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Chicago Public Schools teacher Hector Sanchez brought 20 of his students to the May Day protest Monday across from the county juvenile detention center.

The trip came as part of a "democracy in action" program for political science students at Social Justice High School in Little Village, where they learn about government. In class, Sanchez taught students about lobbying Congress, but some wanted to know: "How do regular people lobby?"

"This is part of that," Sanchez said as dozens of protesters holding signs gathered on an empty lot at Roosevelt Road and Ogden Avenue.

Around the world, union members have traditionally marched May 1 for workers rights.

In the United States, the event became a rallying point for immigrants in 2006 when more than 1 million people marched against a proposed immigration enforcement bill during President George W. Bush's second term.

Activists expected a surge in participation this year, partly because immigrant rights groups have worked with Women's March participants, Black Lives Matter and Muslim civil rights groups that are united by their opposition to President Donald Trump.

"We're all in this hot buttery mess together," Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis told about 200 demonstrators at Daley Plaza late Monday afternoon. "We have to stand with one another, we have to stand shoulder to shoulder, back to back. I got yours and you got mine. No two ways around it."

The CTU endorsed the day's events and staged its own rallies before the start of classes, but teachers last month elected not to walk off the job in a one-day strike meant to draw attention to the district's ongoing financial turmoil.

"They want us separated. We will not be separated," Lewis said. "I don't care what your country of origin is. You're here now so let's work together now."

At the earlier protest, demonstrators called for minimum wage increases, police accountability and "economic, racial and immigrant justice." Ongoing controversies took center stage from the beginning of the rally. A rapper took the microphone to warm up the crowd and said, "Let me hear you say, 'Stop the wall.'"

"Stop the wall!" people shouted back, in reference to a Trump proposal to build a border wall to prevent illegal immigration.

The protesters focused on global issues also. Palestinian flags flew and a folk singer paid homage to Berta Caceres, a Honduran activist who was murdered in her home country.

At a rally at Union Park, speakers included U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill.

"The election of Donald Trump is a challenge to all of us, whether we will stand up and speak up for our values," Durbin said.

Jeanette Hernandez, an administrative aide at Northeastern Illinois University, said she was on furlough because of budget cuts at the school and had "nothing to do all day but protest."

"The attacks on labor have got to stop," Hernandez said.

Associated Press contributed.

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Teens study 'democracy in action' at May Day protest - Chicago Tribune