It’s May Day, but don’t stop supporting local Arizona businesses

PHOENIX — Though many are boycotting shopping on May Day, otherwise known as International Worker’s Day, a local small business advocate encouraged Arizonans not to forsake those who are dependent on their purchasing power.

“This is a really important time for our local businesses who may be feeling all of the pinches of the big global companies,” Local First Arizona CEO Kimber Lanning told KTAR News on Friday. “So, keeping it local is the best thing you can do (today).”

Lanning emphasized how even one day of no shopping at a private, family-owned business can be “really painful,” whereas a corporate-owned business is hardly impacted.

Local First Arizona supports roughly 6,000 small businesses throughout the state.

“We would really like to remind folks to, instead of just boycotting altogether, intentionally spend their money with local, independent businesses, with people they know, people in their community … whatever it might be, but keep those dollars with their locally-owned businesses,” said Lanning, who owns Stinkweeds Records in Phoenix.

May Day is not a federal holiday in the United States, but it has long been associated with labor rights and worker activism around the world. 

In Phoenix and other cities on Friday, demonstrators are protesting President Donald Trump’s economic policies, including tariffs, wages and rising cost of living.

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