Educators across Michigan wore Red for Ed and held events to recognize May Day on Thursday, known as International Workers Day, as part of national actions continuing this weekend to stand for dignity, justice, and public investment in our careers, schools, and students’ lives.

Numerous #MayDayStrong events are planned for Saturday. Find one near you!

Local actions were part of a May Day Strong National Day of Action co-organized by NEA and many other coalition partners. May Day on May 1 was first recognized in Chicago in the 1880s amid the struggle for an eight-hour work day.

MEA members in Flint’s Carman-Ainsworth Community Schools (pictured) joined NEA counterparts across the country in hosting walk-ins at every building in the district on Thursday despite cool and rainy conditions.

Veteran business teacher Tom Klee asked the early-morning crowd gathered outside Carman-Ainsworth High School to continue standing as one and walking together in the face of threats to public education and labor rights which are not supported by the vast majority of Americans.

“Because we care, we are the foundation and basis for the future,” Klee said in prepared remarks. “We make a great impact on the future leaders, movers and shakers of tomorrow… We are the many; they are the few! Stand up, be heard and communicate your understanding of the issues!”

The Trump administration is attempting to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education and enact deep cuts to federal funding for public education — from preschool to colleges and universities — in pursuit of a national school vouchers mandate and privatization agenda.

Executive orders signed by President Donald Trump are targeting academic freedom and teaching standards. The administration has also issued executive orders and filed lawsuits in an effort to cancel union contracts and strip federal workers of collective bargaining rights.

Several federal employee unions have responded with counter-suits alleging violations of federal labor laws in cases which could go to the U.S. Supreme Court. Legal scholars and historians say attacks on organized labor are a hallmark of authoritarian regimes.

NEA is involved in legal challenges to several education-related orders and actions by the administration; stay tuned at nea.org/protect.

Over a few days this week in Lansing, members of the Lansing Schools Education Association joined actions to build solidarity in the movement to protect and strengthen public education, including a buy-local day, school “walk-outs” at the end of the contractual school day, and share-your-story day.

Thousands of people also showed up for a May Day protest at Roosevelt Park in Detroit on Saturday, organized by AFL-CIO.

More May Day events are happening on Saturday, including a rally and march at Rotary Square in Traverse City and a school supplies drive and May Day rally at Gateway Park in Troy. Sign up to attend an event near you!