Events marking May Day, also known as International Workers' Day, are expected to break out across Washington, with several in the Seattle area alone.

Thousands of workers and activists are rallied in Seattle—and across the globe—on Thursday for May Day protests.

From labor strikes to WTO unrest and immigrant rights marches, Seattle has long been a city that shows up. Why it matters: As May Day marches return to Seattle on Thursday, the city's history of activism underscores how deeply protests are woven into its civic identity.