It was a sunny May Day without a cloud in sight, but demonstrators who rallied at Foley Square in Lower Manhattan Thursday say a storm is coming.

“The people are united, and we are going to stand up and fight every day as often as we can,” Brooklyn resident Andrea Coyle said.

“We and the people before us fought hard for these rights and we want to keep them,” demonstrator Jenny Fox said.

What You Need To Know

  • May Day rallies have gathered crowds every year for more than a century

  • This year, thousands gathered in support of worker and immigrant rights, which they say are among the things under attack by the Trump administration

  • Protesters demonstrated against what they're calling a "billionaire takeover of America"

May Day rallies have gathered crowds every year for more than a century. But this year, thousands of people met to rally in support of worker and immigrant rights, things they say are under attack by the Trump administration.

“This is just the beginning. This is just the warm-up and I’m looking forward to the millions that will be showing up on the front lines or on the grass of the White House, letting them know we won’t be taking this anymore,” Ian Stuart of Queens said.

Organizers are calling for full funding for public schools, health care and housing for all; protection and expansion for social programs like Medicaid and Social Security; and an end to corruption like what they call a billionaire takeover of the White House.

“My son deserves teachers that are adequately paid. My son deserves social workers, food service workers that are honored, that are paid fairly,” Sadye Campoamor of Chelsea said.

This is Campoamor’s first May Day. She says it’s important for her son Rafael Campoamor to be there too, to fight for the rights of those who educate.

“We support our teachers, our nurses and hospitals and all of that stuff,” Rafael said.

Qween Amor of Brooklyn has come to May Day rallies for ten years because of her father, who was a Cuban refugee. This year, she came dressed as Lady Liberty.

“Ultimately, she used to be a beacon of hope for people seeking refuge and people seeking the ability to work and to feel safe in their environment, and we are no longer living in those days,” Amor said.

While many expressed fear for the future, some said the solidarity of thousands of people taking to the streets gives each and every one of them power.

“I have no fear for the future because we believe in people power and we believe that when we fight side-by-side together, we will always win,” Oona Adams, director of General Labors 79, said.