International Labor Day: Protests, Unrest, and Business Continuity 2025
By TorchStone Senior Intelligence Analyst Ben West and Intelligence Analyst Mare Cunningham
While the United States observes Labor Day in September, many countries—and many U.S.-based activists—recognize May 1 as International Labor Day or “May Day.” This date often sees widespread demonstrations, labor strikes, and activist-led protests. Though typically peaceful, May Day actions can escalate into violence.
As of mid-April, TorchStone is monitoring dozens of planned protests against Trump administration policies, the conflict in Gaza, environmental activism, and general workers’ rights issues. Organizations, particularly those operating internationally, should immediately assess potential risks and prepare appropriate response plans to mitigate disruption or exposure to unrest.
A Brief History
May 1 has been associated with large gatherings to celebrate the return of warm weather in the northern hemisphere for thousands of years. However, it began taking on a more confrontational tone in the late 19th century following the Haymarket incident in Chicago, IL. At least eight people died on May 4, 1886, when workers, anarchists, and police clashed outside McCormick Reaper Works during protests calling for an eight-hour workday. Five years later, in 1891, the Second International, consisting of various communist and socialist groups around the world, declared May 1 an international day for the worker, launching the concept of International Labor Day. To distance itself from communist influence and the violence associated with the roots of International Labor Day, the United States eventually adopted the first Monday in September as Labor Day.
Present
In the modern era, May Day rallies still promote workers’ rights, including the right to unionize. However, the causes have expanded to include a broad spectrum of issues associated with the political left. They include immigration rights, anti-war, anti-capitalism, LGBTQ+ rights, environmental issues, and others.
While most May Day protests remain peaceful, there is a precedent of disruptions, property damage, and violence at these events dating back to the Haymarket incident. May Day protests have the potential to attract the involvement of Black Bloc protest tactics: smaller cells of more radicalized protesters, generally associated with the anarchist or antifa movements, who infiltrate peaceful protests intending to instigate violence. They typically dress in all black, tend to conceal their faces, and carry backpacks full of supplies ranging from incendiary devices to blunt weapons and spray paint. The presence of Black Bloc elements at a May Day event greatly increases the likelihood of trouble ahead.
In recent years, protests have focused on rising living costs, cuts in social spending, and climate change. Below are some examples of disruptive May Day protests over the previous year.
Past May Day Protest Activity
International Labor Day protests in 2020 & 2021 were constrained due to the COVID-19 pandemic and focused on pandemic-specific issues. In 2022, protests returned to normal levels of activity and shifted to more traditional concerns over inflation and cuts to social spending programs.
- AFL-CIO-associated labor organizations rallied in Manhattan, targeting locations associated with Starbucks and Amazon to pressure the companies into allowing workers to unionize.
- Protests in Paris turned violent when demonstrators smashed bank windows and defaced street signs in opposition to President Macron’s successful re-election and anticipated pension reforms. Police responded with tear gas.
- Turkish police arrested 164 people for demonstrating without a permit in Istanbul’s Taksim Square.
- In India, sex workers in Kolkata rallied to decriminalize sex work, and trade unions held rallies across multiple cities.
Reflecting on May Day 2023, contentious legislative measures and labor union disruptions emerged as the primary drivers behind protest mobilization, fueling participation in May Day demonstrations last year.
- Protests against French pension reform brought out over 100,000 people to the streets of Paris, where demonstrators clashed with police. A government building caught fire at the end of the protest, as demonstrators shot off fireworks and threw projectiles at counterprotest police. There were over 400 reported injuries, including 100 police officers. Authorities eventually used water cannons and tear gas to disperse the crowds.
- Police in Berlin temporarily detained 67 people for disturbing the peace during heated demonstrations over restrictions against protesting in the German capital. Nine police officers were injured during protests that spanned 19 separate gatherings involving an estimated 28,000 people.
- In Los Angeles, a diverse coalition of activists demonstrated around the city for higher worker wages, better access to housing, against U.S. support for Ukraine, and against police-involved shootings. There were no reports of significant disruptions, property damage, or arrests.
In 2024, protests against the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Gaza were the dominant theme for May Day demonstrations. Student-led protests, which began in mid-April, grew more aggressive over the week of May 1, with incidents of violence and forceful occupation of university buildings.
- At Columbia University in New York, student protesters forcibly occupied Hamilton Hall on April 30, leading to a significant police operation that arrested over 100 students. Protests spread to hundreds of other university campuses around the world throughout May and into June, leading to thousands of arrests and disrupting graduation ceremonies.
