Oxford and Miami unions, citizens hold May Day rally on labor rights and Trump
Union rights advocates from Miami University and Oxford alike gathered Uptown in Oxford to celebrate May Day with a rally for fair labor practices and against certain policies under the Trump administration.
Protestors came prepared with signs and raincoats alike for a May Day rally in Oxford’s Uptown parks at 4 p.m. May 1 Despite the gloomy weather, a crowd still formed, holding signs with slogans like “stop the never-ending lies” and “love not hate.”
Historically, May Day has been a national event linked with social justice and workers’ issues. Oxford’s protests were no different.
One unnamed protester said that they’ve had enough of President Donald Trump.
“Our president has gone rogue,” they said. “He is not obeying the Supreme Court, he is not upholding his oath of office, and he is writing executive order after executive order, and not following the process. And so I'm fearful that if we don't speak up, we're going to be under an authoritarian dictator real soon, and we're going to make North Korea look like Disneyland.”
The Faculty Alliance of Miami and other local unions partnered to coordinate the protest.Theresa Kulbaga, social media chair of FAM, said the protest was a meeting of labor issues and social issues.
“The May Day protest was in support of marginalized people, immigrants in the community, trans people, and it was against some of the targeting of marginalized people that is happening under the current administration,” Kulbaga said. “The FAM folks who went to the protest were there specifically to stand up for labor rights, which are also currently under attack.”
Senate Bill 1, which Ohio Governor Mike DeWine recently signed into law, rolls back collective bargaining rights for faculty at public universities in the state. Organizers are attempting to get a referendum on the bill on the ballot this November for voters to decide whether to repeal it.
One of the main organizers of the protest was Miami employee Carole Katz, who sent out material to politically minded people and got FAM on board with the event. She says protests like these are important in bringing people together.
“I think there are a lot of people, not just in Oxford and the surrounding area, but all around the country, who are upset about things that are happening,” Katz said. “And everybody may have their own particular thing that they're upset about, but they feel alone, and having an event like this helps people not feel alone.”
The Oxford protest gathered citizens of all ages, from toddlers to retirees. While many of the protests in town so far this year have centered on opposing Trump Administration actions, Katz said issues of democracy can affect everyone, regardless of party affiliation.
