May Day Threats Escalate: Radical Anarchist Manifesto Calls for Violence Amid Global Protests
Executive Summary
A disturbing anarchist post published online has called for violent disruption on May 1st, labeling it “Disloyalty Day” and urging supporters to sabotage U.S. institutions “by any means necessary.” As global May Day demonstrations take shape, immigrant rights groups in Chicago and elsewhere are preparing large-scale civil disobedience and labor actions. Meanwhile, May Day-related violence last year — including a mass shooting in Alabama — has raised fears of renewed unrest. With the political climate highly polarized, authorities are bracing for a volatile week of demonstrations, counter-protests, and potentially violent outbreaks.
Analysis
An anonymous message published on the anarchist blog Dirty South frames May Day not as a celebration of labor solidarity, but as a day for violent resistance. The post explicitly urges sabotage against what it calls the “settler-colonial empire” of the United States, in protest of the government’s immigration enforcement, fascism, and perceived erosion of democratic norms. “Let us sabotage the colonial regime by any means we see necessary,” it declares — a rhetorical escalation that has caught the attention of law enforcement and political observers alike.
The post comes at a time when May Day is regaining national traction as a vehicle for immigrant and labor resistance. In Chicago, organizers from Arise Chicago, the Immigrant Defense Resistance Council, and allied groups have laid out plans for a week of civil disobedience beginning May 1. Their actions include a large march from Union Park to Federal Plaza, boycotts of companies like Goya and Miller, and coordinated work stoppages across industries. One event, dubbed “A Day Without Margaritas and Guacamole,” aims to highlight immigrant labor’s centrality to American life and economy.
These protests are rooted in opposition to the Trump administration’s immigration crackdowns and the broader alignment of state power with anti-immigrant rhetoric. Activists say they’re resisting deportations, workplace raids, and racial profiling — while also expressing solidarity with Palestine and marginalized communities globally. “Our power comes from the work we do,” said Jorge Mujica of Arise Chicago, “Without us, the economy of this country will collapse.”
International May Day demonstrations are also intensifying. In France, more than 120,000 protesters marched, with dozens arrested in Paris. Police used tear gas and batons to break up clashes, while Palestinian flags were visible among demonstrators. In Turkey, police arrested over 200 people and deployed more than 40,000 officers to prevent gatherings in Istanbul’s Taksim Square — a symbolic flashpoint for labor movements.
Domestically, concerns about May Day turning violent are not unfounded. In 2024, a party in Stockton, Alabama, held in honor of May Day weekend ended in a mass shooting that left three dead and 18 injured. And while political motivations were never conclusively tied to that incident, it cast a shadow over what many fear is a growing tendency for armed violence at ideologically charged events.
Adding to the tension, Chicago and other urban centers are already bracing for disruptions. Law enforcement agencies are likely monitoring both online forums and in-person organizing spaces for any indication that the anarchist call to violence might influence real-world actions. While most planned May Day events emphasize nonviolent civil disobedience, the volatility of the current political climate — combined with flashpoints around immigration, Gaza, and labor rights — makes escalation a real possibility.
