Marching down the sidewalk yelling chants long ago memorized, student workers and community members commemorated May Day — better known as International Workers Day — last week.

The march and picnic that followed was organized by UAW 4591, WSU Youth Democratic Socialists of America and the Palouse Democratic Socialists. The event was attended by nearly 60 attendees.

“We’re here to celebrate the wins we have gotten, and we’re also here to protest the injustices we routinely see around us and organize our communities to protect, support, and uplift one another,” said Jane Gorski, a leader in the YDSA, at the post-march picnic and rally at Raney Park.

The march was a part of a nation-wide day of protests.

“Many of us maybe historically have not been very familiar with what May Day stands for, but this year there’s over a thousand rallies across the country,” said McKinley Nevins, a steward for the student union. “Of course, you know, we say unprecedented times all the time, but it really feels like it is.”

Jim Mital, an Idaho resident and former federal employee, who “retired on my own terms,” talked about how President Donald Trump has impacted a recovery program he runs in an Idaho prison.

“It’s just a recovery class for habits and hangups that these people deal with. The week before graduation, three of my classmates were not there, and asked what happened to them. ICE came in and deported them.”

Mital said the offenses the classmates committed were minor. Mital also likened Trump to a fascist dictator.

“[My dad] was in the Battle to Bulge, and he fought Hitler and the other Nazis. Well, we have a new Nazi that we’re fighting against now. His name is Donald Trump. And he’s using the co-president, Elon Musk.”

International Workers Day is celebrated May 1 every year around the world.