May Day in downtown Santa Cruz this year saw a wide variety of community members coming together and rallying to honor the global struggles of the worker. On the morning of May 1st, students at UC Santa Cruz supported AFSCME local 3299 union members at the university, and then later in the day marched downtown where a group of community members, populated largely with people active with Occupy Santa Cruz, met them on Mission Street after themselves marching up Pacific Avenue.

"I think we are on the brink of a revolution," commented one student during a discussion group at an afternoon rally at the base of the UCSC campus. Another student followed with, "I think it has already started," referring to how nationwide, occupy movements are working with workers' organizations.

Downtown, in addition to honoring workers, community members hoped to, "create an ongoing network of solidarity between Santa Cruz students, workers, and community members." Off to the side, a plain clothes officer with the Santa Cruz Police Department videotaped marchers.

Read More | Part 2