May Day rally and march will close streets in Center City on Friday
Known officially as “May Day Rally: Workers Over Billionaires,” the rally is scheduled to take place on the north apron of City Hall from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Center City is slated to see road closures and parking restrictions Friday afternoon for a rally and march held in honor of May Day.
Known officially as “May Day Rally: Workers Over Billionaires,” the event is scheduled to take place on the north apron of City Hall from 4 to 6 p.m., with the march following. Ahead of the rally, at 10 a.m., local labor leaders will gather at 11th and Market Streets to discuss “The Working People’s Vision for Philadelphia,” a concept they said would be ratified at the rally.
The “Workers Over Billionaires” event is expected to bring a large crowd, prompting city officials to announce several road closures and parking restrictions. Significant traffic delays are expected, and a number of SEPTA bus routes will be detoured.
Here is what you need to know:
What is the rally about?
Organized by the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO, the “Workers Over Billionaires” event will feature labor and community organizations rallying in support of working people. Participants will advocate for “a city and an economy that puts workers first,” American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees District Council 33, Philadelphia’s largest city workers union, said in a social media post.
The “Working People’s Vision for Philadelphia,” meanwhile, will present a concept of the city being “rooted in the values of the working class,” the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO said in a statement. Elements of that plan include fully funded public services, healthcare as a human right, and a robust public education system, according to an event page for the rally and march.
The event will also take place on May Day, also known as International Workers’ Day. The holiday held on May 1 honors organized labor history and workers’ rights. The holiday dates to the late 1800s and features annual demonstrations around the country.
Planned road closures
Road closures and parking restrictions near City Hall are slated to start at 3 p.m. and run through 6 p.m. Those closures and restrictions will be on:
John F. Kennedy Boulevard between Juniper and 15th Streets
North Broad Street between John F. Kennedy Boulevard and Arch Street
Juniper Street between John F. Kennedy Boulevard and Market Street
Additionally, the march will include more as-yet-unannounced road closures on an as-needed basis, city officials said.
Officials also warned motorists to pay attention to posted “no parking” signs, as vehicles parked in marked areas will be relocated.
SEPTA detours
Routes for a number of SEPTA buses will be detoured around the rally and march starting at 2:30 p.m., with changes expected to last through about 8 p.m. The affected buses are routes:
4
16
17
27
32
33
38
48
62
124
125
Specific route changes can be viewed on SEPTA’s online system status page.
Public safety
City officials said that congestion in the area of the event is expected and asked attendees to not leave bags or other personal items unattended. If there is an emergency or a suspicious item or person, leaders advised attendees to notify a police officer or contact 911.
Updates on public safety and traffic in the area of the rally are also available through the ReadyPhiladelphia text alert system, which can be subscribed to by texting “ReadyPhila” to 888-777.
Additionally, organizers for the rally and march have said that nonviolence is a core principal of the event, and asked attendees to work to de-escalate potential conflicts. Weapons, they added, should not be brought to the event, even if legally allowed.
