Minneapolis, MN – After months of organizing and community pressure, the Minneapolis city council voted 12-1 to repeal laws against lurking and spitting, June 5. These laws, disproportionately enforced against African Americans and other oppressed nationalities, had been criticized as “Minneapolis Black Codes.”
Washington DC – 26 years after the People’s Republic of China turned back an attempt to overthrow socialism, the U.S. State Department issued a statement, June 3, complaining about the “Chinese government’s violent suppression of peaceful protests in and around Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989.”
Madison, WI – Last month, the Republican-dominated State Assembly continued their attempts to shame the 856,000 Wisconsin people using the food stamp program (called FoodShare), passing measures that would restrict what food could be purchased and requiring drug testing. The senate has yet to take up the measures. Governor Scott Walker has been advocating for the changes.
Washington, DC – The authoritative Lebanese news outlet Al-Manar is reporting that the Yemeni resistance scored a victory over the U.S.-backed Saudi military on June 1. The report states, “Dozens of Saudi soldiers were killed and scores were captured in an attack carried out by the Yemeni Army and Popular Committees on a Saudi camp in Asir region.”
St. Paul, MN – Palestine solidarity protesters gathered at the busy intersection of Summit and Snelling Avenues here, May 29, to demand Israel immediately halt air strikes on Gaza and for an end to U.S. aid to Israel.
Los Angeles, CA – In a two to one decision, The federal Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled that President Obama’s Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Legal Permanent Residents (DAPA) and the extension of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA) will be delayed while an anti-immigrant challenge from Texas state government and others continues to move thorough the court system. These measures would have provided some relief to about 5 million (of the 11 million) undocumented immigrants in the U.S.
Seattle teachers participated in a one-day walkout strike on May 19. Teachers on the eastern side of Washington state are participating today, May 21. While it is illegal for public school teachers to strike, hundreds of brave teachers, along with other school employees, will be walking off the job to demand that their schools be funded, and that budget cuts against them end now. Fight Back! interviewed Chuck Saari, a public school teacher in the city of Kennewick who is striking today.
Spring Lake Park, MN – On May 16, the Minnesota Chapter of American Muslims for Palestine and the Al-Aqsa Institute of Minnesota recognized the Minnesota-based Anti-War Committee for their Palestine solidarity work at “The Return is our Destiny,” which was the theme of the 14th Annual Palestine Day.
Fight Back! interviewed James Jordan, with the Alliance For Global Justice in Tucson, Arizona. Jordan recently returned from a solidarity delegation to the Colombian peace negotiations taking place between the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People’s Army (FARC-EP) and the Colombian government in Havana, Cuba. The FARC-EP want their peace negotiator Simon Trinidad at the talks.
Tampa, FL – Over 50 U.S. Postal Service workers and supporters participated in the national day of action here in Tampa, May 14. On May 20, the USPS union members' contract is set to expire. If the contract passes as is, American Postal Workers Union (APWU) members fear it will include more cuts to employee positions and take the only public postal service in the country and hand it to the private corporations.
Minneapolis, MN – Over 150 University of Minnesota frontline workers, faculty and students rallied for raises and respect outside the Board of Regents meeting, on the McNamara Plaza here May 8. University Unions united – which is made up of AFSCME Locals 3800, 3937,3260 and 380 – and Teamster Local 320 organized the rally as kickoff for contract negotiations.
Milwaukee, WI – Eight students at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee staged a sit-in at Chancellor Mark Mone's office in Chapman Hall, May 7. After several failed attempts to meet with the chancellor, the students occupied his office and demanded that the chancellor meet with them, presenting a list of demands including that the chancellor both oppose the proposed $300 million budget cut to the UW system as unnecessary and political in nature, as well as pledge to cut administration salaries before cutting student services, academics or laying off faculty and staff.
Winston-Salem, NC – For the eighth consecutive year, hundreds of people are expected to join the Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC), AFL-CIO for a rally and march at the Reynolds American shareholders meeting on May 7 to demand the company finally act to ensure that their supply chain is free of human rights abuses.
Milwaukee, WI – On May 5, a flash protest of about 50 students occurred at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee campus to call on students to take action to resist the cuts that form part of the 2015-17 Wisconsin budget proposal, in which Governor Scott Walker insists on a $300 million cut to the UW system.
Dallas, TX – Two groups of protesters took to the streets of downtown here on May 1. One group, led by Mothers Against Police Brutality, Organized Rebellion and other local civil rights groups, was marching in solidarity with the people of Baltimore and against police violence in Dallas. The other marched in support of immigrants and against deportations. Before the night was over, the two groups were marching together.