- In Istanbul, Turkey, police used tear gas and rubber bullets against demonstrators defying a protest ban. Police eventually detained over 200 people.
- There were large demonstrations and clashes with police across Europe, including in Berlin, Paris, and Athens. There were also violent protests in Santiago, Chile; Manilla, Philippines; and Jakarta, Indonesia. Issues focused on workers’ rights and wages, while most also referenced the Gaza conflict.
May Day 2025
Anticipating 2025 several influences are fueling this year’s gatherings, in addition to the usual issues such as workers’ wages, benefits, and the cost of living. Demonstrations in support of Palestine amid the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict are continuing for the second straight year, and opposition to U.S trade policies—to include sweeping tariffs—and President Trump’s administration, in general, has led to global protests. Another dynamic that we will be watching is the growing animosity toward corporate executives since the December assassination of a major healthcare company CEO.
The map below shows lthe ocations of planned International Labor Day protests as of April 15. TorchStone expects dozens more protests to be organized over the coming week and plenty of unannounced protests, as well.
Map Showing a Sample of Global May Day Events Planned from April 27 Through May 4, 2025
Anti-Government Mobilization Campaigns
Protest activity has surged in response to perceived authoritarianism and government overreach. In the United States, Demonstrators have opposed several Trump administration initiatives, including efforts to restructure the federal government through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) actions to reduce bureaucracy. Protesters raised concerns about potential impacts on democracy, civil liberties, public services, and immigration policy.
Across Europe, major cities such as Berlin, Paris, and Amsterdam have experienced similar mobilizations since January 2025. These demonstrations addressed issues such as racism, the rise of far-right parties, and democratic backsliding.
• April 5, 2025: Approximately 500,000 protesters participated in more than 1,400 “Hands Off” events in all 50 states to protest President Trump’s recent federal government cuts. There were smaller, sympathetic protests in European capitals like Berlin. Organizers of the “Hands Off!” protests are planning more throughout the month of April. There are currently no plans to protest on May 1, but that could change.
• In related protests, opponents of President Trump and special advisor Elon Musk (CEO of Tesla) have staged regular protest actions outside Tesla showrooms and near Tesla charging stations around the world. There have been multiple actions that have led to vandalism, property damage, and arrests. Activists are likely to continue targeting Tesla as a symbol of their opposition to Mr. Musk’s actions to reduce the size of the federal government.
Pro-Palestine Protests
Palestine-related protests have increased over the past month since Israel ended a two-month-long ceasefire on March 18 and resumed military strikes on Gaza. Similar to 2024, opposition to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, including anti-Israeli and antisemitic behavior, is likely during May Day demonstrations this year.
• April 10, 2025: Pro-Palestine demonstrations have continued around the world, including a small action in London that brought traffic to a standstill in the central Waterloo area.
Immigration Policy
President Trump’s administration has acted aggressively on immigration issues, attracting heavy criticism and protests. Immigration has been a perennial issue in May Day protests, but we expect renewed efforts amidst the uptick in arrests and deportations.
• March 13, 2025: Police arrested nearly 100 people after protesters occupied the lobby of Trump Tower in midtown Manhattan to oppose the arrest of activist Mahmoud Khalil. Days earlier, the Trump administration revoked Khalil’s green card, and federal agents arrested him. Khalil has motivated protests around the world both against the Trump administration’s immigration policies and its crackdown on pro-Palestine protests. As of April 11, Khalil is in federal court, contesting his ordered deportation.
• In the wake of Khalil’s arrest, student activist groups across the country are organizing demonstrations and protesting school leaders. For example, in April, University of Texas students peacefully protested against the arrests and deportations of students with immigrant backgrounds.
Attacks on Executives
Corporate executives should be particularly cautious on May Day this year due to the increased willingness of their critics to engage in violence. In addition to all of the issues driving protests addressed above, there is a growing sense that violence is a justifiable response to perceived political disputes. A recent Rutgers University study noted the proliferation of social media activity calling for violence against the elite following the Dec 2024 murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. That same study noted that around half of respondents who self-identified as politically “left of center” felt that violence against President Trump or Elon Musk was at least “somewhat justified”. This alarming sentiment coincides with a significant level of support for and veneration of Thompson’s alleged killer, Luigi Mangione.
• April 18, 2025: Mangione’s next scheduled court dates are April 18 for federal charges and June for state charges – both in Manhattan. Court dates associated with the murder have drawn significant crowds of supporters and protests against executives – particularly from the healthcare sector. Mangione’s legal proceedings surrounding May Day ensure that his case will influence protests. Anti-CEO sentiment has always been a factor in May Day protests, but it will be especially highlighted in 2025.
