Across New Jersey and the nation on Monday, traditional Labor Day parades and family barbecues were accompanied by a chorus of protest, as workers and activists gathered in at least ten towns to demand an economy that prioritizes people over profits, joining a coordinated national movement.
The “Workers Over Billionaires” rallies, organized by the AFL-CIO in partnership with grassroots groups like May Day Strong, saw at least ten events held in New Jersey communities on Monday, including Trenton, Jersey City, Deptford and Princeton, reflecting a growing sentiment that the holiday’s original purpose—to honor the dignity of labor—has been overshadowed by a stark economic reality.
“This day feels different now,” said a public school teacher who attended the rally in Trenton. “It’s less about celebration and more about a fight for survival. We’re working harder than ever, but falling further behind. This is a reminder that we’re not alone in that struggle.”
The events were part of an estimated 1,000 actions nationwide, from large rallies to local visibility brigades, aiming to protest the influence of wealth in politics.
The protest actions across all 50 states aimed to counter what organizers call the outsized influence of the wealthiest Americans on government policy. The movement echoes the messaging of earlier national rallies, such as the “Hands Off” and “No Kings Day” demonstrations.
The economic data fueling their frustration is stark. While worker productivity has soared in recent decades, wages for the majority have stagnated.
Federal Reserve data reveals a profound concentration of wealth, with the top 0.1% of U.S. households—roughly 131,000 families—controlling a staggering $19.35 trillion. This sum eclipses the $3.67 trillion collectively held by the entire bottom half of the American population.
“We are at an inflection point,” said Dr. Lena Petrova, a labor economist at the Brookings Institution, who studies these trends. “The combination of extreme wealth concentration and rapid technological change creates a powder keg. We can either manage this transition to create a more inclusive economy, or we can witness the erosion of the middle class on a scale we haven’t seen before.”
The rise of artificial intelligence adds a new layer of anxiety.
While touted by industry for its potential to boost efficiency and profits, many workers fear AI-driven automation could displace millions in sectors like manufacturing, transportation, and even white-collar jobs, further accelerating inequality.
“The critical issue is not the technology itself, but who controls it and who benefits,” Petrova added. “Without deliberate intervention, AI threatens to become the ultimate accelerant of inequality.”
Beyond the rallies, the day was used to push for specific legislative action, notably the Consumer Bankruptcy Reform Act. Originally introduced in 2020 by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, the bill seeks to modernize the consumer bankruptcy system.
A key provision would allow individuals to discharge private student loan debt through bankruptcy, reversing a 2005 law that made such debt notoriously difficult to shed.
The White House falsely asserted that “No one has done more for working men and women than President Trump,” but the administration’s erratic economic policies have raised prices, eliminated necessary services, and cut jobs.
The protests, however, highlighted a demand for more fundamental change.
Some advocates, like New Jersey progressive activist Lisa McCormick, called for policies reminiscent of a different economic era, arguing that the social contract has been “shredded.”
“In the post-war era under President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the top marginal tax rate on income over $200,000… soared above 90%. This was not seen as confiscatory socialism but as a responsible civic duty,” McCormick said at a “Workers Over Billionaires” event. “The result was the greatest period of middle-class expansion in history.”
McCormick proposed a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United, a 90% top marginal tax rate, and an unprecedented cap on personal wealth at $50 million.
“This is not merely economic policy—it is a moral framework,” she argued. “A person can live magnificently on $50 million, but no one deserves to amass billions while children go hungry, students drown in debt, and families die from preventable medical crises.”
“Lisa McCormick’s platform calls for a dramatic rethinking of wealth in America, centered around a $50 million cap on personal fortunes,” said Democratic strategist James Devine. “Inspired by Huey Long’s ‘Share Our Wealth’ plan, the proposal seeks to end the moral and economic absurdity of billionaires thriving while millions of Americans suffer. In McCormick’s view, no one needs—or deserves—billions while others can’t afford healthcare or housing.”
“We’re excited to see a lot of folks turning out and really turning up the heat on the administration and on the billionaires that are really driving the agenda, especially as we’re seeing increased attacks on our communities,” said Saqib Bhatti, executive director of the Action Center on Race and the Economy.
As the holiday weekend concluded, the message from the rallies was clear: for many in New Jersey and across the nation, Labor Day is no longer just a day of rest, but a day of reckoning.