Dear readers,

Estimados lectores,

St. Paul, MN – A pesar de una de las peores tormentas de nieve que hemos visto desde hace mucho tiempo, la gente de bajos recursos llegó a la capital este 2 de febrero, para exigir que los legisladores deshagan los recortes a la asistencia pública. La protesta fue organizada por el Comité para los Derechos a la Asistencia Pública (Welfare Rights Committee) y la Coalición de Minnesota para los Derechos a la Asistencia Pública (MN Welfare Rights Coalition). Más de cien personas de bajos recursos les dijeron a los políticos minnesoteños que es hora de cobrarles más impuestos a la gente rica, para poder cumplir con las necesidades de la gente más necesitada. La hora de la manifestación correspondió con el primer día de sesiones de la asamblea legislativa del estado de Minnesota.

A special issue of Fight Back! prepared for the protests at the Republican National Convention is now available online here along with other coverage of protests at the RNC.

St. Paul, MN – A picket line and press conference took place here Nov. 1, at the office of the police community service unit, to announce that the Coalition to March on the RNC and Stop the War has submitted another application to demonstrate at the Republican National Convention. Permits for protests and demonstrations in Saint Paul are submitted to this office.

St. Paul, MN – Standing in front to the Xcel Center, Sept. 1, the site of next year’s Republican National Convention, organizers of the massive protest planned against the war on Iraq pressed their demand for permits. The city of Saint Paul has refused to issue permits and is having subcommittees of the city’s so-called Free Speech Committee meeting in secret. Speakers – including members of Women Against Military Madness, the Welfare Rights Committee and the Anti-War Committee – made it clear that would fight any attempt to restrict their right to protest against the Iraq war at the Republican National Convention.

Minneapolis, MN – Activists planning protests at the Republican National Convention packed a city hall conference room here, Aug. 8, to blast a proposed ordinance that would place big restrictions on the right to demonstrate. Deb Konechne of the Welfare Rights Committee told members of the city government’s ‘Free Speech Working Group’ that the proposal was trash.

Dear Readers,

For 78 days the people and government of Yugoslavia resisted attempts by the United States and NATO to occupy the province of Kosovo. In Belgrade and other cities, patriotic people gathered on bridges, in factories and TV stations to thwart NATO bombing runs. NATO responded by destroying hospitals, nursing homes, and churches. The destruction of the Chinese embassy, an act of premeditated murder, sent the clear message, “We will stop at nothing.”

Minneapolis, MN – The Minnesota Welfare Rights Coalition has issued a call for all progressive organizations to sign a declaration against the five-year limit on welfare. It is reprinted below.