_Anti-war movement says “No U.S. intervention in Libya!” _
In a qualitatively different reaction than the one taken toward other governments facing uprisings in North Africa and the Middle East, the Pentagon announced Feb. 28 that the U.S. military is repositioning naval and air forces around Libya, in apparent preparation for military intervention. The Pentagon now has two aircraft carriers in its naval command region that includes the Arabian Sea and Gulf.
Madison, WI – At 7:40 p.m. this evening, Feb. 27, a spokesperson for the Teaching Assistants’ Association told assembled protesters occupying the Wisconsin state capitol building that police will not make arrests tonight. A 4:00 p.m. deadline had been set by police for demonstrators to leave and the building was closed off.
Madison, WI – Despite a 4:00 p.m. police deadline to leave the Wisconsin state capitol , more than 600 protesters, including trade unions, community supporters and students remain on the upper floors of the building , as of 6:00 pm, Feb. 27. Chants against Governor Walker and his union busting plans are echoing throughout the halls. As of this writing, no arrests have taken place. Police have closed the entrances to prevent more people from joining the protest inside.
_150,000 workers and students say no to union busting _
Madison, WI – 150,000 strong, union members and students flooded the state capitol on Feb. 26, the strongest showing yet to oppose Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker's all out assault on public sector unions.
Madison, WI – “Shame!” roared the audience as the Wisconsin State Assembly voted to pass the union-busting Budget Repair Bill, Feb. 25. Yet spirits remain high amongst the thousands of protesters still gathered at the State Capitol, with mass marches and the capitol building occupation still going strong. The Wisconsin State Senate has yet to be able to pass the bill, with thousands in the streets, the 14 State Senate Democrats still in hiding and many unions preparing the beginning stages of a general strike.
Madison, WI – The struggle at the Wisconsin State Capitol to defeat the union-busting Budget Repair Bill held strong through its 9th day, Feb. 23. The state Capitol remained occupied and as early as 7:30 a.m. the chants of “Kill the bill” could be heard from all over. Over 50 Sheet Metal workers, many laid off, came marching up to the capitol at 8:00 a.m., chanting “Union Power!”
Fight Back News Service is circulating the following resolution from the Graduate Employees Organization University of Illinois at Chicago (GEO-UIC) Local 6297. This Resolution was passed by the GEO-UIC Steering Committee on Feb. 9.
Madison, WI – Inside and out, the Capitol Building is loud and crowded. It's the eighth day of protests against Governor Scott Walker's ‘budget repair bill’ and every night, thousands of students and workers occupy the Capitol Building. The people of Wisconsin are showing determination to kill the bill.
Indianapolis, IN – More than a thousand rallied in the capitol building here, Feb. 22 to protest an anti-union ‘right to work’ bill that had been advancing through legislative committees. Workers holding signs reading “Stop the war on workers” also joined a sit-in at the entrance of the state senate chamber.
Madison, WI – As of Feb. 21, people from throughout Wisconsin and around the country have been showing support for public workers locked into a battle with Republican Party leaders. Wisconsin Governor Walker is determined to destroy unions in Wisconsin. Over 100,000 protesters have let their voices be heard over the last few days in the Wisconsin capital of Madison and around the country. Chants of “Kill the bill” are heard each day as workers try to fight to maintain their unions.
San José, CA – More than 300 people packed the San Jose Buddhist Church hall on Feb. 20 to attend the 31st annual Day of Remembrance event in San Jose. This event commemorates Executive Order 9066 that was issued on Feb. 19, 1942 and which led to the incarceration of 120,000 Japanese Americans in U.S. concentration camps during World War II. The theme of the event was “Fighting Against Fear” which made connections the Japanese American experience during WWII and the attacks on Arab Americans and American Muslims today. The San Jose Day of Remembrance was organized by the Nihonmachi Outreach Committee (NOC), a grassroots community organization that was formed in the late 1970s out of concerns about the impact of corporate redevelopment on historic Japanese American communities.
Oakland, CA – A crowd of 150 West Coast anti-war leaders and international solidarity activists met here, Feb. 12, at the Humanist Hall to help build a movement against the current wave of political repression emanating from U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald’s office in Chicago.
Madison, WI – Feb. 17, 12:30 p.m.: The State Capitol Building here is the second largest in the country and it is packed full today. Tens of thousands are protesting inside and out. The energy is intense and not a corner of the Capitol is quiet. 2000 students from UW-Madison marched to the capitol at 11:00 a.m. and 500 high school students just rushed up State Street to join the protest. Firefighter, police, sheet metal, iron workers, airplane pilot unions and more are all present.
Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) on the massive struggle in Wisconsin against attacks on public workers.
Davenport, IA – On Feb. 14, Twin Cities-based activist Scott DeMuth was taken into custody by the authorities in Davenport, Iowa. This stems from his conviction for a misdemeanor charge of ‘conspiracy to commit animal enterprise terrorism’ under the Animal Enterprise Protection Act. Scott is being transferred to the Polk County Jail, near Des Moines, Iowa, where he will be processed. The authorities will then determine where he will serve out his sentence.
Madison, WI – Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has proposed to take away union collective bargaining rights for more than 175,000 public employees. Walker has made his state the center of a vicious, far-reaching union busting move. But the people of Wisconsin are rising up. They are fighting back.
Chicago, IL – Fight Back News Service urges our readers to check out the following videos from the Feb. 12 midwest conference against the FBI and Grand Jury repression that was held in Chicago. The conference and benefit brought together about 200 activists from Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Missouri.
Chapel Hill, NC – A conference to address the recent FBI raids on anti-war and international solidarity activists’ homes and offices will take place Feb. 19 from 9:45 am until 5:00 pm at the UNC Law School on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The event is free and open to the public. Lunch will be provided for a suggested $5 donation. Childcare will be available free of charge.
Milwaukee, WI – More attacks on students and workers at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee are underway, this time from newly-elected Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, who is planning to cripple state workers with new legislation that will virtually eliminate collective bargaining rights for public sector unions. Claiming that he has the votes in the state house and senate, Gov. Walker's budget bill will be voted on Thursday, Feb. 17.
