Supervisor Connie Chan is arrested as she stands with other demonstrators blocking the road in front of San Francisco International terminal during ICE Out of San Francisco protest at SFO on May Day at San Francisco International Airport on Friday, May 1, 2026, in San Francisco.
Lea Suzuki/S.F. Chronicle
Demonstrators are seen during ICE Out of SFO protest on May Day at San Francisco International Airport on Friday, May 1, 2026, in San Francisco.
Lea Suzuki/S.F. Chronicle
California Sen. Josh Becker, D-Menlo Park, left, was arrested during a May Day demonstration at San Francisco International Airport.
Provided by Thomas Hunter II
Demonstrators are seen during ICE Out of SFO protest on May Day at San Francisco International Airport on Friday, May 1, 2026, in San Francisco.
Lea Suzuki/S.F. Chronicle
Demonstrators are seen during ICE Out of SFO protest on May Day at San Francisco International Airport on Friday, May 1, 2026, in San Francisco.
Lea Suzuki/S.F. Chronicle
Demonstrators are seen during ICE Out of SFO protest on May Day at San Francisco International Airport on Friday, May 1, 2026, in San Francisco.
Lea Suzuki/S.F. Chronicle
A May Day protest by airport service workers briefly shut down the departure-level roadway at San Francisco International Airport’s International Terminal on Friday, diverting traffic as demonstrators rallied over a wage dispute and broader labor concerns.
Several San Francisco elected officials were arrested after demonstrators blocked the roadway to the International Terminal, including Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman, Supervisor Connie Chan and former Supervisor Jane Kim. State Sen. Josh Becker, who represents San Mateo County and part of Santa Clara County, was also arrested.
“San Francisco Airport is the people’s airport,” Chan told supporters before her arrest. “We know our workers deserve fair pay, a fair contract, health care and benefits. We’re demanding that the workers get that benefits and fair pay right now.”
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Police warned protesters to clear the street before making arrests.
“I have been arrested before,” Mandelman said. “I’ve been arrested with the hotel workers, for marriage equality and I’ve been arrested for the airport workers. These folks have been trying to get a fair contract for a year, and I wanted to be supportive on this May Day.”
Supervisor Rafael Mandelman is arrested as he stands with other demonstrators blocking the road in front of San Francisco International terminal during ICE Out of San Francisco protest at SFO on May Day at San Francisco International Airport on Friday, May 1, 2026, in San Francisco.
Lea Suzuki/S.F. Chronicle
The demonstration, led by SEIU, was part of a wave of May Day actions across the Bay Area focused on labor and immigrant rights. Hundreds of airport workers rallied Friday morning at the International Terminal.
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SFO officials said the airport had issued a free speech permit for the demonstration. In a statement, the airport said the permit process is intended to give demonstrators a place to share their message while designating areas that allow passengers to keep moving through the airport.
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“As a safety precaution, the upper-level roadway at the International Terminal was temporarily closed,” SFO said.
Demonstrators march into the SFO international terminal during ICE Out of San Francisco protest on May Day on Friday, May 1, 2026 in San Francisco. Several San Francisco elected officials were arrested after the demonstration, including Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman, Supervisor Connie Chan and former Supervisor Jane Kim. State Sen. Josh Becker, who represents San Mateo County and part of Santa Clara County, was also arrested.
Lea Suzuki S F Chronicle
During the closure, vehicles headed to the International Terminal were routed to the lower arrivals level. Airport officials also advised travelers to use the Kiss & Fly area at the Rental Car Center for International Terminal pickups and drop-offs. Domestic terminals were not affected, SFO said.
The airport later said all lanes on the International Terminal roadway had reopened Friday afternoon.
May Day, also known as International Workers’ Day, has long been associated with labor organizing and, in the United States, immigrant rights demonstrations. Bay Area protests were planned Friday in San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, San Jose, Palo Alto, Santa Rosa, Alameda and other cities.
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In San Francisco, demonstrators were expected to march from Civic Center down Mission Street, passing City Hall, the Federal Building and Salesforce Tower, as unions and immigrant-rights groups joined actions around the region.
Demonstrators are seen during ICE Out of SFO protest on May Day at San Francisco International Airport on Friday, May 1, 2026, in San Francisco.
Lea Suzuki/S.F. Chronicle
In downtown Berkeley, a crowd of over 100 sporting union T-shirts and safety vests marched to Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park Friday morning. Many held signs that denounced President Donald Trump and his administrative priorities, which many felt had prioritized corporations over working people.
“Income and wealth inequality have reached levels that are untenable,” Ida Martinac, a member of SEIU Local 1000 who also serves on the Berkeley Rent Board. “Something has to give. That’s why building labor power is so important.”
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Aldo Toledo and Lucy Hodgman contributed to this report.