BROOKLYN, NY, May 1st- Before the first bell on May 1st, over 30 school workers, joined by students and parents, rallied outside our campus in honor of International Workers Day. We carried signs reading “None of us are safe and free until all of us are safe and free” and “We support our students and their families.” Chants rang out—“Who’s Day? Our Day! What Day? May Day!” and “Parents and Teachers United Will Never Be Defeated!”—as we stood shoulder to shoulder in solidarity.
Students, teachers united in fightback
Members of the Progressive Labor Party (PLP), who have a long history of organizing against racism and capitalism in our school and neighborhood, played a key role in the success of this action. Bringing together base members already assembled from our anti-deportation work, we brought our experience and commitment to the planning process, helping to shape the rally’s political line and ensuring our chants were both sharp and international.
Our message was clear: we refuse to be intimidated by capitalism’s attacks—whether they come through President Donald Trump’s increasingly fascist ICE raids, budget cuts, or racist divisions. We want our students to see that resistance is possible and necessary, and that it begins with multiracial, working-class unity. In a world barreling towards a deeper capitalist crisis and war, workers must come together to fight for a future where we can all be safe and free—a communist future.
The rally was the result of weeks of planning by educators from several schools on our shared campus. The day before, student organizations joined us to make signs, building energy and ownership ahead of the event. That spirit of cooperation was powerful—we were not just planning a protest, we were building community.
Coming together across school lines was no small feat. The Department of Education has long fostered separation between schools on our campus, mirroring the broader capitalist strategy of dividing workers to keep us weak. But we are rejecting those divisions. When we chanted “Arab, Jewish, Black and white” and “Asian, Latin, Black and white—Workers of the World Unite!” we meant it. Our rally reflected our commitment to multiracial unity and the anti-racist struggle for working-class power.
The work continues
That morning, we walked into school energized. As one student said, “It’s never too early for this!” And this was only the beginning. We’re already planning our next action—and aiming to involve even more parents and students.
May Day reminded us of our strength—of what’s possible when workers and students stand together, not just in word but in action. We showed that solidarity isn’t a slogan; it’s a force that can break down barriers, build bridges across our schools, and challenge the bosses’ divide-and-conquer tactics. As we left the rally and walked into our classrooms, we carried that power with us. We will not be silenced, we will not be divided, and we will not back down. This is only the beginning. The struggle continues—louder, stronger, and more united. Workers and students, rise up! The fight for a just, communist world is on, and we are ready to lead it.
