Fight Back! News

News and Views from the People's Struggle

Drake Myers

By Drake Myers

St. Paul, MN – Hundreds gathered at the Saint Paul Public Schools District Administration Building on Tuesday, October 21 to protest proposed mid-year budget cuts. The cuts would hit English Language Learner students and their families the hardest and would mean over a dozen English Language (EL) teachers across the district would have their positions terminated.

The Saint Paul Federation of Educators (SPFE) called to rally immediately before the school board meeting where voting was to take place on the proposed cuts. SPFE requested community members to stay for the meeting and make their voices heard in the public comment section.

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By Drake Myers

Minneapolis, MN – Students, families and educators of Minneapolis Public Schools have been busy over the past month organizing the community to reject the Minneapolis Public School (MPS) district’s “Transformation Plan.”

The district’s plan, announced on September 15, would close around 15 of the district’s best schools starting in the 2027-2028 school year. In response, the educators represented by Minneapolis Federation of Educators, Local 59 (MFE 59) have been holding rallies and feedback sessions, and using every public forum they can, to raise their concerns with the plan and educate the community around the impacts the plan would have.

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By Drake Myers

Community members march through Painter Park in Uptown Minneapolis.  | Staff/Fight Back! News

Minneapolis, MN – On Sunday, November 17, around 100 people gathered in Uptown Minneapolis’ Painter Park as Families Against Military Madness (FAMM) and the Climate Justice Committee (CJC) led a protest focused on bringing families into the climate and anti-war movements. Speakers discussed the post-election struggle and the need for young people to learn and practice organizing skills for the long struggles ahead.

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By Drake Myers

St. Paul, MN – MAPE, the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees, is an independent union representing approximately 15,000 employees of the State of Minnesota. At their October 26 delegate assembly, MAPE approved a resolution titled “Supporting a Ceasefire and Divestment in Israel-Palestine.” It included strong steps towards divesting both MAPE and Minnesota’s State Board of Investments (SBI) from apartheid Israel. The MAPE Ceasefire Caucus organizing team had conversations with nearly every delegate over the last six weeks in preparation for the vote, which ended up with 82 for, 49 against, with 17 abstaining.

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By Drake Myers

No Minnesota money for weapons manufacturers banner at Honeywell Aerospace protest.  | Ashley Taylor-Gougé/watch me rise mpls

Minneapolis, MN – On Tuesday, June 25, around 100 people gathered as the Minnesota Peace Action Coalition led a protest of the Honeywell Aerospace Building in Northeast Minneapolis. Cars honked in support and many people who were just passing by brought bulk packs of cold bottled water for the protesters unprompted, just to show their support on the sunny day.

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By Drake Myers

Palestine solidarity protesters outside the 2024 Education Minnesota Representative Convention where First Lady Jill Biden campaigned. | Fight Back! News/Sabry Wazwaz

Minneapolis, MN – On Friday, April 15, the Free Palestine Coalition led a protest of around 100 people outside of Education Minnesota’s Representative Convention. Education Minnesota (EDMN) is a large state-level educators union that announced only the day before that they would be delaying their entire program to host the opening event of First Lady Dr .Jill Biden’s “Educators for Biden-Harris” national tour.

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By Drake Myers

Minnesota Palestine solidarity protesters outside the 2024 DFL Humphrey-Mondale Dinner. | Fight Back! News/Sabry Wazwaz

Saint Paul, MN – On Friday, March 15 at the Saint Paul RiverCentre, the Free Palestine Coalition led a protest of hundreds inside and outside of the Humphrey-Mondale Dinner, the largest annual Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (the name of the Democratic Party in Minnesota) fundraiser.

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By Drake Myers

Minnesota Palestine solidarity protesters driving through Saint Paul. | Fight Back! News/Kim DeFranco

St. Paul, MN – On Saturday, January 6, the Minnesota Anti-War Committee along with the Free Palestine Coalition led a caravan of over 100 cars and bikes with the to draw attention to the genocidal violence facing the people of Palestine.

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