WASHINGTON — Worker’s rights, higher education and statehood for Washington, D.C., were just some of the causes hundreds of people advocated for Friday in a concert celebration just steps from the White House.
The concert capped May Day D.C.’s day of organization, which included a march and rally near the Washington Monument. May Day D.C. is made up of a coalition of advocacy organizations like Free D.C., a campaign that advocates for D.C. statehood.
Bands TOB and Soroche performed at the concert, which featured both go-go style music that originated in Washington, D.C. and different music genres like Cumbia, Folk and Punk. During the concert, participants were dancing to the music, cheering and waving “Free D.C.” flags.
The University of Maryland’s Young Democratic Socialists of America and United Academics at Maryland attended the celebration that included musical performances and guest speakers from the coalition.
“It’s rejuvenating to be around people in an environment where we’re celebrating labor, we’re celebrating workers and we’re celebrating the fact that we’re stronger together and we have solidarity with all these different groups,” said Jade Olson, a member of UAM-UMD. “That shows the power that we have and we’re going to keep building that power.”
Olson, an associate clinical professor of communication at UMD, said it’s important for educators to stand up.
“Higher education is about free and critical thought, it’s about difference of perspectives and embracing a plural society and embracing diversity,” Olson said. “That’s what the current administration is trying to attack. I think it’s really important for educators to show up and say we’re not going to be bullied into a certain ideology.”
Cole Christensen, a co-communications chair for UMD’s Young Democratic Socialists of America, said the organization is currently focusing on their sanctuary campus campaign and the reinstatement of protections for immigrant and undocumented workers that existed before President Donald Trump’s attack on higher education.
Christensen, a freshman government and politics major, said it’s cowardly for universities give in to pressure from the administration.
“The Trump administration has targeted universities by revoking funding,” Christensen said. “It’s really frightening how much universities are willing to cave to that.”
This concert celebration also comes at a time where President Donald Trump has shrunk the federal workforce.
Divine Mesumbe, a sophomore American studies major, said that the Trump administration’s downsizing of the federal government is foolish.
“He’s doing it for the purpose of strengthening private companies here,” Mesumbe said. “That is completely wrong for a lot of reasons, mainly because private companies are motivated for the sake of profit.”
The concert allowed UMD attendees to show their support for workers not just in the region, but also on campus.
“It’s really important for International Labor Day, we are showing solidarity with all workers, but particularly those on our campus who are underrepresented in our university system,” Christensen said.