This Week: May Day Strong , Meeting Recap, and Local Actions

May 1

The next two weeks are full of opportunities to show up, speak out, and push back against the forces concentrating power and undermining democracy. Today we join May Day Strong actions in solidarity with workers and against billionaire dominance. These moments matter—but they’re fuel, not finish lines. The real work is sustained, local, and collective. Keep reading for ways you can plug into action in our community.

May Day Strong: A Day of Economic Noncooperation

On May 1, 2026, workers, students, and families rally, march, and take action across the country to demand a nation that puts workers over billionaires, with many refusing business as usual through...

No School.
No Work.
No Shopping.

Coming on the heels of our historic projection of people power on No Kings Day, Indivisible is joining with May Day Strong, labor groups, and other allies to flex our economic power in a massive day of nonviolent, economic disruption on May 1.

The billionaire class in this country is enabling Trump’s consolidation of power as they profit off the pillaging of our environment, the dismantling of our democracy, and the shredding of our social safety net.

But on May Day, we’re putting the oligarchs on notice and reminding them -- in a language they understand -- where the real power lies in this country: with the people, not a wannabe-king.

There are many ways to take action...from refusing to shop, to walking out of work, to attending a demonstration.

However you join, it matters.
Together we can harness our power as workers and consumers.

We Demand:
1. Tax the rich so our families, not their fortunes, come first.
2. No ICE. No war. No private army serving authoritarian power.
3. Expand democracy. Hands off our vote.

Locally, IMV encourages “no work, no school, no shop.” We are also asking members to take part in a positive, proactive community action. Here's a menu to choose from:

★ Option 1: Citizen Action May Day Event – Utica
6-9 pm, at DeSales Center, 309 Genesee Street, Utica. This will be a shared community solidarity meal with music and speakers on a variety of social justice topics. To register for the event: https://mobilize.us/s/FL00Gg

IMV is a co-sponsor of this celebration of the international labor movement this year. What can you expect in addition to a solidarity supper?

Performances by: Utica Royalties Dance Group, Carson Murphy (a Utica No Kings Rally favorite!), Paul Whitney, Cassandara Harris, Bob Heins, and J Easy.
Teach in with Shatasha Edwards (labor unions and health care) and Gianni Notaro (history teacher/activist on background and importance of May Day).
Poets and civil and human rights speakers.

★ Option 2: May Day Strong “Together We Stand” – Syracuse
12-2 pm, James M. Hanley Federal Building, 100 S. Clinton Street, Syracuse. Participate in a big, fun rally in Syracuse. IMV is one of many co-sponsors. Because when the billionaires break every rule, it’s going to take more than a rally to stop them. More information.

★ Option 3: Friday, May 1st, 5:00-6:00 "Workers over Billionaires" Honk & Wave Rally and Food Drive on the Hamilton Village Green. "On May Day and everyday ~ support small business not corporate billionaires."
Updates at: madisoncountynydems.com,

★ Option 4: Bridge Brigade Bonanza (Herkimer & Marcy)
We need 16 people at both the Herkimer (5-6:30 pm) and Marcy locations (4-6 pm) so that we can hold signs facing both directions of thruway traffic.

Volunteer for Marcy: https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/939538/
Volunteer for Herkimer: https://mobilize.us/s/r7ps29

IMV’s April 2026 Meeting Recap

We had a wonderful meeting on Sunday, with lots of conversations and engagement at the "activism tables” and elsewhere in the room.

Thanks to Kathy Wojo for the inspiring “Rise Up” video filled with photos from our three No Kings 3 rallies at the end of March. NK3 video.mp4
Here is the May Day Guide Lauren Waszkiewicz created about the history of the movement, national actions, local events, and individual actions you can take.
We met Megan Gillen, candidate for Holland Patent School Board. If you live in the HP school district, please join Megan for a meet and greet on Wednesday May 6, 6pm at 16 Stone Brewpub, 9542 Main St. Holland Patent. Bring your questions and community spirit. (Colt Brumm could really use Megan as an ally on the school board!)
We met Sonia Martinez, who is running for the Utica School Board. Sonia is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Mohawk Valley Latino Association.
Wherever you live, be sure you turn out to vote on the school budget and board of education on May 19th!
Thanks to the IMV leaders staffing tables for Letters to the Editor, Bridge Brigade, Safety Marshals, and Refugee & Immigrant Support!
We heard from Jon Lipe, candidate for the 119th Assembly district. What Jon needs most from us now: 1) Help with collecting signatures on his independent petition. 2) Contribute to his campaign. If you live in the 119th and you give $100 that turns into over $1000 for his campaign with state matching funds!

Climate Crisis Working Group

Keep Calling to Defend NY’s Climate Law, Say NO to AI Data Centers, AND attend LOBBY DAYS

Governor Hochul has proposed amendments to weaken New York's landmark Climate Law through the state budget. The budget deadline has been extended.

Please Take the Following Actions to Advocate for the Climate Law.

CALL every day until the budget is passed with the following message:

1. Call GOVERNOR HOCHUL (518) 474-8390

"Hi, I'm ______ and I'm calling to tell Governor Hochul not to GUT our climate law! We already have the solutions we need for a smooth, affordable transition to clean energy. Implementing the climate law as written is our best chance to protect New Yorkers from fossil fuel prices that are skyrocketing because of wars, extreme weather disasters, and pipeline buildouts.”

