May Day Protestors March Down Cherokee St.
Dozens of St. Louisans filled south city’s Love Bank Park on Thursday evening for a May Day protest march down Cherokee St. Banners were hung at the park and many attendees brought handmade protest signs. Speakers addressed the crowd about numerous issues, but the Trump administration’s ICE crackdowns, support for Palestinians, and opposition to the Trump administration’s attacks on the federal workforce were recurring themes. Many also mentioned the increasingly high costs of necessities like food and shelter. This recently included the cancelation of federal workers’ union contracts. Throughout the event, speakers wove the theme of International Workers Day, the official name for May Day labor celebrations, into their remarks. To make the event more inclusive, speeches were delivered in English and Spanish.
The event’s main organizer was the St. Louis chapter of the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL). Their signage was prominent among the attendees, many of whom were wearing PSL shirts. Numerous other organizations were also represented in the crowd. Some were there as official event co-organizers, while others were represented by their members in attendance. Quite a few in the audience seemed to be neighbors who saw the event coming together, stopped to hear the speeches, and decided to join the march.
“Trump is making major attacks against the working class, and we’re out here, of all days, on May Day, a very important day for the working class… not just in the US, but across the globe,” said Huelsman. “And we’re making the same demands as the working class. We’re calling for free healthcare. We’re calling for free education and the cancelation of student debt… the cancelation of medical debt. We’re calling for the end of genocide in Gaza… free Mahmoud Khalil.”
As the protest moved down Cherokee, chants like “Hey hey, ho ho, these billionaires have got to go!”, “Say it once. Say it twice. We won’t put up with ICE!”, and “Trump, Trump, You’re a liar. You set Palestine on fire!” echoed off the surrounding buildings’ brick walls, while diners watched the protestors go past. Many people came out of businesses to watch the procession and show support. An SLMPD escort also joined the protestors.
As far as the event’s organizers, Huelsman said that PSL had taken the lead but was joined by others. “Community Liberation Networks out here with us. Voices for Palestine Network is out here with us. The St Louis Rapid Response Line, which is for people to call and report ICE activities, and, if somebody gets arrested by ICE, to find out where they are.” While not official co-organizers, PSL spokesperson Amecia Huelsman expressed excitement about the presence of representatives from Missouri Workers Center and their upcoming Saturday rally.
All photos by author
