By Donald Gilpin

A May Day National Day of Action rally, sponsored by the Coalition for Peace Action (CFPA), Indivisible Cranbury, Indivisible Princeton, and the Princeton Community Democratic Organization, will take place at Hinds Plaza on Sunday, May 4 from 1:30 to 3 p.m.

Held in conjunction with more than 800 gatherings throughout the country from May 1 to 4, the rally, in protesting policies and actions of the Trump Administration, will demand that government prioritize families over billionaires.

At the same location in Hinds Plaza next to the Princeton Public Library as a “Hands Off!” rally on April 5 that drew more than 1,000 demonstrators, the May 4 event will feature a number of speakers, including CFPA Executive Director the Rev. Robert Moore, Indivisible Cranbury founder and leader Laura Zurfluh, Communication Workers of America District 1 Political and Field Director Anna-Marta Visky, New Jersey Education Association Vice-President Steven Beatty, and Make the Road New Jersey Executive Director Nedia Morsey.

“The April 5 Hands Off rallies were a huge success, and demonstrated that Americans across the country are horrified with the lawless, unconstitutional, dangerous behavior of Trump and Elon Musk,” said Moore. “We are proud that our actions have already led Musk to curtail his work in DC to two days a week, and we are continuing our organizing so that goes down to zero.”

Zurfluh emphasized that although May Day is traditionally International Workers’ Day, celebrating all workers, “Mayday” is also a distress call or signal used by aviators and mariners in dire circumstances. Distress calls of “mayday” are necessary in our country’s current situation, Zurfluh noted.

“Just like a pilot or the captain of a ship that’s going down, this ship is going down and we need all hands on deck right now,” she said. “It’s a distress call because our democracy is at dire risk of dying.”

She continued, “Another part of this event is ensuring that everyone knows we’re in dire distress and that they’re all needed at this time. Every day we’re a day closer to no return. We’re a day closer to fascism. We’re watching our democracy sinking.”

A press release from CFPA and other organizers urges supporters to “stand united” and protest against the defunding of schools, privatizing of public services, attacking unions, and targeting immigrant families with fear and intimidation.

“From fruit fields in California to classrooms in Chicago, from kitchens in Queens to loading docks in Atlanta, working families are rising up to join this call to protect our government from DOGE’s wrecking ball and ensure federal policy puts public schools over private profits, healthcare over hedge funds, housing over homelessness,” the press release states.

It goes on, “This is a war on working people. We will not stand down. On May Day 2025 we stand united. United for a world in which every family has housing, healthcare, fair wages, union protection, and safety — regardless of race, zip code, or immigration status.”

Moore saw the fact that so many coordinated events are taking place across the country as “a sign of hope in the pushback from citizens determined to fight for justice and against the cruelty of the many actions of Trump and Musk.”

He added, “We are determined to continue the momentum, and to increase the impact with our sustained organizing.”

Those wanting to attend Sunday’s rally are urged to register at www.mobilize.us/indivisiblecranbury.