News and Views from the People's Struggle
Washington, DC – The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) is reporting that Syrian prisoners in Israeli jails have joined the open-ended hunger strike by Palestinian prisoners.
Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) Prison Branch.
Comrades Ahmad Sa’adat, Ahed Abu Ghoulmeh join strike with fellow leaders: Statement from the PFLP Prison Branch
Chicago, IL – Union educators at Passages Charter School voted overwhelmingly to strike, May 4, after nearly a year of bargaining with management has failed to produce a decent contract. Teachers voted 43 to zero to strike, in a bargaining unit of 46 members. The May 4 vote authorizes the bargaining committee to set a strike date in the coming weeks if they do not receive an acceptable offer.
“Trump and the government are once again flirting with war”
St Paul, MN – For the second week in a row a Twin Cities peace vigil focused on opposition to U.S. war on Korea. On May 3 over 25 people attended the weekly vigil to speak out against the danger of U.S. war in Korea. The vigil is held on the Lake Street/Marshall Avenue bridge over the Mississippi River between Minneapolis and Saint Paul.
San Salvador, El Salvador – Tens of thousands of Salvadoran workers came out to march here on International Workers Day. The event started with three marches from different parts of San Salvador that converged in the El Salvador del Mundo plaza for a unified rally. The marches started at Schafik Handal Plaza in Mejicanos, at Árbol de la Paz by Cuzcatlan Stadium, and on Boulevard de los Héroes. Many unions, social movement organizations and the left participated in the march. Workers celebrated their accomplishments including an increase to the minimum wage. They also expressed their rejection of a proposal from the private sector to privatize pensions. The unions presented their own proposal to the FMLN government to reform the pension system to guarantee a pension for current and future retirees.
#SanSalvadorElSalvador #SanSalvador #Labor #ElSalvador #Mayday #Americas
Chicago, IL – On May 1, over 250 workers at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) picketed to demand a fair contract. Many members of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 73 have been without a contract for almost two years.
Opa Locka, FL – On April 28, 20 community members, students and family members gathered to honor the life of Chay Reed and called for an end to trans murders. The vigil was held on the street corner of NW 27th Avenue and 39th Street, the corner where Chay Reed, a 28-year-old Black trans woman, was murdered by an unidentified shooter on April 21. Nine Trans women of color have been murdered in 2017.
Los Angeles, CA – The beautiful and unified chants of, “Chicano power! Immigrant power! Student power!” and “Que viva la Raza! Que viva Aztlán! Que viva Mexico!” was heard through the streets of the Chicano neighborhood of Boyle Heights, May 1. The spirited May Day march proceeded on Chavez Avenue in the heart of Boyle heights where residents came out to cheer and show support. A short rally was held at the corners of Chicago and First Street at the LAPD Hollenbeck police station to denounce the killings of Jose “Peruzzi” Mendez, Jesse Romero and other youth.
Houston, TX – There were two May Day events in Houston, Texas. Immigrant rights groups demanding an end to deportations and to defend the rights of undocumented workers organized a noontime march and rally. With some union support, the crowd of hundreds marched to Houston City Hall and rallied on the steps.
Milwaukee, WI – Buses came in from at least 12 cities across Wisconsin to march for this year’s May Day celebration. Since 2006, an annual rally and march has been held in Milwaukee, with this being one of the largest gatherings to date.
New York, NY – Several hundred gathered at Union Square on May 1 to celebrate International Workers Day. The event was one of several organized for the day and was put together by groups that are a part of the International League of People’s Struggles – North East.
Chicago, IL – Rasmea Odeh speaks to a massive crowd at the May Day rally at Union Park in Chicago, May 1. The International Workers Day action eventually grew to 20,000 people marching in the streets. Odeh, who represented the Arab American Action Network, highlighted organizing with Arab and Muslim immigrants to resist attacks coming from the Trump regime.
#ChicagoIL #ImmigrantRights #Labor #RasmeaOdeh #Mayday #PoliticalRepression
Minneapolis, MN – About 2000 people marched thought the streets of Minneapolis, May 1, International Workers Day. Organized by the Resist from Day One Coalition, the May Day march and rallies put forward demands for immigrant and workers' rights.
#MinneapolisMN #ImmigrantRights #MayDay #PeoplesStruggles #Antiracism #Trump #MinneapolisLabor
Minneapolis, MN – Thousands of people joined the People’s Climate Solidarity March, April 29 in downtown Minneapolis. The protest was one of the many taking place across the U.S. to push back against Trump’s anti-environment agenda and to demand government action on climate change.
#MinneapolisMN #Healthcare #Protest #EnvironmentalJustice #ClimateChange #ClimateMarch
Minneapolis, MN – At a press conference, April 28, leaders of the Resist from Day One Coalition, announced plans for May 1 rallies and strikes converging in unified march in Minneapolis on ‘Day without Immigrants’ for immigrant and workers' rights.
Los Angeles, CA – In the mainly Chicano Boyle Heights neighborhood, families and organizations will protest Trump’s ICE attacks and police killings by marching on May Day. The May Day march will start at 3 p.m. at the corner of Cesar Chavez Boulevard and Evergreen Street. Proceeding west on Chavez, the march will take place in the heart of Boyle heights. On Chicago Street, the march will travel south for a short rally at the corners of Chicago and First street at the LAPD Hollenbeck station to denounce the killings of Jose “Peruzzi” Mendez, Jesse Romero, and other youth.
Salt Lake City, UT – On May 1, Salt Lake City’s Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) will host a rally for May Day, International Workers’ Day. It will bring together laborers, immigrants, oppressed nationalities and all those in Utah who want to fight back against Trump and the system that allows his hate to flourish. Organizer say “Not one more deportation!” and “End attacks on the working class!”
St. Paul, MN – The organizers of a weekly peace vigil in the Twin Cities issued an urgent last minute appeal for people to join their vigil on April 26 to make a statement against the growing danger of U.S. war in Korea.
NYC, NY – On April 25, at Marymount Manhattan College in New York City, a group of student activists shut down a speech by former Obama Middle East adviser Rob Malley.
Fort Lauderdale, FL – On May 1, local workers, immigrants, and union members will gather to demonstrate their support for immigrants, workers and public education. Workers and activists will gather at Huizenga Plaza in Bubier Park in Fort Lauderdale at 5 p.m. for a packed program. Organizers are calling this a family-friendly action during which there will be musical performances and food.