PHOENIX — Rallies took place across the Valley and nationwide on Labor Day, as demonstrators gathered under the “Workers Over Billionaires” slogan to call for expanded worker protections and social services.
Organizers reported at least five demonstrations in Maricopa County, including at the Arizona State Capitol, in Scottsdale, Tempe, Chandler, Anthem, and Queen Creek. Other protests were held in Flagstaff, Sedona, Payson, Globe, Tucson, Patagonia, and Sierra Vista.
Participants said they were speaking out against growing economic inequality and urging lawmakers to prioritize Medicaid, public schools, healthcare, affordable housing, and minority protections over what they described as “billionaire interests” and foreign wars.
At a demonstration outside Rep. David Schweikert’s office in Scottsdale, activists staged a “die-in,” lying on the ground beside signs shaped like tombstones with messages about cuts to education, healthcare, and public services.
The Labor Day events were not limited to Arizona. Marches and rallies were also reported in New York, Boston, Denver, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco.
Labor Day has been observed in the U.S. since 1882, becoming a national holiday in 1894 to honor the contributions of American workers.
