On May 4, 1886, a rally was held in Chicago’s Haymarket Square to protest police brutality following the killing of strikers at McCormick Reaper Works. Tens of thousands of workers, including many migrants, were on strike demanding an eight-hour workday. Police attacked the protest, and after a bomb was thrown, four activists were hanged by the state. To this day around the world, workers unite, rally, protest, and march on the first of May to demand dignity and fair pay. This year, the fight also confronts the growing threat of autocracy within the US and the harm it is causing to the world.

In Northern California, large marches and rallies are planned for San Francisco, San José, and Oakland. A number of contingents will participate in the march in San Francisco and stage separate actions, advocating for single-payer healthcare, queer & trans folks, and class war.

Morning actions at the Oakland Airport and General Dynamics in Healdsburg are focused on weapons shipments to Israel and the war on Iran. At the Oakland Airport, a coalition of organizations will lift up demands to stop shipping killer cargo through "OAK" to Israel, stop the wars, tax the rich, and abolish ICE. In Healdsburg, where General Dynamics builds guidance systems for the 2000-pound bombs being dropped across the Middle East, a vigil and street theater will demand that the facility shut down and leave Sonoma County. Student-led actions are planned throughout the state.

Check out the events from the Indybay calendar below. Then, publish on Indybay reports and photos from your local May Day action.

San Francisco: May Day Rally & March (2pm) | Fight For Single Payer On May Day 2026 At Harry Bridges Plaza (3pm) | On May Day - Stop Fascist War Drive Abroad & Win the War at Home - The Main Enemy is at Home! (3pm) | Class War Contingent @ SF May Day March (4pm) | May Day Party: A Fundraiser for Artists Unite for Palestine and Pal2Eire (5:30pm) | may day! gay day! queer & trans non/workers of the world unite! (7pm)

Oakland: May Day Action at Oakland Airport - Stop Fedex from Shipping Killer Cargo to Israel (9am) | Oakland Sin Fronteras: International Workers’ Day March & Resource Fair (2pm)

Healdsburg: Shut Down the War Economy at General Dynamics (9am)

Palo Alto: Intn'l Workers Day March Palo Alto (5pm)

San José: International Worker's Day Rally & March 2026 (2pm)

Watsonville: May Day 2026: Workers Over Billionaires (1pm)

Seaside: ICE Out of CSUMB! Students Rise Up on May Day (1pm)

Santa Cruz: Students Rise Up on May Day: UC Santa Cruz (12pm) | May Day Rally & March (5pm)

2025 May Day Coverage: Mayday! Mayday! Our Democracy Under Attack! | Black May Day: SEIU Black Workers/Community at SF General Join Fight Against Racism & Union | May Day protest in Fresno | Celebrating with guitars and music on May Day’s International Workers Day | May Day 2025 in Johannesburg & the Fight Against Anti-Labour Bill & COSATU CEO's

Related Feature: International Workers' Day 2024 Actions Included Urgent Support for the Palestinian People