CHICAGO (AP) — A tangled political fight over whether Chicago’s public schools will hold classes on May Day is coming down to the wire, confusing tens of thousands of students and parents.
The influential teachers union, an ally of Mayor Brandon Johnson, wants educators to participate in protests in the nation’s third-largest city on May 1, coinciding with workers’ rights rallies worldwide. But the newly named leader of Chicago Public Schools has rejected the pitch to cancel classes.
The standoff has created uncertainty for the families of more than 315,000 students.
Here is what to know about Chicago’s battle over having school on May Day.
May Day demonstrations are typically robust in union-friendly Chicago. The roots of the day, also celebrated as International Workers Day, go back over a century to a turbulent and pivotal time in labor history.
This year U.S. labor groups are planning for a boycott of work, shopping and school to fight the Trump administration's agenda. In some places, including North Carolina, unions are encouraging teachers to call off work on May 1.
The Chicago Teachers Union wants the nation’s fourth-largest school district to scrap classes for all, arguing it lets teachers and students protest at a time when education is under threat. Unions are demanding more school funding, raising taxes on the wealthy and ending immigration crackdowns.
More than 70% of the district’s students are low-income; most are Black or Latino.
“What our students need, and what history teaches us is the only thing that works, is educators, labor unions, and community groups standing together to defend each other and our democracy and demand that the government put our families over their fortunes,” the CTU said in a statement.
This week, Macquline King, the newly-named district CEO, said she had no plans to cancel class.
“As a career educator, I believe every minute in the classroom is vital for our students,” she said in a statement, adding that the district's school board could override her with a vote. Their next regular meeting is April 23.
The union says it will use May 1 as a professional development day for teachers, swapping for one scheduled on for June 5, the first day of students' summer break. The union has filed a grievance over the matter.
The uncertainty over the closure of more than 500 schools is creating headaches for parents concerned about finding child care or scrapping test prep.
A district survey showed 113 schools, approximately one-fifth of the district, had planned activities on May 1 including field trips, sporting events and makeup testing for Advanced Placement classes. Another 100 said they had other activities including prom and senior night that day, according to a memo from King to school board members obtained by The Associated Press.
“Disruptions would directly affect academic testing and key student milestones, particularly for graduating seniors and 8th graders with limited ability to recover or reschedule these experiences,” King wrote in the memo.
Mariam Hafezi, parent of a middle school student on Chicago’s northwest side, said she supports learning about civics and wouldn’t be opposed to student-led walkouts. But she noted that these demonstrations were driven by adults.
“It is a teachable moment without them being outside of school,” she said. “It would be wiser to spend time in class explaining about the strike in general.”
The fight over the a single day off school showcases a difficult dynamic for first-term Mayor Johnson and a potential 2027 reelection bid.
Johnson supports the May 1 demonstrations. But he has been less clear publicly about whether classes should be canceled. In a statement Friday, a mayor's spokesman said the city would “work with all stakeholders” to make sure May Day demonstrations are “safe and meaningful for those who wish to participate.”
A former CTU organizer, Johnson was elected in 2023 with the union’s support. That relationship has created tensions, particularly last year amid contract negotiations and the ouster of then-CEO Pedro Martinez.
After a rocky search for a replacement, the board named King, a district insider who served as interim CEO. Last week, the board approved her 3-year contract.
The disagreement has also offered a preview of politics on the city’s newest Democratic body. Chicago is phasing out a mayor-appointed school board for a fully-elected one in November.
Currently, the 21-member body is a mix of elected and appointed members who clash often.
“Calls to keep students out of school are reckless,” elected board member Jennifer Custer wrote on Facebook. “They hurt parents who work, disrupt classrooms, and set our kids back — all for politics.”
But Emma Lozano, a longtime immigrant rights activist appointed by Johnson, disagreed.
She thinks it's important for students to take part in May 1 marches, which in Chicago have drawn hundreds of thousands of people in years past.
“We don’t just get educated in the classroom,” she said. “We get educated in the world and have to learn how to fight for our rights.”
FILE - Thousands of people march in a May Day rally and protest May 1, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley, File)
SAN FRANCISCO & ROTENBURG, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 26, 2026--
Ouster, Inc. (Nasdaq: OUST) (“Ouster” or the “Company”), a leader in sensing and perception for Physical AI, and ARGUS Interception GmbH, a pioneer in net-based counter-UAS interception systems, announced today a strategic agreement under which ARGUS Interception will equip its A1-Falke ® net-based interceptors with Ouster digital lidar.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260526393691/en/
This collaboration combines the high-precision, short-range 3D detection capabilities of Ouster digital lidar with ARGUS Interception’s controlled, net-based drone capture capabilities. By installing Ouster lidar, ARGUS aims to enhance the effectiveness of responsible, non-kinetic counter-UAS operations and offer a minimally invasive response option for complex environments where traditional kinetic measures are unviable.
