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It’s May Day today and local organizers have a demonstration planned. That story and more from WTTW News.
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Protesters gather at Union Park the morning of May 1, 2025. (Eunice Alpasan / WTTW News)
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As Gov. JB Pritzker calls on Democrats to be more aggressive in their fight against the Trump administration, organizers in Chicago and across the national are planning May Day protest rallies today.
May 1 has come to be known as International Workers’ Day and has strong ties to Chicago, where the first-ever May Day event was held in 1886 with thousands of workers protesting for an eight-hour workday. Three days later, the historic Haymarket Affair, where a bomb went off at a labor demonstration, killed at least seven police officers and four civilians and resulted in hundreds of arrests.
More than 1,100 protest events are scheduled in nearly 1,000 cities across the country for May Day this year. These events come on the heels of Monday’s newly signed executive orders targeting sanctuary cities and ramping up immigration crackdowns.
Chicago’s May Day march begins this morning at Union Park and proceeds in the afternoon to Grant Park, where a variety of labor and immigrant advocates will address the crowd.
What local activists say:
Jorge Mujica, a May Day organizer with Arise Chicago, is not letting the president’s executive orders stop him from protesting White House policies.
“Most executive orders are useless, and many are plainly illegal,” Mujica said. “We defend the Constitution, which gives us legal rights as individuals. Washington is waging a psychological war against immigrants, trying to instill fear, but the response we get from the community is determination to fight back.”
Omar Lopez, a May Day organizer with the Immigrant Defense Resistance Council, thinks this year’s event is particularly important.
“It’s more important than in the past because we need solidarity across different sectors of society,” Lopez said. “Trump is making it an open season against all immigrants, all people of color.”
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A file photo of the REAL ID Supercenter at 191 N. Clark St. in downtown Chicago. (WTTW News)
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Starting May 7, most adults catching a flight in the U.S. will be required to present a valid passport or a state-issued identification card that meets federal REAL ID standards. After several delays and extensions, Transportation Security Administration officials said the agency plans on implementing REAL ID “enforcement measures” at TSA checkpoints nationwide. The enforcement period comes as some people scramble last-minute to DMV facilities to obtain a REAL ID and amid confusion about how the new standards will be enforced ahead of the busy summer travel season.
What you need to know:
If you plan to board a domestic flight, a valid U.S. passport or passport card, permanent resident card, Global Entry card, military ID, foreign government passport or other federally approved identification can be used as a primary form of identification instead of a REAL ID.
A REAL ID is not required to drive, vote, apply for federal benefits or for general identification purposes or proof of citizenship.
If you are unable to get a Real ID appointment, visit a walk-in REAL ID Saturday DMV or the walk-in REAL ID supercenter at 191 N. Clark St. in downtown Chicago. The supercenter offers walk-in REAL ID services exclusively from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at least until May 31.
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(Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)
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A proposal to allow Chicago Police Department officials to impose a curfew anywhere in the city with just 30 minutes notice in an effort to stop large gatherings of teens failed to advance Wednesday after a fierce debate over the constitutionality of the measure.
After more than five hours of debate, the Chicago City Council’s Public Safety Committee took no action on the plan, backed by Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling but opposed by Mayor Brandon Johnson.
Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward), who crafted the measure after two high-profile shootings in Streeterville, a neighborhood popular with tourists and wealthy Chicagoans, vowed to bring the measure back for a vote in the coming weeks.
Alders debate:
“What we are seeing in our public spaces ... cannot be tolerated,” Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd Ward) said. Even though Dowell is Johnson’s hand-picked Finance Committee chair, the two have split on a series of high-profile issues in recent months.
Ald. Matt Martin (47th Ward) said that standard was “incredibly vague” and would invite costly lawsuits the city was likely to lose.
Ald. Jeanette Taylor (20th Ward) said she was disappointed so much of the hearing was devoted to “demonizing young people.”
“This is like putting a Band-Aid on a bullet wound,” Taylor said. “This is not it.”
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Back in the Day: May 1, 1981 - ‘Miró’s Chicago’ Vandalized
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Miró’s Chicago (Bill Richert)
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On April 20, 1981, the city unveiled its latest piece of public sculpture, “Miró’s Chicago,” by Joan Miró. The date marked the 88th birthday of the legendary Catalan Spanish artist. During its commemoration at 69 W. Washington, Mayor Jane Byrne said, "It’s a city that loves [Miró]. It’s a city that loves its art. It’s a city that loves itself. And for that reason, I’m delighted that today we have the completion of a promise.” Just weeks after it was unveiled, it was vandalized on this
date 44 years ago. As a May Day parade was happening nearby, art student Crister Nyholm, 24, splattered red paint all over the structure. He told police he hated the sculpture and had to do it. Police arrested him, and in July of that year, he pleaded guilty to a charge of criminal damage to property and was ordered to pay $17,000 to clean the artwork. Today, you can still find the piece standing between the George W. Dunne Cook County Office Building and the Chicago Temple.
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This Week’s Arts and Culture Events |
Every Thursday, WTTW News arts correspondent Marc Vitali highlights the city’s must-see cultural events.
Short plays, odd plays, an artful look at sports and celebrity? This being Chicago, you can do all of the above.
“Cut to the Chase Festival of One-Act Plays” – The Den Theatre
See an entire theater festival in 90 minutes when six short plays are performed back-to-back. The Artistic Home Studio presents their long-running annual fest with a price tag that works out to less than four bucks per play. Most shows are world premieres, and each involves a different cast and director exploring the theme “What is real?” May 1-4
“1st Annual Theater of the Absurd Festival” – Chopin Theatre
Speaking of “what is real?,” this first-time festival of absurd drama turns to works by legendary writers including Edward Albee, Sam Shepard and Harold Pinter. It’s an unusual marriage of talents as the Chopin Theatre partners with Gwydion Theatre, Columbia College and Northern Illinois University. Eight plays full of dark comedy and absurdity are performed in rotation. May 2-25
“Paul Pfeiffer: Prologue to the Story of the Birth of Freedom” – MCA Chicago
Athletes and celebrities get re-contextualized by an American artist who “interrogates ideas of spectacle and mass culture.” Using photography of cultural icons and TV broadcasts of sporting events, Pfeiffer asks: Who’s using who? Is the image making us, or do we make images? An exhibition that might make you think the next time you’re watching the big game. Opens Saturday, May 3
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The 2025 NFL Draft ended last weekend. How are you feeling about the Chicago Bears' moves for next
season?
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Email DailyChicagoan@wttw.com with your responses and your answers might be published.
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Newsletter Producer: Josh Terry
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