Tens of thousands of immigrants and their supporters in U.S. cities are set to protest Monday against immigration policies to mark May Day. The roots of May Day, or International Workers Day, stretch back over a century. The origins of May Day go back to the 1880s, unions pushing for better workplace conditions began advocating for an eight-hour workday with demonstrations and strikes nationwide. In some countries, May Day is a public holiday. Elsewhere, it's used to commemorate workers or protest for their rights. Demonstrations, rallies and riots have taken place globally from Cleveland to London. The focus of May 1 shifted to immigration in the U.S. in 2006 when roughly 1 million people took to the streets to protest federal legislation that would've made living in the U.S. without legal permission a felony. This year, organizers expect a boost as different organizations are working together to fight aggressive immigration policies.

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