May Day Protests Draw Thousands Nationwide, Flagstaff Joins In
In a show of solidarity with labor movements and opposition to the current administration, over a thousand demonstrators gathered in Flagstaff on Thursday for May Day protests. This rally was part of a broader national movement marking International Workers Day.
Pam Bettis, who traveled from Prescott to participate, expressed deep concern over the deportation of legal residents and even American citizens, citing a lack of due process. “If you don’t have due process, anyone can come and grab you in your home and they don’t have to give a reason. They’ll just whisk you away. You’ll disappear. And that seems to be what’s happening,” Bettis remarked. Her commitment to the cause remains steadfast, as she plans to continue her activism irrespective of the venue.
The protest featured an impressive puppet of the Statue of Liberty, a symbol meant to underscore the values of justice and due process. Marcus Ford, a local of Flagstaff, contributed to its creation. Ford explained, “I think there’s been a tendency to let the political right have the flag and the eagle and the Statue of Liberty and everything that represents America. And it seems like we’re all Americans. These symbols belong to all of us. We think the Statue of Liberty stands for justice for all and due process of law, so that’s the perfect symbol for this kind of demonstration.”
In nearby Sedona, an estimated 450 participants took to State Route 89A for their own march. This event was only one of more than two dozen across Arizona, with the nationwide count nearing a thousand demonstrations, all part of the global recognition of International Workers Day.
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