Tucsonans marched through the streets of Tucson’s south side last Thursday in observance of International Workers’ Day, calling for workers’ rights, immigrant justice and constitutional protections.

International Workers’ Day, also called May Day, is a worldwide event marking the anniversary of the Haymarket Affair in 1886. On May 4 of that year, labor unions and workers campaigned outside the McCormick Harvesting Machine Co. in Chicago, advocating for an eight-hour workday.

The demonstration turned violent after someone threw a bomb at police, prompting officers to open fire. Eight people were killed.

In the wake of the backlash, labor activists — most of them immigrants — were arrested, convicted and in some cases executed on charges of conspiracy and inciting violence under questionable prosecution. In response, the Haymarket Affair inspired massive labor movements to improve working conditions, especially in Europe, with unions later honoring workers on May 1 each year.

Tucson’s event took place at Southside Presbyterian Church and was preceded by a news conference, where organizers highlighted the theme: “Immigrant and Worker Rights — One Struggle, One Fight.”

Isabel Garcia, co-chair of the Coalición de Derechos Humanos, called for economic justice by redirecting funds away from militarism to meet worker and community needs, as well as demanding stronger labor protections and a livable wage.

Derechos Humanos is a grassroots organization that promotes justice for immigrant civil rights.

Arizona Jobs With Justice Coalition Co-chair Steve Valencia highlighted recent efforts to cut jobs within Social Security, Medicare, the National Labor Relations Board and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Valencia said these moves have affected the current labor movement and called for solidarity with the trade union movement and the immigrant workforce.

“The origin of May Day has a history of breaking through the deep exploitation of labor,” Valencia said. “Today we fight against the deep exploitation of immigrant labor and the dismantling of structures and programs that were created by labor and the civil rights movements of this country.”

Garcia also called for immigrant and refugee justice, advocating for amnesty, legalization and support for immigrant students and families. She highlighted the systemic issue of recent detentions without due process, such as in the cases of Kilmar Abrego Garcia and Mahmoud Khalil.

“We're going backwards,” Garcia said. “We were the champions of (refugee rights), now we are the main violators. How dare us violate our most basic fundamental constitutional rights?”

Garcia urged attendees to push for protections for other marginalized communities and to halt the dismantling of the Department of Education.

Taylor Lee, a representative of the Southside Worker Center, spoke on behalf of workers, citing their fear of speaking out.

The center works with migrant laborers to access technical and skilled jobs in Tucson while educating them on their rights as workers.

“For the past two years, I have watched these hard-working men and women suffer through countless hardships, hardships that are amplified by not having proper documentation,” Lee said.

She shared stories about the center’s workers, including one who was being extorted by organized crime. His sister had been kidnapped and was being held for ransom.

“It's been two months, and she is still captive, and he still doesn't know how to help her,” Lee said.

Another worker was on a road construction assignment when his leg was pulled in by a road roller. Lee said his supervisor left him on the ground in the heat for four hours, waiting until his break to take the worker to the hospital.

Lee said the man was dropped off at the entrance of the emergency room without the ability to take himself inside.

“I've seen the deceptions our workers experience when they (work) for 14 hours a day with no overtime pay, only to have the boss say at the end of the workweek that he's out of money and he can't pay them,” she said. “When they demand that money that they're entitled to, they're then threatened with having immigration authorities called on them.”

Lee called for improved worker safety, wages and protections.

“Most of all, protections for migrant workers who are too afraid to tell their own stories and the abuses they endure every day out of desperation, lack of other options and fear of non-payment and deportation,” she said.

Jim Byrne, president of the Tucson Education Association, said the union is no stranger to legislative struggle.

In 2010, Arizona former Gov. Jan Brewer signed a law banning the curriculum of Mexican American studies from public schools. That same curriculum was shown to benefit students by increasing graduation rates and interest in college.

“Those are our kids. When (the government) comes after Title I funding, when they come after civil rights protections and anti-discrimination that would protect our students of mixed status, of LGBTQ+ identification, we say, 'Hell no,’” Byrne said.

One primary concern among protesters was the lack of due process immigrants face during large sweeps of detentions and deportations. Many asked to remain anonymous.

“I care about the Constitution and due process. I think we need to stand up for people now, or there won't be anyone left to stand up for,” one protester said. “There’s an assault against those who are marginalized, and it has to stop, if any of us are going to be free.”

Another protester said it was time to stop what they called the “illegal abductions of immigrants and innocent people without due process.”

President Donald Trump’s recent comments about potentially circumventing the Constitution in order to lead the country for another term were also a concern cited by protesters, along with what they said was his disregard for other constitutional rights.

“I am deeply opposed to Trump taking over our Constitution and destroying our democracy with the glee that he brings to it,” said a protester. “I think it's really important to stand up for journalism, for education, for health care, for the environment, clean air and water, and land that we can respect.”

Many attendees said they found solace in being together.

“I think it's important to find the helpers in the community, and it's super heartening to see everybody that (came) out,” said one.

Local leaders and political candidates also took the opportunity to engage with the community. Tucson Mayor Regina Romero said she has been participating in May Day walks for more than 25 years.

This year, her remarks focused on the current administration’s firing of federal workers, the dismantling of the Department of Health, and the pause on Veterans Affairs projects previously approved by Congress.

“It is horrific,” Romero said. “I felt now more than ever, I wanted to be here amongst my community and make sure that I took a stand. I wanted to make sure that I showed up and stood shoulder to shoulder with my community to fight against the injustices that are happening with this administration. We've got to do something.”

Deja Foxx, a 25-year-old reproductive rights activist and candidate for Arizona’s 7th Congressional District, said the most important thing community members can do right now is gather and show their collective power.

“I grew up in Section 8 housing, on SNAP benefits and Medicaid. Those are all the things that Donald Trump has in his crosshairs right now. Things that working families like ours rely on," Foxx said. "For me, that's personal. I think that folks like us who are willing to be out here in the streets deserve people who are gonna be just as much of a fighter when they get to D.C.”

Daniel Hernandez, another CD7 candidate, spent the event campaigning door to door alongside protest lines.

"(I) for many years, have been working on activism to try and work on important policies for Southern Arizona,” Hernandez said. “It's really important that we're here on May Day to honor and to really make sure we're standing for workers and for immigrants. So many of our folks that are doing some of the toughest jobs are people that are immigrants.”

Topacio “Topaz” Servellon is a freelance journalist out of Tucson. Contact them at topacioserve@gmail.com.

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