On September 1, 2025, a wave of Labor Day protests swept across the United States, with thousands of people rallying in cities from Chicago to Columbus, Richmond to Moscow, Idaho. The common thread tying these demonstrations together was a resounding call for "Workers Over Billionaires," a theme that echoed through the streets in chants, signs, and speeches. The protests, organized by a coalition of labor unions, grassroots activists, and groups like the anti-Trump movement 50501 and Indivisible, aimed squarely at President Trump’s policies, which many see as a direct assault on workers’ rights, social safety nets, and democratic norms.
In Chicago, the epicenter of the day’s largest demonstration, an estimated 10,000 people gathered at the historic West Loop Haymarket Memorial. According to Fight Back! News, the event was called by the Chicago Federation of Labor and was marked by a tone of urgency and defiance. The crowd, diverse in age and background, carried signs demanding an end to what they described as President Trump’s "sweeping attacks on working and oppressed people." Particular ire was reserved for Trump’s March 2025 executive order, which attempted to strip collective bargaining rights from nearly a million federal workers, and his repeated threats to send federal troops into cities led by Black mayors—Chicago included.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, addressing the crowd, wasted no time in confronting the administration’s threats. "No federal troops in the city of Chicago!" he declared, his words met with roaring approval. Johnson detailed his administration’s efforts to defend and invest in workers, highlighting achievements like abolishing the sub-minimum wage, ratifying a transformative Chicago Teacher’s Union contract, and expanding affordable housing in underserved neighborhoods. "We have stood up for the interests of workers before and we will do it again," Johnson said. "We will always be a labor town." He urged those assembled to "stand firm and stand strong," underscoring the city’s legacy of labor activism.
The theme of solidarity was picked up by Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis-Gates, who told the crowd, "In Chicago, we reject a billionaire’s tyranny in our city. Solidarity is the antidote to white supremacy. Solidarity is the antidote to anti-immigrant fever. Solidarity is the antidote to transphobia and homophobia." Reverend Jamal Bryant, a senior pastor from Atlanta, reminded participants of labor’s historic victories: "It is because of unions that there are no children who are working underage, and because of unions that we have health benefits, sick leave and vacation time." He called for renewed activism, stating, "There are more labor workers than there are billionaires."
The Chicago march made several stops, each symbolically chosen. Outside the offices of Valor Equity Partners, founded by billionaire Antonio Gracias, childcare worker Toni Frazier criticized Gracias for "hoarding billions off the backs of workers" and working with Elon Musk to cut Social Security. Frazier’s personal story—her granddaughter’s need for autism services and her niece’s struggle to access healthcare—brought the stakes of policy decisions into sharp focus. "We are here to take care of those who need help the most," she said. "That ain’t the billionaires." At a Target store, Reverend Bryant spoke about the ongoing boycott against the retailer, which has seen its stock drop by $52 per share and the CEO’s salary slashed by 42% since early 2025, following the company’s decision to end its diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Bryant drew a parallel to the Montgomery Bus Boycott, urging unity: "Don’t let nobody turn us around!"
The final stop featured John Miller, president of University Professionals of Illinois Local 41, who lamented "the cruel disinvestment in education and all aspects of society orchestrated by Trump and the billionaire ruling class." Miller called for a "militant organized response," arguing, "All of higher education is under attack. We’ve filed lawsuits, but we must defeat [Trump] in the streets." Teamsters 705’s chief negotiator, Nico Coronado, noted that over 100 members have been on strike since June 9, 2025, demanding better wages, workplace standards, and protections from immigration enforcement. "We need to organize to bring in more members and have more militancy," Coronado said.
Meanwhile, in Columbus, Ohio, more than 300 people rallied in the Arena District to protest what they called the "depredations" of the Trump administration. According to Ohio Capital Journal, protesters criticized Trump for cutting over $1 trillion from Medicaid and food assistance while giving an equivalent tax break to the wealthiest 1%. Signs in the crowd read, "They blame immigrants so you won’t blame billionaires" and "Save democracy, abolish oligarchy." Karen Hill, a participant, explained her motivation: "I’m all about diversity. That’s why America is amazing to begin with. I don’t want people to live with cruelty. Every day it’s overwhelming. That’s why I’m here." Addison Torrence, 26, said he came out "to protect worker’s rights. To protect trans kids rights. All of our freedoms. Speak out against the corruption of the billionaire class."
The protest in Columbus was just one of more than 1,000 similar rallies nationwide, many organized by 50501. In Richmond, Virginia, the anti-Trump group 50501 brought about 1,000 people to Monroe Park for a march centered on "Workers Over Billionaires." As reported by the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the event began with speakers denouncing what they called the "billionaire takeover and rampant corruption of the Trump administration."
In Moscow, Idaho, over 100 protesters gathered in Friendship Square to push back against federal cuts, tariff policies, military actions, and immigration enforcement. Organized by Indivisible, the event featured a wide array of speakers—combat veterans, first-generation Americans, teachers, students, and more. Ryan Urie, co-leader of Indivisible, warned, "Dictatorship and authoritarianism: they’re not on the rise, they are here," citing rising costs of living and divisive culture wars. Todd Bailey, a local high school teacher, took a stand against ICE agents deporting students without consent, vowing, "No ICE agent will ever approach one of my students with intent of deporting them without me going to jail first." Nathan Tucker, an Idaho Army National Guard member, noted concerns among NATO partners and drew parallels to the rise of fascism in 1930s Germany. Emily Pearson, a University of Idaho senior, criticized the administration’s response to school shootings and called for voting out officials who support placing more weapons in schools. The chant "Vote them out" rang through the crowd, especially in response to Idaho Rep. Russ Fulcher’s votes to sell public lands.
Across all these cities, the protests drew on the long tradition of Labor Day activism. As historian Heather Cox Richardson noted in her newsletter, the holiday’s origins trace back to a massive 1882 parade in Manhattan, where 10,000 workers marched for fair wages and the right to organize. The banners from that era—"Labor Built This Republic and Labor Shall Rule It," "The Laborer Must Receive and Enjoy the Full Fruit of His Labor"—seem as relevant today as they did over a century ago.
As the sun set on Labor Day 2025, the message from streets across America was clear: the fight for workers’ rights, economic justice, and democracy is far from over. Protesters, organizers, and everyday citizens alike signaled their readiness to resist policies they view as favoring billionaires at the expense of working families, determined to keep the spirit of labor alive in the face of mounting challenges.
