Protest

29
Apr 2026
9:22 UTC

Americas Tactical: International Labor Day protests scheduled to be held regionwide on May 1; maintain heightened vigilance

Current Situation

  • Multiple protests are slated on the occasion of International Workers’ Day in cities regionwide in the Americas on May 1. 
  • Accordingly, the details regarding upcoming protests are as follows: 
  • In Brazil, the Central Unica dos Trabalhadores (CUT) workers’ union announced protests in cities nationwide:
    • In Brasilia, DF, a protest is slated to at the Eixao do Lazer near 106 Sul station at 10:00 (local time).
    • In Rio de Janeiro, RJ, a protest is scheduled at Posto 5 on Copacabana Beach at 14:00.

Source: CUT 

  • In Canada, civil society bodies and activist networks have called for collective protests nationwide:
    • In Montreal, QC, Pro-Palestinian activists are slated to participate in a joint Labor Day protest at Victoria Square at 18:00.

Source: Divest for Palestine 

    • In Ottawa, ON, a protest march will reportedly depart from Confederation Park at 17:30. The march route remains unconfirmed.  

Source: May Day Ottawa 

    • In Toronto, ON, a rally will reportedly take place at Christie Pits Park from 17:00 onwards.  

Source: May1Labour 

    • In Vancouver, BC, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) labor union has announced a rally at Victory Square at 16:00 and march to Russian Hall from 16:30. 

Source: ILWU 

  • In Chile, activists associated with the “Ukamau” housing and social movement, along with other labor unions, are slated to hold a protest march from the Central Unitaria de Trabajadores (CUT) workers’ union headquarters to Gabriela Mistral Cultural Centre in Santiago at 10:00.

Source: Ukamau 

  • In Colombia, President Gustavo Petro has called on citizens to mobilize in public squares across municipalities nationwide to advocate for reforms in health, pensions, justice, and political system. 
    • In Bogota, DC, the Central Unitaria de Trabajadores (CUT) workers’ union has called for a protest march from Parque Nacional to Plaza de Bolivar at 09:00. 

Source: CUT 

    • In Cali, Valle del Cauca department, marches will reportedly take place near the Glorieta de la Estacion and in the Puerto Rellena sector from the morning hours onwards. 

Source: Semana 

    • Meanwhile, President Petro is expected to participate in a rally organized by the Labor Ministry on Avenida San Juan near Parque De Las Luces in Medellin, Antioquia department, at 12:30. 

Source: Colombian Ministry of Labor via X, President Petro Gustavo via X 

  • In Costa Rica, the Confederacion Unitaria de Trabajadores (CUT) workers’ union has called for a protest at Parque Central de San Jose in San Jose at 09:00.  

Source: CUT 

  • In El Salvador, the CONADESA labor union has called for a protest at Parque Cuscatlan in San Salvador from 08:00. 

Source: CONADESA 

  • In Mexico, civil society bodies, labor unions, and political organizations have called for multiple mobilizations nationwide: 
    • In Mexico City, the Coordinadora Nacional de Trabajadores de la Educacion (CNTE) education workers’ union is slated to hold a protest march from Angel de la Independencia to Zocalo from 09:00. Separately, the Partido Comunista de Mexico communist political organization has called for a protest march from Monumento a la Revolucion to Zocalo in from 15:00.

Source: CNTE, Partido Comunista de Mexico 

    • Meanwhile, in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon state, civil society organizations and labor unions have called for a protest march from Sindicato de Telefonistas union headquarters on Manuel Maria del Llano 424 from 09:30. The exact march route has not been announced.  

Source: Frente de Organizaciones Ciudadanas por la Defensa de Nuevo Leon 

    • In Guadalajara, Jalisco state, the Federacion Revolucionaria de Obreros y Campesinos (FROC) workers’ union will reportedly gather at the intersection of Medrano and 5 de Mayo in Analco neighborhood at 07:00. Protesters will march along Avenida Revolucion toward the State Government building at Plaza de Armas.

Source: Cronica 

  • In Peru, the Confederacion General de Trabajadores (CGTP) labor union has called for a protest at Plaza Dos de Mayo in Lima at 10:00. 

