‘May Day’ Protests In Essex County Attract NJ Governor Candidates

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — The protests continue in New Jersey.

On Thursday, demonstrators gathered to protest the Trump administration in solidarity with a national day of action for International Workers’ Day, also known as “May Day.” Local protests were organized independently across the U.S., including several in Essex County.

In Bloomfield, people rallied at Bloomfield Avenue and Municipal Plaza, carrying signs that read “Fascism Never Ends Well” and “Real Patriots Defend The Constitution.”

New Jersey governor candidate Sean Spiller was among those in attendance at the Bloomfield protest.

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In West Caldwell, people rallied at Crane Park on Clinton Road, carrying signs that read “Stop The Cuts” and “Democracy Over Dictatorship.”

U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, another candidate for New Jersey governor in 2025, was among those in attendance at the West Caldwell protest.

A coalition of sponsoring groups offered a statement about the reason why protesters were hitting the streets:

“[President Donald] Trump and his billionaire profiteers are trying to create a race to the bottom—on wages, on benefits, on dignity itself. This May Day we are fighting back. We are demanding a country that puts our families over their fortunes—public schools over private profits, health care over hedge funds, prosperity over free market politics.”

The May Day protests are the latest in a series of national demonstrations against the Trump administration, Elon Musk and the ongoing federal budget cuts.

More than 1,200 rallies of various sizes took place across the United States on April 5, with some sources estimating the overall attendance at over a million people. Local “Hands Off!” protests were held in Bloomfield, Glen Ridge, Maplewood, Montclair and West Caldwell. Read More: Anti-Trump Protesters Hit The Streets In Essex County (PHOTOS)

Another round of protests took place on April 19, with local rallies taking place in Bloomfield, Glen Ridge and West Caldwell. Read More: Protesters Bash Trump In 3 Essex County Towns Over Easter Holiday Weekend

Essex County has also seen support for Trump, including a rally in Montclair organized by local GOP voters prior to the president’s Election Day victory.

• See Related: Republican Wanted NJ Town To Raise Flags For Trump Inauguration
• See Related: Jan. 6 Attendee Wants Street In His Hometown Renamed For Donald Trump

Former Vice President Kamala Harris took Essex County in the 2024 presidential election, nailing down 224,596 votes (71.69 percent). Trump scored 83,908 votes – about 26.78 percent.

Trump performed much better on a statewide basis in last November’s election, however, flipping five New Jersey counties from blue to red.

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