the administration’s crackdown on immigrants living in the country illegally.
“To me, it’s offensive the policies this president is trying to implement,” said Jaime Contreras, vice president of the Service Employees International Union’s 32BJ affiliate, which represents cleaners and other property service workers in 11 states.
“It’s a nation of immigrants, and separating immigrant families because of their immigration status, it goes against what we love about this wonderful country.
” May Day, also known as International Workers’ Day, has typically been a quieter affair in the United States than in Europe, where it is a public holiday in many countries.
(Reuters)