[soundslides width=”620″ height =”533″ id=”4422″]This year, May Day wasn’t just a call for action from Occupiers and the 99 percent. It became a day where everyone could show their support for a number of groups including undocumented citizens, unionized workers and students.
“Solidarity is our main goal. We let people know that unions are here, we are here to stay and we need to be treated fairly just like everyone else,” said Sandra Burleson, who represented Transport Unions of America during the May Day Rally at Union Square.
Bryant Park, Cooper Square, Washington Square Park and Foley Square were filled with demonstrators in solidarity with each other’s causes. The day began with a TWU young workers summit at Bryant Park, and continued down to Cooper Square where students gathered arm in arm singing “Solidarity forever, for the union makes us strong.” Students from Columbia, CUNY, The New School and New York University were also in attendance.
At Washington Square Park, nearly 70 students and about seven student organizations, including Students for Economic Justice, NYU Divest, NYU’s Dream Team and Students Against the Sexton Plan, joined the march. Eventually, the protestors took to the streets and were met by dozens of police officers while en route to Cooper Union before joining the May Day rally at Union Square. The day ended with a Free University Dance Party at Washington Square Park.
Photos by Ivy Meissner and Francia Sandoval and story by Tiffanie Drayton and Francia Sandoval.
Francia is currently a Culture & Media major student about to graduate. She hopes to write for a cheesy sitcom or television series one day. Her hobbies include binge watching shows on Netflix and drinking wine.
