San José, CA – Another protest for demanding justice for Trayvon Martin was held here, Aug. 6. About 100 protesters of all nationalities gathered at San José City Hall for a rally and then marched through the streets of downtown San José, past the Federal Building and ending with a speak-out at César Chávez Plaza.

Minneapolis, MN – More than 100 University of Minnesota AFSCME workers came together for a spirited march and rally here, August 5. After rallying in front of Morrill Hall, the administration building, workers headed upstairs to the office of President Kahler to deliver about 1300 signed petitions demanding the university drop proposed changes to the health care plan. The administration’s proposed attack on the health care plan would have some workers pay more premiums and significantly increase out of pocket medical costs for all university employees.

Saint Paul, MN – More than 240 members of Workers United Local 150 walked off the job from Health Systems Cooperative Laundries, August 5, forming picket lines at the plant entrances in a strike over unfair labor practices, which include the company’s unilateral discontinuation of sick-day benefits.

Chicago, IL – A forum was held here, Aug. 3, about U.S. Intervention in Syria. Sponsored by the March 19th Coalition, it included speakers from the ANSWER Coalition and the Syrian American Forum.

Tallahassee, FL – On July 16, around 100 members of the youth civil rights organization Dream Defenders flooded the Florida Capitol and marched to the office of Governor Rick Scott. Their demand was simple: Justice for Trayvon Martin and pass Trayvon's Law.

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement on resumption of direct negotiations between the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Israeli occupiers.

PFLP urges rejection of negotiations

Washington, DC – Secretary of State John Kerry, speaking at a July 30 press conference that included Israeli Minister Tzipi Livni and Palestinian Chief Negotiator Saeb Erekat, stated, “The parties have agreed here today that all of the final status issues, all of the core issues and all other issues are all on the table for negotiation. And they are on the table with one simple goal: a view to ending the conflict, ending the claims.”

Minneapolis, MN – About 250 community members gathered in the front yard of the Ceballos home, July 29, for a concert and rally to show support for the Ceballos family. The family, with the help of community supporters, fended off an eviction attempt by 30 sheriff deputies sent by JPMorgan Chase July 24. They expect another eviction attempt at any time.

Sanford, FL – Defying rain, hateful counter-protesters and the Florida summer heat, more than 70 people on the 126-mile Walk for Dignity held a rally at the Trayvon Martin memorial in Sanford on July 27.

St. Paul, MN – 70 people gathered at Macalester Plymouth United Church here on July 27 to participate in a program called “60 Years After the End of the Korean War: Is the Korean War Really Over?”

Minneapolis, MN – 75 community members turned back 30 sheriffs who were trying to evict people from the Ceballos home, July 24. Two home defenders were arrested in acts of civil disobedience.

Demands: ‘Justice for Trayvon’ and resignation of state attorney

Jacksonville, FL – Even the summer afternoon rain couldn’t stop more than 25 activists from meeting in downtown Jacksonville’s Hemming Plaza, July 22, to begin a five-day walk to Sanford, Florida. Activists took the first steps in the “Walk for Dignity – Enough is Enough” event, demanding justice for Trayvon Martin and the resignation of State Attorney Angela Corey, who prosecuted the George Zimmerman case.

“Written by American hands with Zionist ink”

The progressive Lebanese political party Hezbollah sharply condemned a decision by the European Union to put a ‘terrorist’ label on its military wing, June 22.

Jacksonville, FL – With their fists and their voices raised, more than 450 people took to the streets of downtown Jacksonville on July 20 to protest the acquittal of George Zimmerman and demand justice for Trayvon Martin.

Protests also demand justice for Darius Simmons and Derek Williams

Milwaukee, WI – Several hundred people turned out for multiple rallies over the weekend of July 20. Hundreds rallied outside the federal courthouse downtown Milwaukee to demand justice for Trayvon Martin, Darius Simmons and others. The rally was one of about 100 across the country over the weekend that called for Attorney General Eric Holder to press federal charges against George Zimmerman.

Gainesville, FL – On July 20, 50 activists, faith leader, and community members held a noon vigil outside the Alachua County Courthouse. They gathered to demand the U.S. Department of Justice file charges against George Zimmerman for violating the civil rights of Trayvon Martin. The action was part of the #100citytrayvon initiative by the Reverend Al Sharpton.

San José, CA – A week after the acquittal of George Zimmerman, another rally and march drew more than 250 people, three times the size of the week before. The protest continued to be majority African American with a large number of Chicanos, Mexicanos and Latinos. Many of the protest signs were in Spanish. There were also more middle-aged and older people and a sprinkling of families with children at the rally. At the top of the demand list was that the Department of Justice file civil rights violation charges against George Zimmerman.

St Paul, MN – More than 50 people gathered at the Wednesday Peace Vigil on the Lake Street/Marshall Avenue bridge, July 17, under the call “No U.S. war in Syria – war is not the answer.”

Tallahassee, FL – After three days of occupying the governor’s office in the Florida capitol building, protesters demanding justice for Trayvon Martin finally secured a meeting with Governor Rick Scott, July 19. Scott met for about 45 minutes with several leaders from Dream Defenders, a student activist organization led by Black and Latino youth. He refused to give into any of the protesters’ demands.

According to a July 17 report from the Korean Central News Agency, a spokesperson for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Foreign Ministry stated, “There occurred an abnormal case in which the DPRK trading ship Chongchongang was apprehended by the Panamanian investigation authorities on suspicion of “drug transport,” a fiction, before passing through the Panama canal after leaving Havana Port recently. The Panamanian investigation authorities rashly attacked and detained the captain and crewmen of the ship on the plea of “drug investigation” and searched its cargo but did not discover any drug. Yet, they are justifying their violent action, taking issue with other kind of cargo aboard the ship.”