FRSO demands justice for Ahmaud Arbery
The Freedom Road Socialist Organization condemns the brutal murder Ahmaud Arbery, a young African American man in southern Georgia, who was killed by racist vigilantes on February 23.
News and Views from the People's Struggle
The Freedom Road Socialist Organization condemns the brutal murder Ahmaud Arbery, a young African American man in southern Georgia, who was killed by racist vigilantes on February 23.
Jacksonville, FL – There are around 8000 Central American immigrants and refugees making their way from Honduras and other Central American nations to the United States-Mexico border. Currently the caravan is over 1000 miles from the nearest border city. These are Central American immigrants and refugees escaping poverty and instability in their home countries due to U.S.-backed governmental regimes and violence fueled by U.S. interference. These immigrants and refugees have pleaded for humanitarian assistance and a better life. However, they have been met by Donald Trump and his racist presidential administration with disdain and hate. Trump has called the caravan a mix of “criminals and unknown Middle Easterners,” claims pulled from his own administration’s bigotry towards Central Americans and other immigrants. His administration has even sent thousands of troops to fortify the border.
Jacksonville, FL – After a two-day meeting of the NFL’s 32 owners, on May 23, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced new policy changes in the NFL regarding the playing of the U.S. national anthem before games. The new policy leaves it to individual teams to discipline players for acts deemed “disrespectful” during the anthem but also gives the league wide discretion to fine teams for actions taken by players. The policy was met with cheers from the racist Trump administration, including Trump and Vice President Mike Pence. Trump even said players who don’t stand shouldn’t even be in the country. With many NFL players and their players union, the NFL Players Association, the new policy has been met with backlash with the players union saying they weren’t consulted on the new changes regarding the anthem.
Jacksonville, FL – The “Protect and Serve Act” is new federal legislation introduced this week that looks to strengthen the Trump era mandate for a stronger police state. The legislation seeks to classify cops as a protected class and create another layer of protections and privileges for police officers, even though they already exist at certain state and local levels. Backed by police unions and introduced by pro-cop legislators like Orin Hatch from Utah in the Senate and John Rutherford, a congressman and former Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office top cop, this legislation seeks to codify promises Trump made during his election to be back police and be the ‘law and order’ president.
Jacksonville, FL – This past Sunday and Monday, Sept. 24 and 25, NFL football players numbering in the hundreds took a knee during the national anthem at different NFL games. This comes just days after Donald Trump, at stump speech in Alabama, called for owners to fire any NFL player who took a knee during the national anthem.
Washington D.C. – Twenty-five students protested the morning of March 2 on the campus of Howard University, one of the prominent historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU). African American students formed “Howard Resist” to demand President Wayne Frederick make Howard University a sanctuary campus and to criticize Frederick for his recent meeting with Donald Trump.
On Feb. 9, during the swearing-in ceremony for new Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Donald Trump signed three executive orders concerning policing. The orders were said to be directed at public safety but in fact could have a devastating impact on Black and brown communities.
Baltimore, MD – “Afeni Shakur Davis,” otherwise known as Afeni Shakur, passed away late Monday night, May 2, at the age of 69. The mother of the late great artist Tupac Shakur, she was a revolutionary leader in her own right, serving as the Harlem Section Leader of the Black Panther Party during the 1960s and 70s. She joined the party as a teen in 1968.
Washington DC – Verizon workers with Communication Workers of America (CWA) Local 2336 were joined by IBEW union members to rally in downtown Washington, DC today, April 21. Around 100 workers picketed outside a Verizon store near the Metro Center train stop.
Washington DC – Thousands marched on the U.S. Supreme Court this morning, April 18, to support of DAPA, Deferred Action for the Parents of Americans. The executive order grants deferred action to millions undocumented immigrants who have lived in the U.S. since 2010 and whose children are documented.
Richmond, VA – On the morning of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jan. 18, around 100 students with the Virginia Student Power Network rallied outside the Virginia state capitol, demanding the right to a free education. Students chanted, “Education is a right, that is why we, fight, fight, fight!” and “No cuts, no fees, no corporate universities.”
On Nov. 9, University of Missouri President Timothy Wolfe resigned, under intense pressure from Black student protesters and activists at the University of Missouri, Columbia campus. Black students formed the organization, Concerned Students 1950, demanding University President Wolfe step down over his mishandling of racist incidents on campus as well as calling for an increase in Black student enrollment and Black faculty representation at the predominantly white university. Jonathan Butler, an African American graduate student even went on hunger strike, demanding President Wolfe resign. The student uprising and struggled tipped to a boiling point and got national attention when the Black Missouri football players threatened to strike, not playing another game until President Wolfe stepped down. Such a strike would have cost the university at least $1 million dollars in fines as well as a loss in other revenue, negatively affecting their bottom line.
Miami, FL – Dozens of students in Miami converged on the campus of Florida International University, Oct. 23, to protest against Leonel Fernandez, ex-President of the Dominican Republic. Fernandez presided over the constitutional change producing the outrageous “TC 168-13” ruling. This high court ruling strips thousands of Dominicans of their nationality, affecting mostly people of Haitian descent.
Baltimore, MD – On the night of Oct. 14, over 50 Black youth protesters stormed Baltimore City Hall, demanding police accountability. The group, known as the Baltimore Bloc, which has organized rallies around the Baltimore uprisings, chanted, “Stop the vote, stop the vote!” along with “All night, all day, we gonna fight for Freddie Gray,” interrupting proceedings.
Washington, DC – Hundreds of thousands of African Americans converged on and filled the National Mall for the Justice for Else gathering, Oct. 10, a mass protest organized by Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam, along with other groups, to demand justice for African Americans.
Baltimore, MD – Well over 2000 students from various colleges and high schools here marched on city hall today, April 29. Defying attempts from police and the city government to shut down the demonstration, they demanded Justice for Freddie Gray and an end to police terrorism. The protesters marched from Baltimore Penn Station to downtown Baltimore.
Baltimore, MD – Protesters’ clashes with police continued throughout the evening of April 27 as police moved into West Baltimore, setting up blockades of riot police everywhere and stopping residents from coming and going freely where they live.
Baltimore, MD – High school students leaving school, protesting for Justice For Freddy Gray were met by Baltimore Police in riot gear on the afternoon of April 27. Police responded to the student protest near the Mondawin Mall on Baltimore's West side with well over 200 police officers in riot gear, who tear-gassed high school students when they didn't disperse. Police also shot rubber bullets into the crowd.
Baltimore, MD – Over 4000 protesters took to the streets here, April 25, shutting down major intersections, while demanding justice for Freddie Gray. The protests started in West Baltimore, where Gray lived and demonstrators marched all the way to City Hall where speakers gathered to address the crowd.
Demand justice for Freddie Gray
Baltimore, MD – Hundreds of Baltimore residents took to the streets for the fourth consecutive day, April 22, demanding justice for Freddie Gray. Gray was an African American man murdered while in Baltimore police custody. Protesters held a long marched from West Baltimore to City Hall, shutting down major intersections along the way, chanting, “All night, all day, we gonna fight for Freddie Gray.”