May 2, 2026, Hyattsville, Maryland - “Las luchas obreras, no tienen fronteras” and “Workers united, will never be defeated” rang out as 45 friends and members of the Progressive Labor Party (PLP) picketed in a May Day celebration. This rally was an advance for our work in the region as we publicly raised the red flag outside a building where ICE seeks to enlarge its footprint in the town. For weeks there have been weekly protests with PLP and other groups at this location calling for “ICE OUT OF HYATTSVILLE”. Today Party members and local organizers joined together to attack capitalism and racism and celebrate workers’ power. Transit and postal workers, students from Howard University, organizers from the Greenbelt Resistance Network (CHALLENGE, 4/22), neighbors from nearby towns and newer Party members from Baltimore and Virginia joined the rally.
Smash ICE on May Day
Our May Day leaflet in English and Spanish called upon workers, students and soldiers to organize against war and fascism. As the war in Iran continues we know that it is necessary to organize strategically – in the military, in transportation and industry. Building multiracial unity is critical to this effort and we reached 150 residents with flyers and CHALLENGE. The building where ICE wants to expand is home to students from the community college, English learners, and SNAP users and sits next to a largely Black and Latin shopping center. It is also two blocks away from the Immigration Court where immigrants are often denied asylum appeals and can be easily detained by ICE. A broad coalition of immigrant rights groups have held vigils at this location and we chanted here as well “The Cops, The Courts, The Ku Klux Klan, All are Part of the Bosses Plan.” ICE and KKK are all the same and racist terror is the name of their game.” This message resonated with newer folks who were horrified to see the close connection between ICE expansion and the Immigration Court. We ended with “Fight for Communism, Power to the Workers” and a speech calling on everyone to join PLP and grow the revolutionary struggle exponentially.
After the rally we gathered in a local church for food and comradeship as speakers told why they joined PLP (see letters). We sang The Internationale. Our grassroots struggles and mutual aid activities have helped us build a base in the multiracial working class. Now the increased confidence in our ability to raise the Party’s ideas will help us as we struggle with our friends for communism and revolution.
