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.
Iran’s FARS News Agency is reporting, Dec. 31, that Iran is planning a response to U.S. plans for new sanctions against companies and individuals that are allegedly working to develop Iran’s missile capacity.
As 2015 comes to an end, we pause to look back at the 40 most viewed Fight Back! articles of the past year. Fight Back! published more than 1,000 articles this year. There were many excellent Fight Back! articles that aren’t listed here — you can see them all at the archive. (Also see the 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 retrospectives).
Chicago, IL – Just past midnight on the morning, of Dec. 29, well-known Chicago activist Mike Siviwe Elliott was arrested on board a Metra train for exercising his right to observe and video an officer in the course of his or her duties.
Chicago IL – 200 people gathered, Dec. 27, in the rain for an emotional vigil in front of the West Side home where a Chicago cop murdered Bettie Jones and Quintonio Legrier. The protest was called by Action Now, the community group that Jones had been active with.
Fight Back News Service is circulating the following Dec. 21 statement from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) condemning the Israeli murder of the Lebanese resistance leader Samir Kuntar.
Minneapolis, MN – In an unprecedented attempt at halting the upcoming Black Live Matters Minneapolis gathering, the Mall of America has sued eight activists to compel them to immediately” post messages on social media and send out a mass text message announcing their Dec. 23 event is cancelled.