Outcome of the five-year war in Syria is critically important to resistance project
On Sept. 30, 2015, Russian planes began conducting airstrikes against rebel targets in Syria at the request of President Bashar al-Assad. This military intervention signaled a new chapter in the five-year war in Syria, which has pitted the country's national democratic government against foreign-backed rebel groups. Launched for the stated purpose of defeating the growing Islamic State (IS) insurgency, Russia's operations have also targeted U.S.-backed reactionary rebel groups.
Minneapolis, MN – Members of Jamar Clark’s family, community activists and artists will join together for the “Break the Silence! Honoring Jamar Clark Benefit Show,” on Feb. 9, 7:00-10:00 pm, at the Capri Theater, 2027 W. Broadway Avenue, Minneapolis.
The national democratic Houthi uprising strengthens the camp of resistance in the Middle East
Saudi Arabia's vicious assault on the people of Yemen continues nearly one year after its initiation – and there's no obvious end in sight. In March 2015, a Saudi-led military coalition largely made up of the other reactionary monarchies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) launched a military intervention in Yemen. Called Operation Decisive Storm, this intervention began as a response to the overthrow of Yemen's corrupt government by the popular Houthi insurgency.
Chicago, IL – On Feb. 1, the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) rejected an offer from the city. Management claimed their offer was generous to the teachers, but when the 40 teachers and working members of the bargaining committee looked at the language in the offer, they found more attacks on their students.
Minneapolis, MN: Around 30 people gathered here, Jan. 28, at May Day Bookstore to hear from Anti-War Committee activists about the Colombian peace negotiations in Havana, Cuba. Afterwards they discussed whether the Colombian civil war is coming to a close and what the significance of an end to the more than 50 year war would mean for the social movements in Colombia.
Hits FBI with Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request on Mamasapano Incident
Minneapolis, MN – “Over 60 Filipinos died and witnesses also saw the body of an American at the covert U.S.-designed Mamasapano operation one year ago, yet the U.S. has still not come clean about the extent of its role in the carnage. We are filing this Freedom of Information Act request with the FBI because the Filipino and American people have the right to know the full truth about this botched mission,” stated BAYAN-USA Chair Bernadette Ellorin.
Minneapolis, MN – Around 40 people marched in Minneapolis on Jan. 26 to mark the date 16 months ago when 43 student activists were forcibly disappeared from Ayotzinapa, México. The marchers demanded that the Mexican government account for the still-missing students, echoing the demand of the families of the 43 students in México. The students were last seen when police detained them in Iguala, México in September 2014. The Mexican government still has not provided a credible explanation of what happened to them or where they are.
The following message is a response to a series of questions posed to Hubert Ballesteros by James Jordan of the Alliance for Global Justice. Ballesteros was arrested while negotiating for the National Agrarian Strike of 2013 and charged with Rebellion. He was also serving on the executive committees of Fensuagro, the country's largest federation of farm workers unions and the Unitary Workers Center (CUT), Colombia's largest general labor federation.
Los Angeles, CA – In early 2014 there was hope that undocumented parents would be able to be protected against deportation, when President Obama issued an executive order to create Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Deferred Action for Children Arrivals, also known as DAPA/DACA. In 2014, 26 Republican governors, led by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, filed a lawsuit in federal court that blocked its implementation. The Obama administration filed a speedy appeal challenging the Republican-led lawsuit. The U.S. Supreme Court will hold oral arguments in April and issue a ruling in June 2016. Millions of people will be are anxiously watching this ruling. Centro CSO plans to continue fighting for Deferred Action and legalization for all in the East Side of Los Angeles.
Madison, WI – 200 community members organized by the Milwaukee based Voces de la Frontera and Youth Empowered in the Struggle (YES) traveled to the state capitol in Madison to oppose anti-immigrant legislation on Jan. 20. There are three bills in the assembly currently targeting immigrants: AB-450, AB-533 and LRB-2818.
St. Paul, MN – Members of the Welfare Rights Committee were at the hearing held by the Legislative Working Group on Economic Disparities in Minnesota, Jan. 15, to press their demand that the politicians include the GAAIN (Give Aid to All in Need) bill – Senate File 1426 and House File 1533 – in the working group’s final recommendations.
Tampa, FL – Two-dozen people rallied here, Jan. 13, to end violence against Muslims and refugees in Tampa. The Committee to Stop FBI Repression (CSFR)-Tampa organized the rally against Islamophobic violence in Tampa.
Minneapolis, MN – Palestine solidarity activists appeared in court, Jan. 13, in defense of their actions at a protest at the University of Minnesota Law School last fall. Misty Rowan and Sophia Hansen-Day both settled their cases with no criminal charges, despite efforts by the Law School and the national Zionist organization, StandWithUs, which had pressed the city attorney to throw the book at them. Supporters responded to that pressure with their own calls to the city attorney’s office earlier this week, urging her to drop the charges, rather than side with the continued silencing of Palestinian voices at the university campus.
Louisville, KY – Fred Zuckerman announced he will challenge Jim Hoffa for President of the International Brotherhood of the Teamsters. Zuckerman is known in the Teamsters for his outspoken opposition to the “give back” contract negotiated with UPS. Current Teamster President Jim Hoffa and his underling Ken Hall are responsible for that “give back” contract.
St. Paul, MN – Members of the Welfare Rights Committee (WRC) will ‘occupy’ the Governor’s mansion, at 4:00 p.m., Jan . 8. Protesters will be there on and off throughout the day and night.
Minneapolis, MN – The Supreme Court is set to hear the case Friederichs v. California Teachers Association, Jan 11. The case could weaken public sector unions by forcing the public sector to be ‘right to work’ nationwide.
An Israeli military patrol was struck by a large IED in Lebanon’s occupied Shebae Farms, Jan. 4, destroying a vehicle and wounding a number of soldiers. According to the authoritative news outlet Al – Mamar, the progressive resistance group Hezbollah announced that “martyr Samir Kuntar group in the Islamic Resistance detonated” the huge explosion.
Minneapolis, MN – On Dec. 26, Mall of America (MOA) security approached a 14-year-old black girl about being present at the mall without an adult. After being told to leave MOA, the child walked around on the transportation platform and began trying to get change for $20 for bus fare. It was at that point that she was violently tackled to the ground by MOA security. The brutal encounter was caught on video by a passerby who happened to witness the incident.
