Labor Day Protests 2025: Workers vs. Billionaires, Activists Gear Up Nationwide

This Labor Day isn’t going to be all backyard barbecues, parades, and family picnics. Across the country, thousands of Americans are preparing to hit the streets in protest—aiming their voices directly at former President Donald Trump and his administration’s policies.

For months now, major U.S. holidays have doubled as national protest days, with groups using those moments to spotlight concerns over workers’ rights, inequality, voter suppression, and what they call a creeping “billionaire takeover” of democracy. Labor Day, September 1, 2025, is shaping up to be one of the biggest demonstrations yet.

Why Labor Day Matters This Year

Traditionally, Labor Day is about celebrating workers—the backbone of the country. Marches, union rallies, and parades have always been part of the holiday. But in today’s political climate, that celebration comes with a sharp edge.

Groups like May Day Strong, the Working Families Party, and the AFL-CIO are positioning this year’s events not just as festivities, but as a nationwide call to action. Their message is blunt: workers deserve better, and billionaires shouldn’t be writing the rules.

The AFL-CIO, representing over 60 labor unions and nearly 15 million workers, put it best:

“Labor Day is a celebration of working people—and the power we hold when we come together in a union. It’s not billionaires’ day. It’s ours.”

That tone is resonating with thousands of activists who are signing up for marches, rallies, and community events under banners like “Workers Over Billionaires” and “Solidarity September.”

A Movement That Keeps Gaining Steam

If this sounds familiar, that’s because 2025 has already seen a string of large-scale protests tied to national holidays.

• Independence Day (July 4): Thousands gathered for “No Kings” demonstrations, rejecting authoritarianism while Trump presided over a national military parade in Washington, D.C.

• Memorial Day & Flag Day: Similar protests erupted, linking patriotic observances with calls to defend democracy and protect civil liberties.

Labor Day, however, feels bigger. Why? Because it directly connects to working people—the very group many activists feel is most under attack.

Workers Over Billionaires: The Heart of the Push

The group May Day Strong is leading the charge with its “Workers Over Billionaires” campaign. Their platform centers on resisting what they describe as a “billionaire takeover” of politics and the economy.

Key points from their agenda:

• Fight corporate-driven inequality.

• Protect public schools from privatization.

• Put healthcare before hedge funds.

• Defend worker rights at the ballot box and in the streets.

May Day Strong isn’t acting alone. They’ve partnered with 50501 (short for 50 protests, 50 states, 1 day), a grassroots movement that got its start earlier this year protesting what it called “anti-democratic actions by the Trump Administration.”

Together, these groups have coordinated an ambitious network of over 765 planned demonstrations—spanning all 50 states and even reaching Guam.

Solidarity September: More Than Just One Day

Not every protest will wrap up when Labor Day ends. Women’s March organizers have rolled out a broader campaign under the banner “Solidarity September.”

Planned events include:

• Labor Day marches in cities from Tallahassee, Florida to Ames, Iowa.

• A “Make Billionaires Pay” day of action on September 20.

• Nationwide rallies calling to “Shut down polluters” and “Defend Mother Earth.”

Their messaging is fiery: “Shut down billionaires. Fund our future. Protect migrants. Shut down fascists. Defend our planet.”

By connecting workers’ rights to broader issues like climate change, immigration, and democracy, these organizers are casting a wide net—bringing different movements under one umbrella.

“Fight The Trump Takeover” Campaign

Another set of rallies is hitting hard with the theme “Fight The Trump Takeover.”

Originally sparked by redistricting controversies in Texas, the campaign accuses Trump and his allies of trying to rig future elections by manipulating district maps. On August 16, early protests in Texas drew attention to the issue. Labor Day is now their chance to scale it nationally.

Organizers in Gloucester, Massachusetts, summed it up:

“Join us on Labor Day to protest voter suppression and gerrymandering designed to limit your vote and your voice.”

To them, this isn’t just about one state’s map—it’s about defending democracy itself.

D.C. Freedom Run: Protest on the Move

In Washington, D.C., the protest is taking on a unique form: a Freedom Run through the streets of the capital.

Organizers describe it as moving “like a wolf pack in resistance,” symbolizing both defiance and unity. The target here is Trump’s controversial decision to take federal control of the city’s police force earlier this month.

Trump claimed the move was necessary due to “crime, bloodshed, and bedlam” in the capital. But D.C. officials, including Mayor Muriel Bowser and Attorney General Brian Schwalb, have blasted the move as unconstitutional and politically motivated.

Bowser has pointed out that violent crime in the city is actually at a 30-year low, accusing Trump of spreading “fake crime numbers” to justify a federal power grab. Trump, for his part, has doubled down—threatening a “complete and total takeover” of the city if local leaders continue resisting.

The Freedom Run, then, is as much about defending D.C.’s autonomy as it is about broader national issues.

Trump’s Response and Escalating Tensions

If history is any guide, Trump isn’t going to sit quietly while thousands march against him.

• Back in June, he warned protesters at the “No Kings” event that they’d be “met with big force.”

• He has repeatedly labeled demonstrators as “people who hate our country.”

• He continues to frame protests as dangerous disruptions rather than expressions of free speech.

Yet, despite the threats, people keep showing up. Labor Day is proof that the warnings haven’t scared anyone off—in fact, they may have only fueled more determination.

What to Expect on Labor Day

Based on organizers’ announcements, here’s what’s planned:

• 765+ “Workers Over Billionaires” rallies nationwide.

• Solidarity September kickoffs in multiple states.

• “Fight The Trump Takeover” protests highlighting voting rights.

• The D.C. Freedom Run, merging fitness with activism.

• Union-led marches, community picnics, and teach-ins across the country.

And because many of these events are linked by national networks, expect coordinated messaging—slogans, hashtags, and livestreamed coverage spreading across social media.

Why This Movement Isn’t Going Away

Labor Day’s protests are part of a bigger picture: a growing coalition of workers, unions, grassroots movements, environmental groups, and democracy advocates.

At the center of their fight is a simple question: Who is America for—the billionaires or the workers?

By taking to the streets on a holiday meant to honor labor, protesters are sending a symbolic message: the legacy of Labor Day belongs to the people, not to corporations, billionaires, or politicians who they believe are eroding democratic values.

And with Solidarity September continuing throughout the month, this isn’t a one-off event. It’s a sustained campaign that could shape the political conversation heading into 2026.