New Delhi, Sept. 2 -- Labor unions and community activists across the US gathered for mass demonstrations on Labor Day to highlight the influence of the working class and push back against what they describe as the outsized role of billionaires in national politics. Large crowds turned out in major cities including Boston, Chicago, and New York for the first of more than 1,000 "Workers Over Billionaires" events planned nationwide.

"These rallies are about reminding Americans that workers are the backbone of our nation," said a spokesperson for the AFL-CIO, the country's largest federation of unions, which is leading the mobilisation alongside groups such as May Day Strong, Public Citizen, and Indivisible.

The demonstrations aim to susta...