May Day in New York: Ready for a massive, united protest

May Day organizers hold press conference. At left, Chris Silvera of Million Worker March Movement; speaking, Teresa Gutierrez of May 1 Coalition; behind her, wearing glasses, Charles Jenkins of TWU Local 100; to his left, Sonia Ivany of Labor Council for Latin American Advancement. WW photo: John Catalinotto

A broad array of immigrant rights groups, day laborers, grassroots unionists, street vendors, community organizations and some of the city’s most important labor unions have joined the youthful Occupy Wall Street movement in calling on everyone to be in Union Square on May Day.

Spokespeople for the 2012 May Day demonstration showed the determination, organization and unity developing across a broad section of the metropolitan area’s working class in their common struggle against Wall Street — or the 1%, as they now call the big bosses and bankers.

They announced their plans April 26 under the slogan “Legalize, Organize, Unionize,” following months of careful planning by a coalition of groups with a constituency as diverse as New York’s population. They represent ethnic and national groupings from all parts of the world who experience a variety of special oppressions while trying to survive by selling their labor. They are the 99%.

After a few years in which labor and immigrant groups held separate marches on May Day in New York, this year there will be a unified rally and march.

Organizers announced the day’s logistics while shielded from light rain by a tarp set up at Union Square Park near 14th Street. They had succeeded in securing permits for the May Day gathering, beginning at noon at the park. The May 1 Coalition will hold a rally with entertainment and workshops from noon to 4 p.m.

A mass united rally including OWS and organized labor will start at 4 p.m., followed by a permitted march along Broadway toward Wall Street at 5:30 p.m. Stops along the march route will target the corporations, banks and government agencies that have profited off the harassment and deportation of immigrants and the attacks on workers’ rights. The march will end at the offices of the Metropolitan Transit Authority, where Transport Workers Union Local 100 President John Samuelsen will address the crowd. The transport union is still struggling with the city for a contract.

Obtaining the rally and march permits was important especially because of the expected participation of many immigrants, who might risk deportation if arrested. Though OWS normally refuses to apply for permits, it joined in doing so this time to help build stronger unity with the immigrant movement.

The program for the day will include community speakers, cultural performances, music, food and celebratory activities for the entire family, including face painting for children. There will be “know your rights” classes, and Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello will perform.

Groups supporting May Day activities — more than a dozen of their representatives spoke at the news conference — include the May 1st Coalition, a number of labor unions, La Fuente, New York Immigration Coalition, New Immigrant Communities Empowered, El Centro de Inmigrante, National Institute for Immigrant Policy, Mothers on the Move, Occupy Wall Street Immigrant Worker Justice Working Group, Occupy Wall Street en Español and Occupy Wall Street Latin America.

Additional supporters include the National Lawyers Guild, Community/ Farmworker Alliance, Adelante Alliance, Jornaleros Unidos, Restaurant Opportunities Center-NY, Domestic Workers United, New York Taxi Workers Alliance, Laundry Workers Center United, Brandworkers International, Independent Workers Movement, La Peña del Bronx, Centro Guatemalteco Tecun Uman and Philippine Forum.