Above, rally in Concord on Thursday. ARNIE ALPERT photo

By Arnie Alpert, Active with the Activists

Arnie Alpert spent decades as a community organizer/educator in NH movements for social justice and peace.  Officially retired since 2020, he keeps his hands (and feet) in the activist world while writing about past and present social movements.

The first day of May, which has been an occasion for labor rallies since 1886 and immigrants’ rights marches since 2006, has taken on new significance this year due to President Donald Trump’s assaults on immigrants and unions.  A thousand demonstrations were expected nationwide on Thursday.  New Hampshire expected at least 11, including a rally at the State House arch on Main Street in Concord.

In addition to Concord, other public shows of support for immigrants and disapproval of Trump’s agenda were expected to take place in Alton, Conway, Derry, Jaffrey, Keene, Laconia, Lebanon, Littleton, Nashua, and Sunapee.