Thousands of people marched to Grant Park in Chicago to rally for May Day on May 1, 2025 with organized labor and activist groups calling for protection of immigrants and fair wages as well as protesting against President Donald Trump’s administration. This year’s rally and march comes nearly 140 years after the Haymarket Affair – in which a bomb was thrown during a Chicago labor rally that resulted in the death of eight police officers and at least four civilians – and just over 100 days into Trump’s second term.
Demonstrators head toward Butler Field in Grant Park during a May Day march, May 1, 2025, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)Pro-Palestinian protesters rally through the West Loop during the May Day march, May 1, 2025. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)
Miguel Casanova, right, holds Tawny Carrillo while gathering at Union Park before marching to Grant Park for the May Day march on May 1, 2025, in Chicago. (Audrey Richardson/Chicago Tribune)Jim Handley, center left, and Lisa Notter, march with thousands from Union Park to Grant Park for the May Day march on May 1, 2025. (Audrey Richardson/Chicago Tribune)Vianey Mejia, 4, watches as thousands march from Union Park to Grant Park for the May Day march on May 1, 2025. (Audrey Richardson/Chicago Tribune)
Miguel Pineda helps lead the march from Union Park to Grant Park for the May Day march on May 1, 2025. (Audrey Richardson/Chicago Tribune)Tania Unzueta, a volunteer with Chicago Community and Workers’ Rights, leads chants through a megaphone as thousands march from Union Park to Grant Park for the May Day march on May 1, 2025. (Audrey Richardson/Chicago Tribune)People hold signs along Jackson Boulevard as thousands march from Union Park to Grant Park for the May Day march on May 1, 2025. (Audrey Richardson/Chicago Tribune)
Leon Fitzgerald, 5, sits on his father, John Fitzgerald’s, shoulders, as thousands march from Union Park to Grant Park for the May Day march on May 1, 2025, in Chicago. Leon was pulled out of his kindergarten class at Darwin Elementary School to participate in the march. (Audrey Richardson/Chicago Tribune)Thousands march along Jackson Boulevard from Union Park to Grant Park for the May Day march on May 1, 2025. (Audrey Richardson/Chicago Tribune)Students with Willa Cather Elementary School, hold their fist up to protest school closures as thousands gather at Union Park before marching to Grant Park for the May Day march on May 1, 2025. (Audrey Richardson/Chicago Tribune)
Mayor Brandon Johnson speaks at a rally after a May Day march at Butler Field, May 1, 2025, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)A demonstrator wears a jacket with a Chicago Bulls logo on it at a rally after a May Day march at Butler Field, May 1, 2025, in Chicago. Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a legal U.S. resident, was detained by federal law enforcement and deported on March 12 after being accused of a gang affiliation because he wore a baseball cap with the logo. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)Native American community members hold a demonstration at a rally after a May Day march at Butler Field, May 1, 2025, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
A demonstrator shields their face from the sun while listening to speakers at a rally after a May Day march at Butler Field, May 1, 2025, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)Charlotte Chung, 11, marches through the West Loop during the May Day rally and march, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)Protesters rally through the West Loop during the May Day march, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)
Protestors attend the May Day interfaith ceremony in Union Park, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)Demonstrators attend the May Day interfaith ceremony in Union Park, May 1, 2025. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)Chicago police officers monitor the May Day rally and march in Union Park, May 1, 2025. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago police officers line up before the start of the May Day march in Union Park, May 1, 2025. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)Luis Maciel waits for the start of the May Day march in Union Park, May 1, 2025. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)Craig Ymson drums with the group Filipino student and youth group Anak Bayan during the May Day rally in Union Park, May 1, 2025. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)
Susan Haack of Chicago attends the May Day rally in Union Park, May 1, 2025. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)Demonstrators head toward Butler Field in Grant Park during a May Day march, May 1, 2025, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)Jennifer Mattson attends a rally at Union Park for the May Day march, May 1, 2025, honoring working people for International Workers’ Day, before marching to Grant Park. (Audrey Richardson/Chicago Tribune)
Amy (last name withheld) gathers at Union Park for the May Day march, May 1, 2025, before marching to Grant Park. (Audrey Richardson/Chicago Tribune)Ollin Kuikatl Tekpatl, left, performs smudging, using medicine to “help harmonize the soul and spirit,” on Susana Huitron as hundreds gather at Union Park for the May Day march, May 1, 2025, honoring working people for International Workers’ Day, before marching to Grant Park. (Audrey Richardson/Chicago Tribune)Husband and wife Steve and Deborah hold signs while gathering at Union Park for the May Day march, May 1, 2025, honoring working people for International Workers’ Day, before marching to Grant Park. (Audrey Richardson/Chicago Tribune)
Ned Parsons, 10, left, and his mother, Kathy Parsons, gather at Union Park for the May Day march, May 1, 2025, honoring working people for International Workers’ Day, before marching to Grant Park. (Audrey Richardson/Chicago Tribune)Jaden Palacios, 7, gets war paint drawn on her face by Selena Sanchez, a member of the indigenous Mexica people, as hundreds gather at Union Park for the May Day march, May 1, 2025, honoring working people for International Workers’ Day, before marching to Grant Park. (Audrey Richardson/Chicago Tribune)Ollin Kuikatl Tekpatl, left, performs smudging, using medicine to “help harmonize the soul and spirit,” on Susana Huitron as hundreds gather at Union Park for the May Day march, May 1, 2025, honoring working people for International Workers’ Day, before marching to Grant Park. (Audrey Richardson/Chicago Tribune)
Susana Huitron gets war paint drawn on her face by Selena Sanchez, who is a member of the indigenous Mexica people, as hundreds gather at Union Park for the May Day march, May 1, 2025. (Audrey Richardson/Chicago Tribune)Araida Palacios gets war paint drawn on her face by Selena Sanchez, with Mexica, as hundreds gather at Union Park for the May Day march, May 1, 2025, honoring working people for International Workers’ Day, before marching to Grant Park. (Audrey Richardson/Chicago Tribune)
Demonstrators attend an interfaith gathering in Union Park ahead of a planned May Day march to Grant Park on May 1, 2025 in Chicago. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)
Selena Sanchez, of Chicago, attends an interfaith gathering in Union Park ahead of a planned May Day march to Grant Park on May 1, 2025 in Chicago. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)Jeffrey Schaffer join hundreds at Union Park on May 1, 2025, for the May Day march, honoring working people for International Workers’ Day, before marching to Grant Park. “It’s so important to be out here, Schaffer said. “The only way we’re going to fight this is together.” (Audrey Richardson/Chicago Tribune)
