Fight Back! News

News and Views from the People's Struggle

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Alejandro Orellana with fist raised \[center\] after his release.

Los Angeles, CA – On Friday, June 13, Alejandro Orellana, an immigrant rights activist who was arrested by the FBI, was freed from federal custody.

The previous morning the FBI, with the support of the National Guard and the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, raided Orellana’s home in East Los Angeles and arrested Alejandro, a longtime member of Centro CSO, on charges of “conspiracy to commit criminal disorders.”

In a packed courtroom with family, supporters, and Centro CSO members, Orellana stood strong against the ridiculous charges. The U.S. Attorney tried to have the judge order Orellana to stay away from downtown LA but that order was rejected.

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Dallas, TX – This May, nearly 90 union drivers at Albertsons, represented by Teamsters Local 745, voted unanimously to authorize a strike, sending a thunderous message to corporate management – and it worked.

Within hours of the vote, Albertsons executives returned to the bargaining table and immediately backed down, dropping proposed contract language that would have allowed the company to deploy autonomous trucks without human drivers. The company also agreed to move on several key economic demands after months of stonewalling.

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East LA protest against ICE kidnapping.

Los Angeles, CA – On June 11, over 100 Chicanos gathered at Salazar Park for a news conference and rally to denounce the violent ICE kidnapping of a father of two in Boyle Heights. At 10:15 on the morning of June 11, a vehicle with a mother, father, infant and toddler traveling on Whittier Boulevard was pinned between two ICE vehicles. The father’s vehicle was tear gassed, and the father was kidnapped by agents, leaving the totaled car on Whittier.

Members of Centro CSO, an organization that fights for immigrant rights in Boyle Heights and East LA, were at the scene while the confrontation unfolded and demanded ICE show the warrant and identify themselves – which the agents laughed at and refused. The man is being charged with assault on a federal agent, but DHS has yet to provide evidence.

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Twin Cities, MN – In the early morning hours of June 14, an individual came to the door of State Senator John Hoffman in Champlin, reportedly impersonating a police officer. He shot at Hoffman and his wife, who shielded their child from the gunfire.

Then the gunman, who has been identified as Reverend Vance Boelter, went to the Brooklyn Park home of State Representative Melissa Hortman, where he shot and killed Representative Hortman and her husband.

Reportedly, police arrived at the scene and Boelter fled on foot. He reportedly left behind his vehicle, which appeared similar to an SUV squad car. In his car, authorities report they found a list of other targets, also elected officials. Hortman is a leader of the state DFL party, and Hoffman is also a Democrat.

Reverend Boelter is a Zionist with a background in private security.

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Sam Carrera speaking to the press. about the jailing of immigrant rights activist Alejandro Orellana.

Los Angeles, CA — On the morning of June 12, in East Los Angeles, the FBI, National Guard, and LA Sheriff’s Department cornered off the street where immigrant rights activist Alejandro Orellana lives. Neighbors came out of their homes, concerned they were witnessing another ICE raid. FBI agents forcibly entered Orellana’s home, overturned all of his belongings, seized his electronic property, and then escorted Orellana handcuffed into one of their vehicles.

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San Jose protest shuts down ICE offices.

San José, CA – On June 6, around 100 people came out to Blossom Hill Road in San Jose to protest recent ICE arrests. According to the Santa Clara County Rapid Response Network, ICE made many arrests during immigration check-ins, causing activists to make an emergency call to action.

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Detroit protest in solidarity with Los Angeles against  ICE raids, National Guard.

Detroit, MI – On June 8, around 80 Detroiters and several community organizations protested Trump’s deployment of the National Guard on the Los Angeles community. Outside of the downtown ICE and Police Department Headquarters, Detroit stood in solidarity with those fighting back against ICE and the National Guard in LA.

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Protest against ICE raids in Santa Ana, California.

Santa Ana, CA – On Monday, June 9, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) began raiding multiple locations across the city of Santa Ana and the surrounding Orange County. ICE was seen arresting day laborers at many Home Depot locations, people at fast food restaurants, bus stops, car washes and more.

Community organizations like the OC Rapid Response Network responded immediately, calling for a protest at the Santa Ana United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) field office where those arrested were being taken to. Protesters shouted “Shame! Shame! Shame!” at ICE agents surrounding the building holding non-lethal weapons and playing an automated message on a megaphone telling protesters to stay off the property.

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Jacksonville, FL – Over 100 people gathered in downtown Jacksonville on Monday, June 9, to stand in solidarity with Los Angeles, California and to stand up for immigrant rights. The rally was organized by 50501, Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance and other coalition partners.

