On May Day, a Renewed Call to Resist and Push Forward

We’re living in unsettling times as a nation. With a President who seems dead set on dismantling all of the progress we’ve made in the past eight years and beyond, it can be overwhelming to think about how much we still have to fight for, let alone all of the policies we need to defend.

Originally chosen to commemorate the Haymarket Affair, May Day, or International Workers’ Day, is an opportunity to celebrate the progress we have made for working people, but also to continue the fight for a fair and just economic system that works for all of us. Our allies in the Immigrant Rights community are also protesting today, taking to the streets to again highlight what this country would look like without immigrant labor. Today’s actions should serve as a reminder to us all about the power of our collective action.

Without collective action, the Affordable Care Act would have been repealed and replaced with a bill that didn’t even cover basic protections like pre-existing conditions.

Without collective action, the US Labor Secretary would be Andrew Puzder, a man who helped build a burger empire via the degradation of women and working people.

Without collective action, we wouldn’t have taken to the streets by the millions to demand justice and equality for women in the face of an administration that won’t even commit to keeping the Labor Department’s Women’s Bureau.

Without collective action, we wouldn’t have shown President Trump that we will not allow a ban, or a wall, or deportations to come between us and our fellow Americans, whether they be immigrants or people of color or the LGBTQ community.

Together, we can throw a wrench into President Trump’s agenda. But our collective voice isn’t only useful for defense. Just last week, after years of grassroots activity, the 9to5 Colorado and their allies saw a statewide paid family leave bill pass out of the Colorado House and is now up for consideration in the Senate. If it passes the Senate and is signed by the governor, Colorado will be the sixth state in the nation (plus DC) with guaranteed paid family leave.

After six years of organizing, the Georgia Job/Family Collaborative saw the Family Care Act pass with bipartisan support. Georgians will soon be able to use any paid sick days they may be afforded to care for their loved ones.

The road ahead may be difficult, and we won’t always win. But in the past four months, we have demonstrated our ability to come together and present a unified front. On this day of solidarity with our working brothers and sisters, we have a lot to be optimistic about.