Incorporate Armbands in the May Day Strike: A Lesson from the Past

Armbands can offer additional ways for people to participate in the upcoming national May Day strike.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 11:34am

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A cinematic painting of a lone person wearing a black armband standing on a city street corner, the warm light and deep shadows creating a contemplative, nostalgic mood.A simple black armband becomes a symbol of quiet protest and solidarity during a national day of action.Los Angeles Today

Major unions and citizen groups are calling for a national May Day strike in 2026, building off a successful day of protest in Minnesota earlier this year. The author suggests incorporating armbands, like black armbands, as an additional way for people to show their support and participation, even if they can't take off from work or school. The author cites the 1969 Vietnam Moratorium as an example of how armbands helped broaden participation in anti-war protests.

Why it matters

Incorporating armbands could help engage a wider range of people in the May Day strike, from those who can't take time off to retired individuals. It provides an additional way for people to visibly demonstrate their support and solidarity, which can help strengthen the overall impact of the protest.

The details

The author suggests that for the upcoming national May Day strike, organizers should call for people to wear armbands, like black armbands, as a way to show their participation and support. This idea is based on the 1969 Vietnam Moratorium, where two million people marched, but many more participated through other activities like wearing armbands, holding vigils, and ringing church bells. The armbands allowed people who couldn't join the walkouts and marches to still visibly demonstrate their opposition to the Vietnam War.

  • The national May Day strike is planned for 2026.
  • The 1969 Vietnam Moratorium took place on October 15, 1969.

The players

National Education Association

A major labor union representing public school teachers and other education professionals.

American Federation of Teachers

Another major labor union for teachers and education workers.

Indivisible

A grassroots citizen group that organizes progressive political activism.

Public Citizen

A nonprofit consumer advocacy organization.

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What they’re saying

“If the goal of the movement is to engage people as broadly as possible, as well as to demonstrate power, then the armbands can offer additional options and bring the day of protests into more places.”

— Paul Rogat Loeb, Author

What’s next

Organizers of the national May Day strike will need to decide whether to incorporate the armband idea as part of the planned protests and activities.

The takeaway

Incorporating armbands as a way for people to visibly show their support, even if they can't take time off from work or school, could help broaden participation in the upcoming May Day strike and strengthen the overall impact of the protest movement.