Small groups of protesters stopped trucks as they approach port facilities. They're trying to get truckdrivers to participate in a work stoppage protesting U.S. military conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In San Francisco, nearly 1,000 protestors, led by dockworkers, marched peacefully down the San Francisco waterfront Thursday to show their opposition to the Iraq war.

They're calling on the U.S. government to withdraw its troops from wars overseas.
  KCBS’ Janice Wright Reports on Protests at the Port of Oakland 

In San Francisco protesters marched from a dockworkers rally on the western side of the Bay, at Justin Herman Plaza, to the San Francisco Millitary Recruitment Center on Davis street.

Meanwhile, on a day when the efforts of laborers are recognized all over the world, some students at UC Berkeley called attention to the contribution of immigrant workers to the economy.

Immigration-reform advocates also gathered for demonstrations in downtown Los Angeles.

The May Day rallies come one year after peaceful marches on the issue ended violently when police officers used batons and fired so-called non-lethal rounds to clear people out of a park during the day's closing rally.

Police officials admitted significant command failures last year and retrained officers in crowd control.

They promise things will be different for today's May Day marches by as many as 100,000 people in L.A.

Street vendor and Mexican immigrant Jose Antonio, wearing a T-shirt saying "Don't Take My Daddy," says he came to protest the separation of families stemming from immigration violations.

He says he did not expect a repeat of last year's violence.
  KCBS’ George Harris Reports on Berkeley Protests 

And in Santa Rosa today, Aztec dancers lead a procession of thousands of immigration rights demonstrators.

Some marchers were calling for Sonoma to become a county of refuge for undocumented workers. Others wanted to see an end to NAFTA.

”I’m sure they have to pay attention when people are in the streets, and when the issues are real. Free trade is as real for the American as it is for the Mexican. Having a county of refuge is as real for the taxpayer as it is for the people being affected by the collaboration of the sheriff and immigration,” said marcher David Kardna.

The Sonoma County chapter of the Minute Men was also in attendance, holding signs that read, “Stop the Invasion,” in front of Santa Rosa City Hall.
  KCBS’ Margie Shafer Reports on the Crowds in Santa Rosa

Oakland Port Photo courtesy of CBS5 
San Francisco Battery Street protest picture courtesy of KCBS listener Rob Bell