At the beginning of each September, Americans of all passions and persuasions celebrate a time-honored national tradition- Labor Day. Established as a federal holiday in 1894 following a push from within the labor movement, the day is intended to give working people time off, as well as to allow the nation to reflect on their contributions to the society and economy of the United States. Passed by Congress and signed into law by President Grover Cleveland, the day has also become an unofficial end to the summer season, although it technically extends until a few weeks later in September.
This holiday weekend, millions of Americans took time to pause, reflect, and celebrate the achievements and struggles of the national labor movement, many of whom spent the time at the beach, at barbecues, or attending fireworks displays. However, this year also saw a new set of antics: protests against the Trump administration designed to paint him as an out-of-touch leader with no regard for the working man. Billed as “Workers Over Billionaire” demonstrations, the event was created by the very same dream team that brought you June’s “No Kings Day” protests, meant to overshadow both Flag Day and the Anniversary of our Nation’s Army.
Organizers claim that more than one thousand individual marches drew half a million attendees, streaming through American cities and giving speeches about the divides in the structure of national wealth and class systems. Ironically, one of the leading groups driving the demonstrations was the Working Families Organization, a massive outfit that receives heavy funding from controversial billionaire George Soros.
Further irony lies in Trump’s largely pro-labor agenda, which seems to be delivering for the men and women actually working in such industries. The President’s second term saw what was almost the fastest rise in blue-collar wages on record, losing only to his own pace from his first term. As summer draws to a close, Americans are taking last-minute vacations with the lowest-priced gas in five years, paid for by real wages that have risen every month of his new term. Additionally, under his Make America Skilled Again policy, the President has overseen the largest enrollment in trade schools ever recorded in the United States, allowing a generation of Americans to learn high-demand skills and avoid the lifetime cycle of traditional student debt. Through his tariff initiative, he has encouraged a return of manufacturing to US shores and made strides to reclaim America’s status as a nation that innovates and builds.
While the President looks to make life better for American working families through tangible policy, Democrats are wasting precious time and resources grandstanding. As midterms approach, liberal anger has overshadowed rational action, and they seem stuck in 2024’s losing playbook. With no fresh ideas or talent on the horizon, the DNC had better come up with a winning strategy for 2025 or risk another two years of Trump in near complete control. Street protests may generate clever sound bites for politicians and social media content for voters, but they seem to be doing very little to erode the President’s passion- or progress.
Do protests on already established holidays make much of a difference in moving the political needle? Is it appropriate to co-opt a holiday meant to honor laborers in the United States to make a political point?
Hilary Gunn is a Connecticut native with a degree in Criminal Justice from the George Washington University. She works for a nonprofit and has previously collaborated with the CT GOP as an activist, political campaign manager and field director, and social media organizer. She is currently serving in her fourth term of municipal office and has previously acted as a delegate on the Republican Town Committee.