Teachers in multiple states took part in May Day demonstrations on Friday, with some schools canceling classes and students being encouraged to attend rallies organized across the country.

The protests were part of a broader series of May Day events, with more than 3,500 demonstrations reported nationwide.

Organizers called for “no school, no work, and no shopping” as part of coordinated actions tied to labor and political demands.

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In Raleigh, North Carolina, thousands of teachers gathered for a demonstration described as the “Kids Over Corporations” rally.

The event was one of several taking place across the country, with participants raising concerns about issues including immigration policy and corporate practices.

The large turnout in North Carolina led to significant disruptions in school operations.

More than 20 school districts in the state canceled classes after a high number of teachers requested leave to attend the rally. Officials cited staffing shortages as the reason for the closures.

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Asheville City Schools addressed the situation in a message to families and students ahead of the event.

“Asheville City Schools will need to implement an optional teacher workday on Friday, May 1, due to the significant number of staff members who have requested personal or unpaid leave to attend the Kids Over Corporations rally in Raleigh,” the district said in an April 20 post.

The district explained that it could not maintain normal operations due to the number of absences.

“The school system cannot provide adequate supervision of students due to the volume of leave requests that have been submitted. I reviewed various options in lieu of closing schools. With such a high number of staff out of the building on a single day, ensuring we can appropriately monitor students becomes exceedingly challenging,” the statement said.

Similar actions were reported in other parts of the country.

In Chicago, students were encouraged to participate in May Day demonstrations, with some describing the outings as a “field trip” to protest locations.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson also commented on the participation of students, praising those who attended the rallies instead of going to class.

In New York City, demonstrators gathered in lower Manhattan, where activists blocked the entrance to the New York Stock Exchange.

During the protest, participants were seen striking an Amazon logo piñata and holding signs expressing opposition to corporate practices.

Protests were also reported in Los Angeles, where demonstrators chanted, “We want citizenship now.”

Additional demonstrations across the country included calls to shut down U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and opposition to immigration policies associated with President Donald Trump.

The May Day events brought together teachers, activists, and public officials in coordinated demonstrations across multiple states.

The actions led to school disruptions in several districts and drew participation from both educators and students.

Officials in affected school systems cited logistical challenges in maintaining operations due to staff absences, while organizers of the protests promoted the demonstrations as part of a broader national effort addressing labor and policy concerns.

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