Introduction to the Protests
Protesters hold signs during a “No Kings” demonstration in downtown Houston on Saturday, June 14, 2025. The "Workers over Billionaires" protests are scheduled to take place in the Houston area on Monday, which is Labor Day. These planned pro-worker demonstrations are part of a nationwide effort called May Day Strong, which includes hundreds of planned pro-democracy protests.
The May Day Strong Movement
The May Day Strong website claims that "Billionaires are stealing from working families, destroying our democracy and building private armies to attack our towns and cities." The movement’s goal is to stop the billionaire takeover by building a bigger and stronger movement. They believe that working people should rise up to stop the exploitation of billionaires, not just through the ballot box or the court, but through building a stronger movement.
Planned Protests in Houston
One of the Houston protests is scheduled for 3-6 p.m. Monday at 8th Wonder Brewery, 2202 Dallas St., while a similar demonstration is planned for 3:30-6:30 p.m. Monday near the Houston International Promenade, 2300 Polk St. The organizers include the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, New Economy for Working Houston, Texas Organizing Project, and Organized Power in Numbers. They said that "Time and time again, we have seen the Billionaires and ultra-rich profit and take advantage of our work. We build and make our society function. It’s time that it works for us all."
Peaceful Protest and Involvement of Labor Organizations
The organizers also said that peaceful protest is a core part of their mission and that weapons of any kind will not be tolerated. The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) is also involved in the protests. According to the AFL-CIO organizers, "Workers built this country, and workers deserve an economy, a government and a country for the people, not the billionaires." They believe that workers should fight for their rights and deserve a better future.
Other Planned Events
Other “Workers Over Billionaires” events are planned in Conroe, Katy, Kingwood, and elsewhere in Texas. The scheduled protests are the most recent in a series of similar demonstrations held across the country and in Houston. In July, protestors in Houston participated in the national "Good Trouble Lives On" protests. In June, more than 60 “No Kings Day” rallies were held across Texas. Two months earlier, more than 1,000 people gathered at Houston City Hall for the nationwide “50501” demonstrations. Participants in each of those protests expressed opposition to President Donald Trump and his policies.
Conclusion
The "Workers over Billionaires" protests are a call to action for working people to rise up against the exploitation of billionaires. The protests are part of a nationwide effort to build a stronger movement and to fight for workers’ rights. With the involvement of labor organizations and the commitment to peaceful protest, the movement aims to bring about change and to create a better future for working people. As the protests continue to grow and spread across the country, it remains to be seen what impact they will have on the future of work and democracy in America.
