Editor’s note: This story was updated to clarify the demonstrators’ positions on Project Marvel because of inaccurate information contained in the original press release.
Activists will hold a protest in downtown San Antonio on Labor Day to oppose billionaire influence and corruption in the U.S. and to demand that the city’s controversial Project Marvel development be constructed to benefit for the greater community, not just the wealthy.
The protest is part of a national movement led by the May Day Strong Coalition, a collective of organizations including AFL-CIO, Indivisible, Our Revolution, 50501, Sunrise Movement, General Strike US and a number of unions throughout the country.
The local demonstration will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 1, at San Antonio City Hall, 100 Military Plaza. Event details can be found online.
“On Monday, Sept. 1, the May Day Strong Coalition will lead a nationwide day of action with more than 1,000 events in every region of the country, bringing together workers, unions, and communities to challenge billionaire greed and government corruption,” the coalition said in an emailed statement.
San Antonio’s day of action pulls in unions with a uniquely local focus.
“San Antonio’s Project Labor action, organized by the Schools Our Students Deserve Coalition alongside labor unions including the San Antonio Alliance, LiUNA Local 1095, CWA Local 6143, AFSCME 2021, and others, will rally workers and community members in support of a robust community benefits agreement for Project Marvel,” the group states in a press release. “The action will highlight the unacceptable use of hundreds of millions in public dollars for a new stadium while underpaid teachers spend their own money preparing classrooms for working-class students. On Labor Day, San Antonio workers will join thousands across the country demanding investment in families and communities.”
City officials have drawn criticism for quickly moving ahead on Project Marvel, a proposed $4 billion sports-and-entertainment district downtown. The centerpiece of the development would be a $1.3 billion Spurs arena, paid for in part with public dollars.
City Council recently approved broad terms for a deal with the Spurs over the objection of Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones, who called for a pause on the project to allow time for a more robust independent economic impact analysis.
“San Antonio’s workers demand that such a huge investment in Project Marvel should come with an equal investment in public education, public transportation, affordable housing, and should create strong, well-paid union jobs during and post construction with sensible worker protections complete with family sustaining wages,” the San Antonio Schools Our Students Deserve Coalition states in event details.
It goes on to tie the Project Marvel fight to the broader labor movement: “This Labor Day, thousands of communities across the country are fighting back against the billionaire takeover of our country. In San Antonio, that means standing up for the working people left out of the Project Marvel plan.”
A map on the May Day Strong website, powered by AFL-CIO, shows protests planned for cities throughout the country, from Florida to Alaska and even Hawaii.
“Labor and community are planning more than a barbecue on Labor Day this year because we have to stop the billionaire takeover,” the May Day coalition’s website declares. “Billionaires are stealing from working families, destroying our democracy, and building private armies to attack our towns and cities.”
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This article appears in Aug 21 – Sep 2, 2025.