Oxford, AL — Workers, immigrants, students, and families from Oxford and surrounding communities are set to gather on May 1 as part of a nationwide May Day rally. Participants will join residents from over 500 cities across the United States to honor the legacy of past labor movements and call for increased investment in working families and public services.
Organized locally by the group We the People, the Oxford rally will emphasize issues such as fair wages, union protections, access to healthcare, and housing. According to rally organizer Jim Williams, the event’s goal is to “build a community where all prosper – not just the wealthy, powerful and connected.”
The May Day demonstrations draw inspiration from historic labor struggles, including the fight for the eight-hour workday and recent protests advocating for union rights and against federal layoffs. Organizers say the action is dedicated to shaping a future that prioritizes the needs of working families over the interests of wealthy elites.
This year’s rally comes against a backdrop of concerns expressed by organizers about cuts to programs serving low-income students, reductions to Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare, and policies affecting unionized graduate students and immigrant communities. Nationally, the movement is calling for full funding of public education, expanded healthcare access, protection of immigrant rights, and the strengthening of labor unions.
Participants across the country — from agricultural workers in California to educators in Chicago and dock workers in Atlanta — are expected to join together under the shared theme of building a more equitable society.
The Oxford rally is part of a broader day of action with organizers outlining several key demands, including:
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Ending what they describe as a “billionaire takeover” of government policies;
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Fully funding programs like SNAP, WIC, and public education;
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Protecting and expanding critical social services, including Medicaid and Social Security;
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Halting attacks on immigrant, Black, Indigenous, and LGBTQ+ communities;
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Ensuring fair wages, union protections, and dignity for all workers, regardless of race, zip code, or immigration status.
Organizers view this year’s May Day as the beginning of a larger movement aimed at shifting national priorities toward working families and away from corporate interests.
The local rally is open to all community members and is part of a growing national call to action advocating for economic justice and equality.