Environmental Campaigns
Environmental activist groups remain a major part of the protest landscape in 2025. These activists target companies, financial institutions, and political figures who either oppose their goals outright or fail to enact changes swiftly enough. Climate change groups are also conducting protest actions on behalf of the pro-Palestine campaign, broadening their target set. As a result, protests outside government buildings and corporate offices, leisurely marches through streets, and public event disruptions have become common.
While Just Stop Oil announced that it is ending its campaign of disruptive protest actions in the UK, it will continue to organize protests—including its final action in London on April 26. Meanwhile, activists in the United States are opposing the Trump administration’s rollback of environmental policies and reductions within the Department of the Interior. Environmental policy is one of the main grievances within the Hands-Off campaign described above, but there have been dozens of smaller protest actions.
• January 11, 2025: Extinction Rebellion persisted with its A12 motorway blockades in The Hague, Netherlands, pushing to eliminate fossil fuel subsidies. Police arrested over 700 activists during one of these demonstrations.
• January 21, 2025: Greenpeace activists stormed the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, and displayed a banner proclaiming “Tax the super-rich. Fund a just & green future” to highlight economic inequality and climate funding needs.
• March 7, 2025: Scientists and supporters in the U.S. and France launched “Stand Up for Science 2025.” They protested policy shifts threatening scientific research and funding, underscoring the need for evidence-based policymaking.
• April 8, 2025: Thousands of Indigenous people marched in Brasília, Brazil, to demand greater recognition and protection for their traditional lands. They stressed that these territories, with low deforestation rates and essential ecological roles, are key to fighting climate change.
• April 9, 2025: Police detained a climate activist who handcuffed himself to a rail and disrupted an event with Shell CEO Gretchen Watkins at Columbia University.
Recommendations
Security professionals can prepare for May Day by first assessing the threat to their organization. Below are three key questions security professionals can ask themselves to determine if their organizations are at risk of being impacted by May Day protests.
- Is my organization a target for May Day protesters?
- Is my organization’s industry a target for May Day protesters?
- Does my organization have offices or facilities in areas typically targeted by May Day protesters?
For example, companies like Starbucks and Amazon have been specifically targeted by May Day protests in the past and are likely to be targeted again. Companies in the financial services and oil & gas industries are also common targets for protesters, who tend to oppose symbols of capitalism and blame oil & gas companies for environmental disasters and climate change. While Tesla historically has not been a target of May Day protests, they have become a primary target for anti-government protesters over the past two months. Other companies linked to members of President Trump’s administration should also expect to face elevated protest attention.
Other organizations may have no connection to protesters’ ideological agenda but are simply in the path of angry protesters. Convenience stores and retail chains that have outlets in heavily trafficked downtown areas are more likely to suffer property damage simply because of their proximity to protests.
After completing a threat assessment, security professionals can come up with a plan to address the identified threats. Measures to consider include:
- Monitor groups or individuals online that have been identified as potential threats to your organization.
- Increase guard patrols in the days ahead of May Day to watch for suspicious activity that could precede a targeted protest action.
- Instruct personnel to use alternate entrances to a facility to avoid main entrances, which protesters are more likely to target.
- In critical threat scenarios, close offices/facilities and have personnel work from home.
May Day protests rarely involve physical attacks on individuals, but when they do, attacks typically target law enforcement officers managing the demonstrations. Instead, protesters have historically aimed to embarrass organizations by confronting their executives with non-lethal tactics like throwing eggs or pies or by provoking confrontations with employees to garner attention and support their cause. However, this trend could change this year amidst increased tolerance for violence against business executives and public appeals for more CEO assassinations. Security professionals advise avoiding confrontations by using alternate entrances or closing targeted facilities when possible.
Finally, protesters sometimes resort to dramatic tactics such as technical climbing and banner drops to criticize organizations, but these actions require careful planning and pre-operational surveillance that is vulnerable to detection by vigilant security personnel. If security is tight at a chosen target, protesters are more likely to select another one.
References for Planned Events Worldwide (Public as of April 11):
| May Day Events Before or After May 1 | |
|---|---|
| Dallas, TX (April 27) Reigate, UK (April 28) Toronto, Canada (May 3) Pescadero, CA (May 3) Blois, France (May 3) |
Queensland, Australia (May 3-4) London, Ontario (May 4) Minneapolis, MN (May 4) Glasgow, UK (May 4) |