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LA march against ICE raids, National Guard attack on protests.

Los Angeles, CA – On Monday, June 9, Centro CSO held a press conference to call out and denounce the violence that protesters met with when they marched to the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles.

At that June 8, protest, tear gas was fired without warning or provocation into a crowd of children in strollers and infants in carriers. Babies cried and choked as CSO called on the crowd to march back to Boyle Heights.

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Press conference slams raid in south Minneapolis.

Minneapolis, MN – On Thursday, June 5, Minnesota Immigrant Movement (MIM), Asamblea de los Derechos Civiles, and the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC) held a press conference at Minneapolis City Hall outside of Mayor Jacob Frey’s office, hosting an array of local political and social justice leaders.

The community members and organizers demanded accountability from the mayor and MPD after local law enforcement helped federal authorities terrorize the immigrant community on Lake Street on June 3.

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Dolores Huerta speaking out against ICE raids at CSO protest in Boyle Heights.

Boyle Heights, CA – 400 people gathered at Mariachi Plaza on June 8, for a protest called by Centro CSO against recent ICE raids in Los Angeles. Other demands included legalization for all, ICE out of our barrios, no Metro collaboration with ICE, ICE out of immigration courts, and free those detained in the basement of the Metropolitan Detention Center.

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A group of protesters stand with banners on a street corner denouncing ICE raids and Donald Trump.

Los Ángeles, CA – On Friday, June 6, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raided multiple locations in Los Angeles, triggering rapid response from communities and a spontaneous protest in downtown Los Angeles.

ICE operations carried out coordinated raids throughout the morning and afternoon, including two confirmed Home Depot parking lots and what’s known as LA’s Fashion District downtown. FBI agents were assisting in ICE operations and people were detained without warrants. It is still unconfirmed how many people were detained.

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Protest at NYPD gala.

New York, NY – On June 5, dozens of community members and activists gathered outside of the Intrepid Museum to protest the New York City Police Foundation annual gala. The gala raises millions of dollars for the already over-bloated NYPD budget and goes to creating police community outreach, opening and maintaining overseas NYPD offices, and buying innovative technology. Tickets range from $2500 to $250,000.

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Protest at Portland ICE facility.

Portland, OR – On June 4, activists rallied outside of the ICE facility in Portland at 4310 SW Macadam Avenue, demanding an end to Trump’s racist attacks on immigrants. They arrived in the morning encountering a long line of immigrants waiting to enter the building. Sometime later, a van pulled out of the facility, full of people who had been detained.

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La protesta encima del Capitolio Estatal de Minnesota exigiendo la atención médica para todos.

Saint Paul, MN – Mientras el gobernador y legisladores de Minnesota continúan reuniéndose a puertas cerradas y con una sesión especial aún inminente, más de 50 personas del movimiento de derechos de inmigrante volvieron para protestar en la oficina del gobernador Tim Walz en el capitolio estatal el 2 de junio. Esto viene aproximadamente una semana después de una acción semejante. El mitin fue otra movilización en respuesta a que el gobernador Walz y dirigentes legislativos anunciaron su intención de aprobar un presupuesto que les quitaría el acceso a la atención médica a adultos indocumentados en el estado.

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Santa Ana community demands justice for Noe Rodriguez.

Santa Ana, CA – On June 3, nine Community Service Organization Orange County (CSO OC) members and supporters delivered public comments at Santa Ana’s city council meeting to demand justice for Noe Rodriguez. The attendees included two members of Noe Rodriguez’s family, including Erika Armenta, Rodriguez’s wife and mother of his two daughters, and Rodriguez’s sister. Many attending wore shirts designed by Armenta that included portraits of Rodriguez, and all held signs that displayed his killers – Officers Luis Casillas and Isaac Ibarra.

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“It is Marcos, Brawner, and Gilbert Teodoro’s fault why the Philippines is considered a ‘U.S. proxy’ in the ASEAN region,” Marco Valbuena, chief information officer of the Communist Party of the Philippines said. “They act as U.S. puppets, beg for arms and aid from its government, and serve as the number one implementors of the U.S. policy in the region.”

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Santa Ana protest demands ICE get out of the courts.

Santa Ana, CA – On Friday, May 30, chants of “ICE out of Santa Ana!” were heard on the corner of Dyer and Hotel Terrace, where about 20 community members gathered to protest the recent ICE detainments of immigrants attending their hearings at the nearby courthouse.

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