2. CALL SPEAKER HEASTIE (518) 455-3791 AND

MAJORITY LEADER STEWART-COUSINS (518) 455-2585

Hi, I'm ________ and I'm calling to urge ________ to stand strong against Governor Hochul's proposed rollbacks to the climate law. All 3 of Hochul's proposals are harmful, dangerous, and completely unacceptable! You must reject them. Now more than ever, we need clean and renewable energy to protect New Yorkers from volatile fossil fuel prices and the worst impacts of climate change."

You may also ask Speaker Heastie to support the Accelerate Solar for Affordable Power act; ASAP bill (A.8758). Calling after hours is fine-just leave a message.

3. CALL/EMAIL Regarding the Proposed Mohawk Valley AI Data Centers

Two AI data centers have been proposed for the former Remington Arms site. AI data centers typically create few jobs, use enormous quantities of water, and energy. Although the developers claim that the site will be” a fossil-fuel-free, 100% electric site supported by the region’s clean energy resources,” the full environmental impacts are not known.

Email template for residents of the Mohawk Valley. Send to Kelly Hale, NYSDEC, to make a public comment on the Brownfield Cleanup Program applications for Sites C and E. Send emails to kelly.hale@dec.ny.gov, or call her at 315-235-0332.

The deadline for public comments is May 1st!

ALBANY LOBBY DAYS:

E-mail Maggie Reilly margaret_reilly@mac.com if you are interested in attending:

MAY 6 - LOBBY DAY AND RALLY FOR ASAP ACT

Let’s get more solar on the grid, ASAP! We’re heading to Albany to tell our legislators it’s time for a smarter way to power New York.

MAY 11 - Monday, May 11, 2026 in Albany to put people over plastic and pass Packaging Reduction! RSVP: bit.ly/5-11-26 no later than May 1.

Help Jon Lipe Get the Mohawk Valley 1st Independent Line!

Join us for a big “all hands on deck” petition day on Saturday, May 9th at 10 AM. We’ll meet at Jervis Library (613 N. Washington Street, Rome).

This is one of our major pushes to reach the 2,000 signatures we need—so every person makes a difference. Just show up in comfortable shoes, even if you’ve never petitioned before. You can be paired with someone experienced, or bring a friend along!

Why does it matter to be on the Mohawk Valley Independent Line?
Independent ballot lines are critical in our area for making it easier for unaffiliated voters, as well as those with stronger ties to the Republican party, to vote for the best candidate. In this case, that’s Jon Lipe. Jon already has the Working Families Party line and hopes to win the Democratic line in the June 23, 2026 primary (and IMV will help with that too!).

Anyone can help collect independent petitions—just show up at the times and locations below.
Pickup and Drop-off Locations:
★ Sundays in Rome: – 4:30 pm (thru May 17)
Dunkin, 1155 Erie Blvd W, Rome, NY 13440

★ Tuesdays in Whitesboro – 6pm (thru May 19)
Dunham Library – 76 Main St, Whitesboro, NY 13492

★. Thursdays in Utica
Utica Public Library – 6:30 pm (thru May 14)
303 Genesee St, Utica, NY 13501

Tell Rep. Stefanik to Stop Funding ICE

Tell your Republican representative: No more bankrolling ICE brutality. After keeping the DHS shut down for months because they refuse to enact reforms that Americans overwhelmingly want for ICE and Border Patrol, the GOP is trying to use a legislative process known as budget reconciliation to shovel as much as $140 billion more into the coffers of those agencies -- on top of the $170 billion they got in last year's Big Ugly Bill. The House could vote as soon as tomorrow to advance this package, so if you have a Republican representative, call them today to tell them you don’t want another penny of your taxpayer dollars funding these violent agencies.

Tell Congress Not to Spy on Americans!

Demand that your representative say NO to the regime's efforts to expand its domestic spying capabilities. Section 702 of the Federal Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) is a War on Terrorism-era relic that skirts the Constitution to allow warrantless domestic surveillance by the federal government -- but it's set to expire, or be reauthorized, this week, possibly as early as tomorrow. Tell your representative: They can either greenlight AI-fueled warrantless mass surveillance, or uphold the Constitution. And after you've emailed your representative via the link above, please follow up with a call.

Tell Congress: No ICE Concentration Camps!

Tell your senators and representative: No ICE concentration camps, anywhere. The regime has been scouting and purchasing commercial warehouses to expand its network of ICE prison camps -- but local, state, and legal opposition has successfully stopped or slowed 13 such projects. As Saturday's Communities Not Cages day of action made crystal clear, Americans absolutely do not want to be a nation that warehouses humans, anywhere. Ever. Follow up on that amazing day by telling your Members of Congress to publicly oppose new warehouse-style camps and any public spending to build, renovate, or operate such facilities.

Make Rent Affordable Rally!

Get on the Bus for the Rally in Albany!
Tuesday, May 5th, 8:00 am -4:30 pm

Join Citizen Action and partners as we call on the New York State Legislature to pass the Rent Emergency Stabilization for Tenants (REST) Act—legislation that would empower local communities to expand rent-stabilized housing across New York State.

Now more than ever, people deserve to feel secure in their homes. Join us for a free bus from our Utica office to the Albany Capitol to rally for Rent Stabilization!

Local Events & Rallies

Join Us!

ROME: Saturday, May 2nd, 12–1:30 pm, Protest Against Trump’s Authoritarianism in Rome, Along Black River Blvd near the intersection with Erie Blvd. on one side of Fort Stanwix, Rome. This peaceful weekly demonstration has music and creative signs.

UTICA: Thursday, May 7th, 4–5 pm, IMV weekly protest at the Pirnie Federal Building, 10 Broad St., Utica. Bring a sign (extras available) as we protest Trump’s authoritarianism, unnecessary war, and complicit officials.

Alan Cole