Source: CGTP Peru 

  • In Puerto Rico (US), the Federacion de Maestros de Puerto Rico (FMPR) teachers’ union has announced a protest march from Plaza Las Americas to the Fiscal Board headquarters located at World Plaza in San Juan from 09:00. 

Source: FMPR 

  • In Uruguay, the Plenario Intersindical de Trabajadores-Convencion Nacional de Trabajadores (PIT-CNT) labor union has called for a protest at the intersection of Avenida Libertador and Ramon Escobar in Montevideo at 10:00. 

Source: PIT-CNT 

  • In Venezuela, reports indicate that labor unions are slated hold a protest march from Plaza Brion to Plaza Morelos in Caracas on May 1. The exact timing remains unconfirmed.  

Source: El Nacional 

  • In the USA, multiple left-leaning organizations and aligned groups have issued coordinated protest calls under the “May Day” and “Workers Over Billionaires” banners in cities nationwide. This includes labor unions, pro-Palestine activists, left-leaning groups such as ANSWER, 50501, CODEPINK, Invisible, and The People’s Forum, and left-wing political organizations including the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) and Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). The organizers have also called for a general strike involving boycotting labor and education activities, to denounce the alleged concentration of wealth and power among elites, affordability pressures, and tax injustice for working families, and the broader agenda of President Donald Trump’s administration, including heightened immigration enforcement operations and US military actions in the Middle East that they perceive as driven by economic interests.  
  • Details regarding timing and locations of planned demonstrations in major US cities are as follows: 
    • In Atlanta, GA, a protest is slated at Historic Fourth Ward Park at 17:30. 
    • In Boston, MA, a protest march is slated from John F Kennedy Federal Building to Boston Common from 15:00. 
    • In Chicago, IL, a protest is scheduled to take place at Union Park at 12:00. 
    • In Dallas, TX, a protest is slated outside Dallas City Hall at 13:00. 
    • In Denver, CO, a protest is slated outside the Colorado State Capitol at 11:00. 
    • In Houston, TX, a protest is slated at Mason Park at 17:00. 
    • In Los Angeles, CA, a protest march is slated from McArthur Park to Gloria Molina Grand Park between 10:00-15:30. 
    • In New York City, NY, a protest march is slated from Union Square to Washington Square Park from 14:00. 
    • Separately, student-led groups have called for a protest outside the Paulson Center located on Mercer Street at 15:00.  
    • In Philadelphia, PA, a protest is slated outside Philadelphia City Hall between 16:00-19:00. 
    • In San Francisco, CA, a protest is slated outside the International Terminal of San Francisco International Airport (SFO) from 11:00. Additional protests are slated outside Civic Center Plaza at 14:00 and at Embarcadero Plaza from 16:00. 
    • In Washington, DC, a protest is slated at Foggy Bottom-GWU Metro station at 11:00. Separately, a rally is scheduled to take place at the Washington Monument starting 12:00. 

