San Francisco, CA – On Wednesday, July 10, a hundred people rallied downtown here to protest the growing U.S. military intervention in Syria. The rally was called by the United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC), the ANSWER Coalition, along with other anti-war organizations. The rally opened and closed with chants of “money for jobs and education, not for wars and occupation.” Speakers at the rally included representatives from UNAC, ANSWER, World Can’t Wait, Code Pink, Students for Justice in Palestine, and Freedom Road Socialist Organization.
Sanford, FL – As the trial of George Zimmerman reaches its twelfth day, activists and organizers around Florida question whether the murderer of Trayvon Martin will face justice for killing the 17 year-old African-American student in cold blood.
Los Angeles, CA – On July 8, 30,000 prisoners in California began a massive, system-wide hunger strike and work stoppage. This is likely the largest prison strike in U.S. history. The prisoners have five demands, centered on stopping long-term solitary confinement, group punishment and administrative abuse, as well as other issues of appalling prison conditions, many of which can be classified as torture. The strike is uniting prisoners across lines of race and nationality throughout the California prison system.
According to a June 26 report from the New China News Agency (Xinhua), Xi Jinping, the general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC), told members of the party leadership to, “learn from the past, stressing that the socialist path with Chinese characteristics must be unswervingly followed and the Party must serve the people heart and soul.”
Chicago, IL – Dr. Matar speaks for the Syrian American Forum July 2, as people gathered here, for a third week in a row of protests, to say, “Hands off Syria! No new wars!”
Dearborn, MI – Over 200 Syrian-Americans and their supporters rallied here, June 30. The spirited rally on the steps of Dearborn City Hall was at times serious, other times jubilant, but always defiant.
Tampa, FL – Rank-and-file members of the Teamsters union dealt a blow to corporate greed by blocking the implementation of a substandard contract negotiated between United Parcel Service (UPS) and union officials. Under Teamster rules the national contract cannot take effect until all the local as well as regional supplements and riders are passed.
Minneapolis, MN – A peace contingent, made up of the Anti-War Committee, Women Against Military Madness, the Minnesota Committee to Stop FBI Repression, Free Bradley Manning-Minneapolis and others, had a strong showing at the annual Minneapolis LGBTQ Pride parade this year. The contingent participated in the annual parade down Hennepin Avenue to Loring Park on June 30.
Madison, WI – On June 20, a grassroots group held a rally outside of the Wisconsin state capitol and then tried to occupy the floor of the Senate to speak out against SB 206, otherwise known as Sophie's Law.
Fight Back News Service is circulating the following resolution on Syria that was signed by many of the parties present at the 22nd International Communist Seminar. Freedom Road Socialist Organization was among the signers.Resolution on Syria
Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from anti-war organizations calling for National Days of Action, June 28- July 17, to oppose the war on Syria.United Statement and Call for Action to Oppose U.S./NATO and Israeli War on Syria
San Francisco, CA – More than 1000 GLBTQ activists and allies rallied in the Castro District here to celebrate the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on June 26 to strike down the anti-gay, homophobic Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Demonstrators also celebrated the Court’s decision to uphold a 2012 ruling by the California Supreme Court that found Proposition 8, a 2008 ballot initiative banning same-sex marriage in the state, unconstitutional.
Fight Back News Service is circulating some quotes from the icon of the South African anti-apartheid movement. The following quotes are from Mandela’s 1990 speech at a Johannesburg rally to re-launch the South African Communist Party.Nelson Mandela: The ANC [African National Congress] is not a Communist Party. But as a defender of democracy, it has fought and will continue to fight for the right of the Communist Party to exist. As a movement for national liberation, the ANC has no mandate to espouse a Marxist ideology. But as a democratic movement, as a Parliament of the people of our country, the ANC has defended and will continue to defend the right of any South African to adhere to the Marxist ideology if that is their wish.
Chicago, IL – Anti-war activists and Syrians again gathered in Federal Plaza here, June 25, to protest U.S. intervention in Syria. According to Kait McIntyre, “The Anti-War Committee of Chicago called a series of protests after President Obama announced he would be sending weapons to the rebels fighting the government of Bashar Assad.”
Fight Back News Service is circulating the following resolution on Cuba that was signed by many of the parties present at the 22nd International Communist Seminar. Freedom Road Socialist Organization was among the signers.Resolution on Solidarity with Cuba
