Chicago May Day 2026: CPS Teachers and Students to Participate in Union Park Rally and Downtown March

CHICAGO (WLS) — This May Day, Chicago’s teachers and students are poised to make their voices heard in a significant way.

More than 800 students from across the region are expected to be transported to the Rainbow PUSH headquarters on Friday, according to event organizers.

The Chicago Teachers Union has announced that students will engage in activities centered around voting rights, civil rights, community involvement, and advocacy. This comes just days after a pivotal U.S. Supreme Court decision concerning the Voting Rights Act.

Students attending the event will participate in a half-day program at PUSH and will then return to their schools for the remainder of the day.

Additionally, many are anticipated to join the major May Day rally and march, which will commence at Union Park and culminate at Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago.

That rally begins at 1 p.m. The march starts at 2 p.m. and is expected to go along Washington, Racine, Jackson, Halsted and Washington to Daley Plaza.

Now, CPS is in session today, but teachers and students, with permission, can participate in May Day rallies.

The mayor and the teachers union have called for civic engagement activities for those not participating in May Day rallies, but CPS CEO Macquline King said it’s not a requirement for students.

This year’s “workers over billionaires” boycott calls on people to skip school, work and shopping for an economic blackout.

RELATED: Chicago Public Schools, CTU agree to make May 1 day of civic action; school will remain in session

Demands include taxing the rich and putting an end to the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.

There are other May Day events throughout the city and suburbs. More than 300 Loyola University faculty members will hold a one-day strike. They have been in contract negotiations for more than a year.

Students, Workers and community members will rally outside Oak Park River and Forest High School, before marching to Scoville Park in Oak Park.

The CASA DuPage organization will lead a rally at its workers center in Wheaton.

A plaque dedication will mark the 140th anniversary of the Haymarket affair.

The historic worker’s revolt of 1886 here in Chicago marked the beginning of the eight-hour workday.

Several labor organizations will add plaques to the Haymarket memorial.

The ceremony begins at 9 a.m. at Randolph and Des Plaines.