Source: May Day Strong, PSL 

Assessments & Forecast

  1. The upcoming protests align with the recurring pattern of International Workers’ Day demonstrations across the region, spotlighting workers’ rights and broader labor and affordability conditions. The involvement of various groups beyond traditional labor-related organizations, including communist and pro-Palestine groups, reflects the ongoing trend of using high-visibility symbolic dates like May 1 to amplify a broader range of grievances. Across Latin America, union-led mobilizations generally retain a more traditional character, driven by longstanding grievances over wage stagnation and cost-of-living pressures. However, polarization over government economic policies, as well as broader geopolitical developments like developments in the Middle East region concerning the Palestinian Territories, have also shaped narratives in similar demonstrations in recent years in countries like Colombia and Mexico. In the USA, current demonstrations are organized under an expanded anti-Trump, pro-labor platform that includes opposition to issues like immigration justice, as well as concerns surrounding the prioritization of economic interests, and perceived unjust use of force in US military actions abroad. 
  2. FORECAST: In Latin America, based on precedent from similar demonstrations, the upcoming protests are expected to draw significant turnouts, likely ranging between low-to-mid thousands in Brasilia, Caracas, Lima, Montevideo, Rio de Janeiro, Santiago, San Jose, and San Salvador, and reaching low tens of thousands in Bogota and Mexico City. In the USA, protests are likely to see similar turnout levels, ranging in the low-to-high thousands in most major cities, with participation potentially reaching low tens of thousands in cities with established activist networks and demonstrated mobilization capability, such as Chicago and New York City. This is based on precedent from the 2025 “May Day” mobilizations, which reportedly drew an estimated 250,000 participants across approximately 1,100 locations nationwide. Further, spontaneous demonstrations are also likely to emerge in other cities and locations across the region, particularly near government buildings and major public landmarks like monuments, parks, or squares. 
  3. Most demonstrations are expected to transpire peacefully; however, based on previous incidents recorded during similar or recent protests, there remains a risk of localized unrest, particularly in countries experiencing political polarization or where protesters commonly employ more assertive protest tactics. This risk is particularly relevant in US cities, where the convergence of heightened tensions over immigration enforcement, anti-war sentiments, and anti-Trump positions increases the potential for escalation. Meanwhile, the demonstrations in Chile, Colombia, Peru, Mexico, and Venezuela carry similar risks, as seen in previous protests, with unrest typically stemming from traffic obstruction and non-compliance with police dispersal orders. Potential unrest may involve vandalism of property, obstruction of traffic, breaching police cordons, and disorderly conduct, potentially leading to clashes with law enforcement and subsequent deployment of crowd dispersal measures like tear gas. A bolstered security presence is likely near protest sites as a standard precautionary measure to monitor proceedings and manage traffic, given the anticipated turnouts and central locations of most demonstrations. Localized disruptions to pedestrian and vehicular traffic can be anticipated near all protest locations during the slated timings. 

Recommendations

  1. Those operating or residing in the vicinity of the aforementioned locations across the region on May 1 are advised to maintain heightened vigilance due to the potential for unrest during the planned protests.
  2. Travelers are advised to allot for traffic disruptions in the vicinity of all the aforementioned protest locations regionwide. 
COUNTRY RISK LEVEL Low
AFFECTED AREA Americas
INCIDENT RISK LEVEL Medium
STRENGTH OF SOURCE Credible

Current Situation

  • Multiple protests are slated on the occasion of International Workers’ Day in cities regionwide in the Americas on May 1. 
  • Accordingly, the details regarding upcoming protests are as follows: 
  • In Brazil, the Central Unica dos Trabalhadores (CUT) workers’ union announced protests in cities nationwide:
    • In Brasilia, DF, a protest is slated to at the Eixao do Lazer near 106 Sul station at 10:00 (local time).
    • In Rio de Janeiro, RJ, a protest is scheduled at Posto 5 on Copacabana Beach at 14:00.

Source: CUT 

  • In Canada, civil society bodies and activist networks have called for collective protests nationwide:
    • In Montreal, QC, Pro-Palestinian activists are slated to participate in a joint Labor Day protest at Victoria Square at 18:00.

Source: Divest for Palestine 

    • In Ottawa, ON, a protest march will reportedly depart from Confederation Park at 17:30. The march route remains unconfirmed.  

Source: May Day Ottawa 

    • In Toronto, ON, a rally will reportedly take place at Christie Pits Park from 17:00 onwards.  

Source: May1Labour 

    • In Vancouver, BC, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) labor union has announced a rally at Victory Square at 16:00 and march to Russian Hall from 16:30. 

Source: ILWU 

  • In Chile, activists associated with the “Ukamau” housing and social movement, along with other labor unions, are slated to hold a protest march from the Central Unitaria de Trabajadores (CUT) workers’ union headquarters to Gabriela Mistral Cultural Centre in Santiago at 10:00.

Source: Ukamau 

  • In Colombia, President Gustavo Petro has called on citizens to mobilize in public squares across municipalities nationwide to advocate for reforms in health, pensions, justice, and political system. 
    • In Bogota, DC, the Central Unitaria de Trabajadores (CUT) workers’ union has called for a protest march from Parque Nacional to Plaza de Bolivar at 09:00. 

Source: CUT 

    • In Cali, Valle del Cauca department, marches will reportedly take place near the Glorieta de la Estacion and in the Puerto Rellena sector from the morning hours onwards. 

