Latino Workers,the 2024 Presidential Election and the Future of the Labor Movement

Abstract

In the aftermath of the Presidential Election of 2024, tens of thousands of Latinx workers and their allies engaged in marches, boycotts, strikes, and other forms of collective action against the federal government's anti-immigrant and anti-labor policies. Mass protests in over 100 cities were aimed at President-elect Trump's threat to deport upwards of ten million immigrants. Belying media stereotypes of passivity, political conservatism, and a “Hispanic turn to the right,” Latinx workers' struggles inspired small business owners, human rights advocates, social media influencers and others to join in social justice actions in numerous cities. In addition to two national “Day Without Immigrant” events, Latina/o laborers in urban and rural areas organized “stay at home” campaigns weaving together cross-class alliances reminiscent of the New Deal and United Farm Worker Grape Boycott eras. Latinx working-class self-activity, rooted in internationalist experiences and perspectives, helped to revive and reinvigorate the labor movement in the wake of the 2024 Presidential Election.