No to Billionaires! Labor Day Protest Rocks Historic Filipinotown

Los Angeles, CA — Close to 200 people of diverse ages and backgrounds marked Labor Day with a protest in Echo Park and Historic Filipinotown, denouncing what they described as billionaire takeover and corruption under the Trump administration at the expense of working people.

The demonstration, dubbed “Workers Over Billionaires,” was organized by the Filipino American Lakas Collectiveand Indivisible Historic Filipinotown/Echo Park as part of a nationwide Indivisible action. The Malaya Movement-Los Angeles also joined in solidarity, amplifying calls against fascism and global greed.

“We want to say, workers over billionaires, and we want to stop the global greed and oppose military funding in the Philippines that comes from resources stolen from the people,” said CC, a representative of the Malaya Movement.

Joe Arciaga, co-chair of the Fil-Am Lakas Collective and a Desert Storm veteran, stressed the generational impact of the movement. “We are fighting for civil rights not only now but for our children, grandchildren, and generations to come,” he said. One young participant carried a sign reading, “Protect Kids, Not Guns.”

Protesters gathered mid-morning at Park Avenue and Glendale Boulevard, raising placards and chanting slogans that drew honks of support from passing motorists. Their signs carried creative and bold messages such as “Give Me Dump Trump or Give Me Death,” “The Trump Fascist Regime Must Go Now,” “Billionaires: The Only Minority Destroying America,”and “Proteksyon Hindi Deportasyon-Malaya.”

The march continued along Park Avenue toward Sunset Boulevard, where protesters chanted “No billionaires, no greed, give the people what they need.” At Alvarado Street, the rally grew as more onlookers joined in, including one participant who played an indigenous drum to the rhythm of the chants.

Organizers condemned policies they say make life harder for workers—citing restrictions on voting rights, tariffs that increase consumer prices, cuts to healthcare and social benefits, and anti-union legislation.

“Workers and immigrants built America,” Arciaga declared. “It’s time we put people before billionaires.”