Source: Semana 

    • Meanwhile, President Petro is expected to participate in a rally organized by the Labor Ministry on Avenida San Juan near Parque De Las Luces in Medellin, Antioquia department, at 12:30. 

Source: Colombian Ministry of Labor via X, President Petro Gustavo via X 

  • In Costa Rica, the Confederacion Unitaria de Trabajadores (CUT) workers’ union has called for a protest at Parque Central de San Jose in San Jose at 09:00.  

Source: CUT 

  • In El Salvador, the CONADESA labor union has called for a protest at Parque Cuscatlan in San Salvador from 08:00. 

Source: CONADESA 

  • In Mexico, civil society bodies, labor unions, and political organizations have called for multiple mobilizations nationwide: 
    • In Mexico City, the Coordinadora Nacional de Trabajadores de la Educacion (CNTE) education workers’ union is slated to hold a protest march from Angel de la Independencia to Zocalo from 09:00. Separately, the Partido Comunista de Mexico communist political organization has called for a protest march from Monumento a la Revolucion to Zocalo in from 15:00.

Source: CNTE, Partido Comunista de Mexico 

    • Meanwhile, in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon state, civil society organizations and labor unions have called for a protest march from Sindicato de Telefonistas union headquarters on Manuel Maria del Llano 424 from 09:30. The exact march route has not been announced.  

Source: Frente de Organizaciones Ciudadanas por la Defensa de Nuevo Leon 

    • In Guadalajara, Jalisco state, the Federacion Revolucionaria de Obreros y Campesinos (FROC) workers’ union will reportedly gather at the intersection of Medrano and 5 de Mayo in Analco neighborhood at 07:00. Protesters will march along Avenida Revolucion toward the State Government building at Plaza de Armas.

Source: Cronica 

  • In Peru, the Confederacion General de Trabajadores (CGTP) labor union has called for a protest at Plaza Dos de Mayo in Lima at 10:00. 

Source: CGTP Peru 

  • In Puerto Rico (US), the Federacion de Maestros de Puerto Rico (FMPR) teachers’ union has announced a protest march from Plaza Las Americas to the Fiscal Board headquarters located at World Plaza in San Juan from 09:00. 

Source: FMPR 

  • In Uruguay, the Plenario Intersindical de Trabajadores-Convencion Nacional de Trabajadores (PIT-CNT) labor union has called for a protest at the intersection of Avenida Libertador and Ramon Escobar in Montevideo at 10:00. 

Source: PIT-CNT 

  • In Venezuela, reports indicate that labor unions are slated hold a protest march from Plaza Brion to Plaza Morelos in Caracas on May 1. The exact timing remains unconfirmed.  

Source: El Nacional 

  • In the USA, multiple left-leaning organizations and aligned groups have issued coordinated protest calls under the “May Day” and “Workers Over Billionaires” banners in cities nationwide. This includes labor unions, pro-Palestine activists, left-leaning groups such as ANSWER, 50501, CODEPINK, Invisible, and The People’s Forum, and left-wing political organizations including the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) and Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). The organizers have also called for a general strike involving boycotting labor and education activities, to denounce the alleged concentration of wealth and power among elites, affordability pressures, and tax injustice for working families, and the broader agenda of President Donald Trump’s administration, including heightened immigration enforcement operations and US military actions in the Middle East that they perceive as driven by economic interests.  
  • Details regarding timing and locations of planned demonstrations in major US cities are as follows: 
    • In Atlanta, GA, a protest is slated at Historic Fourth Ward Park at 17:30. 
    • In Boston, MA, a protest march is slated from John F Kennedy Federal Building to Boston Common from 15:00. 
    • In Chicago, IL, a protest is scheduled to take place at Union Park at 12:00. 
    • In Dallas, TX, a protest is slated outside Dallas City Hall at 13:00. 
    • In Denver, CO, a protest is slated outside the Colorado State Capitol at 11:00. 
    • In Houston, TX, a protest is slated at Mason Park at 17:00. 
    • In Los Angeles, CA, a protest march is slated from McArthur Park to Gloria Molina Grand Park between 10:00-15:30. 
    • In New York City, NY, a protest march is slated from Union Square to Washington Square Park from 14:00. 
    • Separately, student-led groups have called for a protest outside the Paulson Center located on Mercer Street at 15:00.  
    • In Philadelphia, PA, a protest is slated outside Philadelphia City Hall between 16:00-19:00. 
    • In San Francisco, CA, a protest is slated outside the International Terminal of San Francisco International Airport (SFO) from 11:00. Additional protests are slated outside Civic Center Plaza at 14:00 and at Embarcadero Plaza from 16:00. 
    • In Washington, DC, a protest is slated at Foggy Bottom-GWU Metro station at 11:00. Separately, a rally is scheduled to take place at the Washington Monument starting 12:00. 

