A History of Movement Work
May First’s commitment to building a global left movement for liberation has been a consistent part of our work since our founding in 2005 and informs all aspects of our organization, including our technology services.
In 2007, 2010 and 2015 we played an instrumental role in the US Social Forum, both as technologists and members of the national planning committee. We have similarly been actively involved in the World Social Forum since 2006 and including a significant role in the 2022 World Social Forum in Mexico.
In 2017 we launched the Technology and Revolution campaign, where we organized dozens of sessions with movement activists and organizers to explore the fundamental relationship between technology, capitalism, and movements for liberation.
In 2023, we joined the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions National Committee’s call to form a BDS zone, committing to boycott all companies involved in the occupation of Palestine.
In 2025, in coalition with international partners, we launched the Rise Against Big Tech campaign to publicize the militaristic, environemtnal destructive and anti-democratic aspects of large technology companies.
Coalition Work
We have always worked in collaboration with other organizations with which we share values.
We have been a member of the Association for Progresive Communications (APC) since 2010, a global south focused international organization bringing togehter community organizations doing technology-related work.
Although now retired, we were both members and later regional anchor’s of Media Justice’s MAGNet Network, focused on building a grassroots movement for media democracy.
Since 2020 we have been a member of Rising Majority, a coalition of US organizations seeking fundamental system change.
We are also members of the Global Tapestry of Alternatives which brings together international organizations building alternatives to capitalism.
Legal work
Our legal history page documents how we have resisted government, corporate and right wing efforts to silence our members.
Ongoing work
We organize our own members via the Engagement and Communications team, where May First members meet monthly to plan movement conference attendance and webinars that develop our understanding of how technology issues affect our movements.
Similarly, the Technology, Infrastructure and Services team brings together members to explore how to develop our services in a way that buils with our movement allies.