May Day rallies were held across the United States on Wednesday in the annual show of support for worker and immigrant rights. Thousands of people marched in Los Angeles to call for fair and humane immigration reform.

Guillermo Hermasso: “We want to send a message to the Congress that we need to pass the immigration reform now because it is hurting our children. And if they pass the immigration reform, it could help because they’re going to pay taxes. Everybody pays taxes. We are working right now, and we pay taxes. So we need legalization now.

Jessica Faulkner: “There are so many people here for change and for unity. And so, I think it solidifies with all of the people here sending a message for progress and for immigration reform and workers’ rights.”

A series of actions were held in New York City, many staged by the group Occupy Wall Street. At least five arrests were reported when a group of demonstrators marched to join a rally in Union Square. One of the speakers at the rally, KFC worker Joseph Barrera, said the recent campaign to pay fast food workers a living wage is growing by the month.

Joseph Barrera: “To show you guys the progress that we have made, back in November we were 200 strong. Now it may seem like a little bit, but by April, our second strike, we had 400 people. We doubled in size. That’s right. Now, not only did that inspire people, but our courage and our unity — and the fact that we are here to fight and we’re not giving up — spread halfway across the country. Last week or two weeks ago, the citizens of Chicago, the workers, got together, and they also struck. Now we’re not stopping there. We’re not stopping halfway across the country. We’re trying to spread this all across America.”