The A1-Falke ® from ARGUS Interception is designed to capture, recover, and secure uncooperative drones. Built around an interception drone featuring two integrated net launchers, the system utilizes a multi-sensor suite of radar, lidar, and depth-sensing cameras. The system monitors the defined airspace, detects invasive drones, intercepts them in an automated and controlled manner via patented net launcher technology, and brings them to the ground intact, enabling forensic evaluation and preservation of evidence.
Under the strategic agreement, Ouster will supply its digital lidar for integration directly into the A1-Falke® to optimize the precision and reliability of the net-based intercept process, especially in the decisive near-range phase. The integration strengthens the operational chain from initial target acquisition to controlled interception and capture, particularly in complex, safety-sensitive environments and when protecting critical infrastructure and public spaces. Designed for modular deployment, the A1-Falke® system's components can be operated in an integrated or standalone configuration depending on the operational concept.
“Responsible counter-UAS measures depend on reliable sensors and controllable procedures,” said Dennis Rauscher, co-founder and CEO of ARGUS Interception GmbH. “With Ouster, we are integrating lidar technology that further strengthens the precision and reliability of our net-based interception capability, supporting our customers’ operational effectiveness in safety-critical environments.”
As part of the collaboration, ARGUS will explore next-generation interception capabilities with Ouster’s new Rev8 digital lidar, such as 3D native color sensing and longer-range detection for high-speed applications to bring human-like sight and unmatched situational awareness to automated counter-UAS.
"As rogue drones present increasingly sophisticated threats to critical infrastructure and public safety, precise situational awareness at close range is paramount," said Cyrille Jacquemet, Chief Revenue Officer of Ouster. "By supplying our digital lidar for integration into the A1-Falke®, we are providing the high-resolution, low-latency 3D perception required for advanced counter-UAS operations. We look forward to our ongoing relationship with ARGUS as they leverage our digital lidar platform and explore the next-generation capabilities of our new Rev8 family to advance non-kinetic defense."
About ARGUS Interception
ARGUS Interception GmbH is a leading German technology company and a pioneer in net-based, minimally invasive counter-UAS interception systems for the controlled capture and recovery of uncooperative drones. Founded in 2023 by former German Armed Forces officers, the company develops and manufactures security-relevant advanced technology in Germany for armed forces, public authorities, and operators of critical infrastructure. ARGUS Interception’s A1-Falke® net-based interceptor enables responsible, controlled counter-UAS measures through patented, operationally proven net-capture technology, proprietary software, and advanced sensor technology – particularly in environments where kinetic options are not acceptable – while minimizing secondary effects. The non-destructive securing of uncooperative drones can also provide the basis for forensic analysis to assess technical origin and operational context. ARGUS Interception enables governmental and institutional actors, as well as critical infrastructure operators, to remain operationally capable and to strengthen public safety and operational sovereignty.
About Ouster
Ouster (Nasdaq: OUST) is a leader in sensing and perception for Physical AI across industrial, robotics, automotive, and smart infrastructure. With a unified platform of high-performance digital lidar, cameras, AI compute, sensor fusion and perception software, and AI models, Ouster delivers solutions that improve quality of life in the physical world. Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, Ouster has a global presence serving thousands of customers with offices in the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. For more information about our products, visit www.ouster.com, contact our sales team, or connect with us on X or LinkedIn.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such statements are based upon current plans, estimates and expectations of management that are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation that such plans, estimates and expectations will be achieved. Words such as “offer,” “expect,” “will”, “may,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “reflect,” “should,” “plan,” “can,” “could,” “estimate,” “possible,” “potential,” “pursue,” “demonstrate,” and the negative of these terms and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, though not all forward-looking statements use these words or expressions. All statements, other than historical facts, including statements regarding the capabilities and benefits of Ouster’s digital lidar, including with respect to detection capabilities, benefits to and expectations around customer adoption and application of our products, the timing and shipment of our products, and Ouster’s business objectives and plans constitute forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those that we expected, including, but not limited to, the possibility of cancellation or postponement of contracts or unsuccessful implementations; risks related to the adoption of Ouster’s products, product quality and liability risks; the Company’s dependence on key third party suppliers, in particular, Benchmark Electronics, Inc., Fabrinet and other suppliers; Ouster’s ability to respond to evolving regulations and standards; and other important risk factors discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, and as may be further updated from time to time in the Company’s in the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the SEC. Readers are urged to consider these factors carefully and in the totality of the circumstances when evaluating these forward-looking statements, and not to place undue reliance on any of them. Any such forward-looking statements represent management’s reasonable estimates and beliefs as of the date of this press release. While Ouster may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, it disclaims any obligation to do so, other than as may be required by law, even if subsequent events cause its views to change.
ARGUS A1-Falke® designed to capture, recover, and secure uncooperative drones.
ARGUS counter-UAS interception drone equipped with Ouster digital lidar.
ARGUS A1-Falke® net-based interceptor equipped with Ouster digital lidar.
