Hundreds protest unfair wages, ICE during march in Downtown St. Louis for May Day strike

Hundreds of individuals, representing immigrant advocacy groups, labor unions, and various community organizations, gathered in St. Louis' Downtown West neighborhood for the annual International Workers Day, also known as May Day. The demonstration, held at Aloe Plaza near City Hall, aimed for a day of no work, school, or shopping to highlight demands for fair labor practices and social justice. Protesters marched through the streets, carrying signs and chanting, addressing concerns over rising living costs, unfair wages, and inadequate staffing in sectors like healthcare. Among the many issues raised, participants expressed strong opposition to data center projects. Former U.S. Rep. Cori Bush explicitly stated, "We don't want a big box data center in our community," during her address to the crowd, linking it to calls for greater investment in St. Louis' north side. The Missouri Workers Center, co-hosting the rally, along with groups in Kansas City, listed several key demands. These included ending the increased presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), fighting against data center developments, and ensuring people of color have more influence in governmental decisions regarding employment and compensation. The center also advocated for boycotts of companies like Starbucks, Amazon, and Target over alleged anti-labor practices and ties to ICE. Several St. Louis aldermen, including Board President Megan Green, supported the May Day strike, aligning with constituents' concerns about tornado recovery efforts and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police budget. The rally, which also featured prominent social media streamer Hasan Piker, concluded in the evening after several hours of demonstrations.