There’s no system better at crushing dreams than monopoly capitalism.
When Claudia Jones' parents immigrated to the United States from Trinidad and Tobago in 1922, “they hoped to find their fortunes in America where ‘gold was to be found on the streets.’” (Autobiographical History, Claudia Jones).
Instead, they found poverty, Jim Crow oppression, and despair.
These evils disillusioned Claudia Jones and showed her the hypocrisy of the so-called American Dream. She would become a Marxist-Leninist organizer, theorist and revolutionary.
Denver, CO – More details are emerging about the nature of the armed aggression against Cuba taken by ten armed people aboard a speedboat licensed in Florida with the number FL7726SH.
The attack took place on the morning of February 25, against a surface unit of the Border Guard Troops of the Ministry of the Interior, in the northeast area of the El Pino canal, in Cayo Falcones, Corralillo municipality, Villa Clara province.
Washington, D.C. – On Tuesday, February 24, a group of organizers and activists from Freedom Road Socialist Organization – DC (FRSO DC) and the DC Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (DCAARPR) gathered in downtown DC within earshot of the U.S. Capitol building to protest Trump’s State of the Union address.
Austin, TX – On Sunday, February 22 at 3 p.m., around a dozen people gathered in front of Austin City Hall to demand that the city create a policy preventing local police from collaborating with ICE. People driving by honked and shouted in support as they saw the group holding a banner reading, “ICE out! Legalization for all.”
Jesse Valdelamar of La Frontera Unida said that the group showed up “to protest against the collaboration taking place between the Austin Police Department and ICE.”
Oxford, MS – On February 21, around a dozen students and youth gathered at the Pavilion at the University of Mississippi to discuss setting up a Students for a Democratic Society chapter.
This meeting comes after two days of organizing from students and SDS officers who traveled from Louisiana and Minnesota in order to help establish new SDS chapters. These SDS members set up a table, covered it in flyers, sign-up sheets, and printed resolutions, and draped a banner over it that read: “Keep ICE off campus! Stand up to Trump! Sanctuary campus now!”
By Sol Marquez, Gabriel Quiroz Jr and Fátima Austin
Los Angeles, CA – “Thank you to all for the support of the Teamster and beloved Centro CSO member Sam Carrera. Through the combined hard work, the LA District Attorney Nathan Hochman rejected the case against Carrera. Carrera was one of three arrested by LAPD on February 18,” noted a statement from the Chicano community group Centro Community Service Organization.
Portland, OR – On February 18, immigrant rights organization Portland Contra Las Deportaciones (PDXCD) held a rally at city hall to demand city council take immediate action to revoke the permit for the Portland ICE facility. The event turned into a violent suppression of protest by the Portland Police Bureau, with multiple arrests.
The night began with high tensions as local right-wingers antagonized protesters at the rally by yelling “I love ICE” in megaphones and the unprovoked pepper spraying of five activists. At the same time, city hall security came out and told Cole Dunahugh, a regular protester at city hall, that he was “trespassed” from the building and not allowed to enter. When documentation was requested, it was not provided. The right-wingers who assaulted protesters were allowed to enter city hall.
Los Angeles, CA – On the evening of February 18, LAPD Hollenbeck Division officers brutally assaulted and arrested multiple members of the Chicano group, Centro Community Service Organization (CSO). Sergio Flores, Sam Carrera and a minor individual were beaten with batons, shoved, and without warning, arrested.
In the Twin Cities, Trump’s drive for mass deportations hit a brick wall. The FRSO Labor Commission salutes the brave immigrant movement. The protests say it clear: “ICE out now!”
The thorns in Trump’s side are many. On January 23, 100,000 Minnesotans took to the streets in the 20-below winter. The state AFL-CIO joined the day of action. Union locals from the SEIU, UNITE HERE, ATU, and MFE showed out in a big way. About 900 businesses closed up shop. Most of these were small, neighborhood stores in solidarity. Many progressives called out of work to protest.
San Jose, CA – Over 1000 protesters marched and rallied during the Super Bowl LX, February 8, to demand Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) out of San José. Activists, community organizations and unions rallied against the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) threat to conduct immigration enforcement during the Super Bowl LX.
New Orleans, LA – On Monday, February 9, a crowd of supporters gathered for a teach-in at the Gwangi & Hollywood Community Center in Algiers to learn about the Jace Lee Scott case and the campaign for justice.
The teach-in was geared towards educating supporters on exactly how the NOPD mishandled Scott’s murder, so they would be empowered to submit public comments at the upcoming Criminal Justice Committee meeting on February 19, and to rally for justice beforehand at 9 a.m. at City Hall.
Billings, MT – The Billings Alliance for Immigrant Rights held a protest at the Yellowstone County Courthouse on Thursday, January 29 in honor of Alex Pretti, who was murdered by Customs and Border Protection agents in Minneapolis. Over 100 people turned out to support BAIR's demands that the Billings police department not sign a 287(g) agreement, justice for all victims of ICE terror, and legalization for all.
The Trump administration has praised the federal agents for their crimes and labeled civilians who fight back as “terrorists.” While the rally was called to protest the injustice of Alex Pretti’s murder, BAIR shared other stories of victims of state-sanctioned violence.
Lancaster, TX – In a bold display of unity and shop-floor power, warehouse workers at United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) in Lancaster marched on management this past Monday, November 17, to deliver a clear message – they are forming a union, and they want it recognized now. The UNFI workers have been organizing to join the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 745.