March madness: Workers target Trump administration with May Day action

May Day is shaping up to be yet another large national demonstration against the Trump administration, but this occasion may come with an economic bite. May 1 marches for workers’ rights are being planned around the country with calls for an economic shutdown that would convey to President Donald Trump the importance of America’s immigrant population.

The Labor Council for Latin American Advancement and Sacramento Central Labor Council are among the groups spearheading a local march from Southside Park to the west steps of the state Capitol, where a large screen will prompt those assembled to take specific actions such as dialing a congressional representative’s number to support Senate Bill 562, which would provide health care to all Californians, whether they are documented or not. Attendees may also be asked to boycott Driscoll’s, a large berry distributor accused of mistreating workers.

“This is a direct-action march,” said Desiree Bates-Rojas, chairwoman of the march committee.

Bates-Rojas said she has been both impressed and left wanting by earlier demonstrations against the Trump administration, including the Women’s March and last week’s March for Science. As popular as they were, Bates-Rojas contends these social media-driven events lacked diversity and didn’t carry over into specific actions once the crowds dissipated. The veteran organizer said groups have cast a wide, inclusive net themed around workers.

“We’re all workers,” she said. “The message is to resist, not to have any fear. … Because I don’t think we’ve seen the worst come through yet.”

More than 260 people had committed to going on Facebook. The march itself will include stops at the Wells Fargo building and Capitol Mall office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which immigration advocates have accused of stepping up enforcement raids under the Trump administration.

According to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, monthly filings of civil immigration lawsuits were up 40.5 percent in March compared with the same period a year ago under the Obama administration. (Raheem F. Hosseini)