Roughly 100 people participated in a May Day demonstration in downtown Berkeley Springs on Thursday, May 1 – the traditional May Day also known historically as International Workers’ Day.
Part of a nationwide peaceful protest coordinated with the 50501 movement, the local action lasted roughly two hours and drew the attention of travelers through the area and locals.
Many drivers honked as they came through the column of people.
A wide variety of signs highlighted areas of recent federal actions and policies that had people concerned.
They included signs about the firing of federal scientists and the end of funding for medical research, the shutdown of the AmeriCorps volunteer corps in many areas, cuts to education funding and threats of further funding withdrawals, Social Security cuts and the effects of a recession on consumer prices.
People from Berkeley and Jefferson County organizations joined local demonstrators for Thursday’s action. Several said they were frustrated by lack of action by federal elected representatives like Senators Capito and Justice and Congressman Riley Moore to protect government programs that serve and employ West Virginia residents.
