An estimated 1,200 people lined the streets of Pasadena on Thursday commemorating International Workers’ Day, as part of a nationwide May Day demonstration.

The Pasadena protest was organized by the grassroots collective Northeast Los Angeles Alliance for Democracy (NELA Indivisible), building off the “Hands Off!” demonstrations against President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, which NELA Indivisible also organizes in Pasadena.

As the demonstration grew on Thursday evening near Colorado Boulevard and Lake Avenue, cars drove by honking in support. One had signs taped to the windows reading “BOYCOTT TESLA,” a reference to criticism against the car company’s leader, Musk, a senior advisor to Trump who has led the newly formed federal Department of Government Efficiency and its effort to layoff thousands of federal employees in what officials said is in an effort to cut costs.

The day typically celebrates the work of labor unions and activists. But the demonstrations taking place across Los Angeles, Orange County, and other major cities across the U.S. have taken on new layers of meaning under the second Trump administration. In the U.S. thousands turned the day into a platform to organize against the actions of the federal government, which, along with DOGE’s layoffs, has also conducted sweeping immigration crackdowns. Protesters also lamented what they see as the administration’s sweeping assault on labor protections, diversity initiatives and federal employees.

The Trump administration, which just completed its 100th day in power, and its supporters, say the cost-cutting, crackdowns and new tariff-based economic policies are geared toward Trump’s campaign message of “Making America Great Again.” Ultimately, they say, such policies will usher in a new era of prosperity.

But the hundreds who lined Pasadena streets on Thursday night saw it differently.

Protesters shouted slogans like “say it loud, say it clear, immigrants are welcome here.”

The multi-issue demonstration was evident with signs reading, “Hands Off the Rule of Law,” “The Trump-Musk Regime Hurts Workers,” “Gaza is not for sale,” and “Our labor creates their wealth!”

“We’re in a crisis of courage,” said Pasadena resident Jill Shook. “People don’t have the courage to stand. We’ve got to be involved. That’s what democracy is.”

Demonstrators marched back and forth from the street corners before marching down to Del Mar Boulevard around 6 p.m.

In nearby downtown Los Angeles, thousands of demonstrators marched, hoisting signs saying “Immigrants make America great,” “Migration is beautiful” and “It’s not the time to be silent.” With bands playing and flags waving, the gathering had the feel of a celebration.

The Pasadena event, which had 700 people signed up to attend, already saw several hundred before 5 p.m., its planned to start. By 5:40 p.m., it had ballooned to 1,200, organizers said.

Ron LaBrada was among them. His reason for protesting was simple: “Our Constitution is not being respected.”

LaBrada, who held a sign reading, “Dump Trump Now!”, believes there are problems at all branches of government, arguing that the executive branch should lead with honesty, Congress should act in a bipartisan manner, and the Supreme Court should be representative of the fundamental of our laws.

“We have a president, cabinet, and GOP leadership that are not respecting the basic foundation of this country, which is the framework of our constitution — shared powers, legislation, the Supreme Court, and the executive branch need to share that power. It’s not being respected,” LaBrada stated.

Some of the issues Sally Kilby protested against this May Day include the “incompetent cabinet heads”, the Kilmar Abrego-Garcia case, and cuts to foreign aid organizations. Kilby, a former city clerk and public health nurse, says this is the third NELA Indivisible protest she’s attended, and she plans on protesting for as long as possible.

“I’m protesting because the situation we have is extremely important for everyone to step up and say, ‘what’s going on here?’ and not treat it like it’s normal.”