Photos: NC teacher protest in Raleigh draws thousands for May Day rally
By Scott Sharpe
Protesters gather on Halifax Mall for the May Day teacher’s march and protest in Raleigh, Friday, May 1, 2026.
Ethan Hyman
ehyman@newsobserver.com
North Carolina teachers and supporters marched in downtown Raleigh, Friday, May 1, to protest cuts in funding and staff as part of May Day rallies across the country.
The event, sponsored by the North Carolina Association of Educators, prompted school systems across the state to cancel classes in anticipation of teacher absences.
Here are photos from the rally and march. Check back throughout the day for more images from the day’s events.
Katie Messmer, a special education teacher from Transylvania County, waits for the start the May Day protest on the Halifax Mall, on Friday, May 1, 2026 in Raleigh, NC. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
Sean Cacciabaudo and his daughter Mattea Cacciabaudo attend the May Day protest on the Halifax Mall, calling for higher teacher pay, and an end to corporate tax breaks and private school vouchers, on Friday, May 1, 2026 in Raleigh, NC. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
Protesters gather on the Halifax Mall in Raleigh before the teacher’s march in downtown, Friday, May 1, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Aaron Schmidt of Raleigh, N.C., shows his support for his wife, and fellow educators, during the May Day protest on the Halifax Mall, on Friday, May 1, 2026 in Raleigh, NC. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
Protesters gather on Halifax Mall for the May Day teacher’s march and protest in Raleigh, Friday, May 1, 2026.
Protesters gather on Halifax Mall for the May Day teacher’s march and protest in Raleigh, Friday, May 1, 2026.
Aaron Schmidt of Raleigh protests on Halifax Mall in Raleigh. His wife is a teacher in Wake County. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Protesters gather on Halifax Mall for the May Day teacher’s march and protest in Raleigh, Friday, May 1, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Former Charlotte-Mecklenburg art teacher Megan Hill displays her signs at the teacher’s march in Raleigh. Keung Hui khui@newsobserver.com
Teachers and supporters begin to gather for a march in downtown Raleigh, Friday, May 1, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Protesters gather on Halifax Mall before the teacher’s march in Raleigh. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
This story was originally published May 1, 2026 at 10:43 AM.
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