Source: May Day Strong, PSL 

Assessments & Forecast

  1. The upcoming protests align with the recurring pattern of International Workers’ Day demonstrations across the region, spotlighting workers’ rights and broader labor and affordability conditions. The involvement of various groups beyond traditional labor-related organizations, including communist and pro-Palestine groups, reflects the ongoing trend of using high-visibility symbolic dates like May 1 to amplify a broader range of grievances. Across Latin America, union-led mobilizations generally retain a more traditional character, driven by longstanding grievances over wage stagnation and cost-of-living pressures. However, polarization over government economic policies, as well as broader geopolitical developments like developments in the Middle East region concerning the Palestinian Territories, have also shaped narratives in similar demonstrations in recent years in countries like Colombia and Mexico. In the USA, current demonstrations are organized under an expanded anti-Trump, pro-labor platform that includes opposition to issues like immigration justice, as well as concerns surrounding the prioritization of economic interests, and perceived unjust use of force in US military actions abroad. 
  2. FORECAST: In Latin America, based on precedent from similar demonstrations, the upcoming protests are expected to draw significant turnouts, likely ranging between low-to-mid thousands in Brasilia, Caracas, Lima, Montevideo, Rio de Janeiro, Santiago, San Jose, and San Salvador, and reaching low tens of thousands in Bogota and Mexico City. In the USA, protests are likely to see similar turnout levels, ranging in the low-to-high thousands in most major cities, with participation potentially reaching low tens of thousands in cities with established activist networks and demonstrated mobilization capability, such as Chicago and New York City. This is based on precedent from the 2025 “May Day” mobilizations, which reportedly drew an estimated 250,000 participants across approximately 1,100 locations nationwide. Further, spontaneous demonstrations are also likely to emerge in other cities and locations across the region, particularly near government buildings and major public landmarks like monuments, parks, or squares. 
  3. Most demonstrations are expected to transpire peacefully; however, based on previous incidents recorded during similar or recent protests, there remains a risk of localized unrest, particularly in countries experiencing political polarization or where protesters commonly employ more assertive protest tactics. This risk is particularly relevant in US cities, where the convergence of heightened tensions over immigration enforcement, anti-war sentiments, and anti-Trump positions increases the potential for escalation. Meanwhile, the demonstrations in Chile, Colombia, Peru, Mexico, and Venezuela carry similar risks, as seen in previous protests, with unrest typically stemming from traffic obstruction and non-compliance with police dispersal orders. Potential unrest may involve vandalism of property, obstruction of traffic, breaching police cordons, and disorderly conduct, potentially leading to clashes with law enforcement and subsequent deployment of crowd dispersal measures like tear gas. A bolstered security presence is likely near protest sites as a standard precautionary measure to monitor proceedings and manage traffic, given the anticipated turnouts and central locations of most demonstrations. Localized disruptions to pedestrian and vehicular traffic can be anticipated near all protest locations during the slated timings. 

Recommendations

  1. Those operating or residing in the vicinity of the aforementioned locations across the region on May 1 are advised to maintain heightened vigilance due to the potential for unrest during the planned protests.
  2. Travelers are advised to allot for traffic disruptions in the vicinity of all the aforementioned protest locations regionwide. 
COUNTRY RISK LEVEL Low
AFFECTED AREA Americas
INCIDENT RISK LEVEL Medium
STRENGTH OF SOURCE Credible

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