TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – Labor unions, Democratic organizations, and community groups nationwide are organizing an economic blackout to commemorate May Day, or International Workers’ Day.

Groups in Tucson are doing the same.

Stores across the city have signs in their windows telling customers they will be closed Friday as part of a national no work, no school, no shopping effort to protest “workers over billionaires.”

Tucson Thrift Shop is among dozens of businesses in the city closing for May Day.

“We would like for us to join the rest of the world in workers’ rights,” said Mackenzie Roper of Tucson Thrift Shop.

Throughout the world, May 1 is International Workers’ Day, a public holiday honoring labor. But in the U.S., the day has recently grown in popularity as a day to hold rallies and marches for workers’ rights and social justice.

“It’s a great day to think about our community and who we’re fighting for in May Day and I think who that is is our local community, is the people who live here, are the people who invets in our community, are the people who are investing in its economic prosperity and future,” said Chris Mazzarella, Local First Arizona’s Director of Tucson Business Development.

Employees at Tucson Thrift Shop plan to close to join dozens of people in a rally and march through downtown Tucson.

“Since it is about workers’ rights, it’s a nice symbol as a business to let our workers go out and speak for their rights,” Roper said.

Mazzarella said the day symbolizes something important, but he worries how a day of no shopping could impact the hundreds of small businesses across southern Arizona.

“Our small business owners have a harder time riding those kinds of things out, whereas the larger companies can very easily handle a day with off-sales,” Mazzarella said.

He said that is especially true in the current economic climate.

“They’re even more thin with the rise in gas prices and with the rise in the cost of everything that they have to put into their business,” Mazzarella said.

To Roper, a financial sacrifice is worth it.

“It is on a Friday, so that is a big day, but there’s more important things in the world sometimes than making money,” Roper said.

Mazzarella said if people do shop on Friday, they should do it at small, local businesses. He said people can also participate by donating to labor organizations if forgoing school and work is not an option.

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