Philadelphia, May 2025 - While in many cities around the world May Day was celebrated with marches and labor demands, in the United States it was a day of protest marked by a prominent figure: Senator Bernie Sanders. From Philadelphia, he led a massive demonstration against what he himself has called the "corporate oligarchy" that, in his words, dominates the Trump administration.

The event, dubbed "For the Workers, Not the Billionaires," brought together a coalition of unions, labor rights organizations and migrant groups in front of Philadelphia City Hall. As reported by Axios, it was one of the largest rallies in the country, in a day that included more than 1,000 protests, rallies and assemblies in different parts of the United States.

According to Maggie Mullooly, spokeswoman for the local chapter of the AFL-CIO union - the main organizer of the rally - the demonstration was not just against Trump. "This demonstration is not exclusively against Trump, it's against all the bad bosses, billionaires and oligarchs who are attacking the working class to keep lining their pockets," she told Axios.

The protest caused road closures and congestion in the city center, but that did not prevent the estimated presence of more than 5,000 people. The scene was a reflection of the growing unrest among workers who accuse the government of prioritizing business interests over labor welfare.

At the center of Sanders' speech was again one of his favorite targets: Elon Musk. During his speech in Philadelphia, the senator asserted that "today in America, one man, Elon Musk, owns more wealth than the bottom 52 percent of American households." The comment pointed directly to the tycoon's role as head of the controversial Department of Government Efficiency, created by Trump with the promise to cut "wasteful spending" in the state.

But Sanders has not been alone on this tour. In recent weeks, he has shared the stage with Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on a national tour they have dubbed "Fighting Oligarchy." According to Axios, this tour of progressive populist tone has taken force as one of the main focal points of opposition to the current administration, and is outlining a new profile for sectors of the Democratic Party that do not feel represented by the traditional leadership.

The context is not minor: in the face of a Trump administration that has consolidated its power in key areas of the State, and a Democratic Party divided between the moderate center and the more progressive wings, figures such as Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez represent a critical line that attempts to rearticulate social discontent.

At the Philadelphia rally, in addition to Sanders, the voices of migrants, trade unionists and workers were heard denouncing the deterioration of labor conditions, massive deportations and the disproportionate power of big capital. The banners, which spoke of justice, living wages and human rights, also revealed something else: a cry for a political alternative.

Despite the size of the mobilizations, some activists expressed frustration at the lack of a clear strategy from the Democratic Party in the face of Trump's power. "I feel like I haven't heard anything from the party," Izabela Cabrera, a 22-year-old student in Washington, told AFP. "Clearly the American people are upset and want change, but I don't think the Democratic Party is understanding that right now."

The May Day rally, beyond its numbers and slogans, made it clear that social unrest is still present, and that within the Democratic universe there are leaders who are not willing to lower their voices. Bernie Sanders, once again, made it clear.

With information from AFP