NEWBURGH- Hundreds of protestors rallied at Downing Park in the City of Newburgh on Friday to mark International Workers Day.
The rally was one of many held throughout the region and across the country by the national May Day Strong coalition–a network of hundreds of organizations calling for taxing the rich, ending ICE raids, protecting voter rights, and putting working families first.
The rally marks the 20th anniversary of the historic 2006 “Day without an Immigrant” demonstrations. That’s when millions of immigrants and their allies walked off the job, out of schools and away from stores.
“We want fair wages for everyone, good working conditions and, for our immigrant community, we want them to feel safe and not be terrorized by this administration,” said Grace Ott, co-chair of the immigrant Solidarity working group for the Mid-Hudson Valley Chapter of Democratic Socialists of American (DSA.) “It doesn’t matter where they’re from or whether they have documentation or not. We want everyone to be safe because they are such vibrant part of our community in the Hudson Valley.”
The crowd held signs and marched down Broadway in Newburgh, calling for the end of “billionaire control” in America.
Many protestors wore white to symbolize a call for peace.
Rally organizer Mark Sanchez is a member of the United Federation of Teachers.
“Workers’ rights are human rights, and we see with the Trump Administration, the continued attack on organized labor, on our immigrant communities and on our planet, so we the people have to stand up against this tyranny,” said Sanchez.
City of Poughkeepsie Councilman and Mid-Hudson DSA member Daniel Atonno, who serves the 8 th Ward, says the ultimate goal is to end ICE.
“Many immigrant workers like my own mom work in healthcare, for example, and are literally taking care of people who are sick and do such valuable work and they deserve a union, higher wages, safe working conditions and not to fear that ICE is going to come into their workplace and kidnap them.” Atonno noted that there is legislation on the state level that could end collusion between local governments and ICE.
Michelle Koury attended the rally as a member of Indivisible Goshen, a group that aims to defend democracy and resist autocratic government in America.
“There is growing economic disparity among the people in our country, and it’s a worthy endeavor to honor and support and serve the workers of this country who help make our country great,” said Koury. “This includes everybody. I don’t really distinguish immigrant or non-immigrant. We are all one common humanity.”
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