NC teachers are protesting again in Raleigh. Follow today’s May Day march, rally
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Thousands of teachers and supporters will march in Raleigh Friday.
- At least 22 NC school districts canceled classes because staff requested the day off.
- The NCAE organized the “Kids Over Corporations” march, which is a May Day Strong event
This story will be updated through May 1 during the march. Check back regularly for updates.
Downtown Raleigh will fill up Friday with thousands of teachers and public education supporters in what ‘s being promoted as one of the biggest labor actions in the state’s history.
The North Carolina Association of Educators has mobilized teachers from across the state to march on the Legislative Building to demand higher pay, more school funding and higher taxes on corporations. The “Kids Over Corporations” march will have statewide ramifications since at least 22 school districts canceled classes because so many of their employees requested the day off.
“Nearly 20 school districts have shut down, and thousands of people will gather at our State Capitol in one of the biggest displays of people power in our state’s history,” Bryan Proffitt, vice president of NCAE, said at a press conference Wednesday as the number of districts continued to rise.
Nearly 20 school districts have shut down, and thousands of people will gather at our State Capitol in one of the biggest displays of people power in our state’s history.”
Bryan Proffitt
Vice president, NCAEState lawmakers won’t be meeting Friday during the protest. But the march is one of the flagship events for the nationwide May Day Strong Movement.
A coalition of labor, immigration, civil rights and education groups are holding more 3,500 May Day Strong events on Friday. The groups are calling for a day of no work, no school and no shopping.
The march has been dismissed by Republican legislative leaders who say they’re already working on raising teacher pay. A new report released this week by the National Education Association ranked North Carolina 46th in the nation in both average teacher pay and per-pupil spending.
“Overwhelmingly, most teachers from the state will be at work on Friday. And you know, the group that I understand is putting that on doesn’t spend the time they should on teacher pay raises. They’re more worried about other left wing political interests,” GOP House Speaker Destin Hall previously told The News & Observer.
‘One of the biggest labor actions’
People will begin gathering at the Halifax Mall at 10 a.m. with speeches beginning at 11 a.m. At noon, the group will march from Halifax Mall on North Wilmington Street to East Morgan Street then back toward Halifax Mall using North Salisbury Street.
This will be the first time NCAE has organized a mass march since it brought thousands of people to downtown Raleigh in May 2018 and May 2019.
“This Friday, for the third time in eight years, the North Carolina Association of Educators will lead thousands of public school educators, students, parents, our supporters and other workers in one of the biggest labor actions that our state has ever seen.
This story was originally published May 1, 2026 at 5:30 AM with the headline "NC teachers are protesting again in Raleigh. Follow today’s May Day march, rally."
