Activists gather at Capitol, courthouse for May Day protests

MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) - Monday’s soggy weather dampened the size of the crowds, but not the energy of May Day activists across the region.

Dozens of protesters took to the streets of Minneapolis to protest multiple issues including the president’s agenda and immigrant rights, and to demand fair pay for workers.

The group marched from Easy Phillips Park to the courthouse downtown via Franklin Avenue where they rallied with minimum wage workers on the food industry along the way.

“The biggest issue is wages,” said janitor Luciano Balbuena. “I’ve been working for a long time and I’m still on poverty wages, not able to take care of our families. We need for companies to respect our work, treat us with dignity and pay us a living wage.”

While more protests and demonstrations took place in the Capitol in St. Paul, the one in Minneapolis focused mainly on immigrant rights.

“It’s great to see all the people,” said Pierce Putz of the International Socialists Organization. “It’s not the best weather, of course, but that doesn’t stop the need to keep fighting for a better society.”