News and Views from the People's Struggle
Chicago, IL – Over 230 Filipinos from across the U.S. and the Philippines joined over 15,000 demonstrators here, May 20, to march in protest against the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit taking place just blocks away in McCormick Place. It was the largest outdoor anti-war demonstration in the U.S. in years.
“The people are more powerful than the cops, the mayor, or NATO”
Fight Back! interviews Joe Iosbaker, the Chicago spokesperson for the United National Antiwar Coalition and a leader in the Coalition Against NATO/G8 War and Poverty Agenda, on the massive May 20 protest at the NATO Summit. Fight Back!: Please talk some about what happened at the march on the NATO Summit and who was there. Joe Iosbaker: 15,000 people rallied and marched against the war makers’ summit on a scorching hot day here in Chicago. It was a very broad gathering, involving the Iraq Veterans Against the War, National Nurses United and the Reverend Jesse Jackson. We had music by Tom Morello, Rebel Diaz, David Rovics and Outer National. Carlos Montes came from Los Angeles, straight from the political persecution trial he is facing. Students came from Utah, Florida and all over the Midwest.
Fight Back News Service is circulating the following resolution from the 21st International Communist Seminar, which took place in Brussels, Belgium on May 18-20.
Los Angeles, CA – One year ago, on May 17, 2011, Carlos Montes awoke at 5:00 a.m. to the Los Angeles Sheriff’s SWAT team crashing down his front door and waving automatic weapons in his face. Sheriffs handcuffed Montes and put him in the back of a squad car, where the FBI attempted to interrogate him about his association with 23 other anti-war activists targeted by the FBI.
Chicago, IL – While the eyes of the world are on Chicago and the upcoming NATO summit, 40 protesters spoke out May 16 against the FBI frame-up of Carlos Montes, demanding the charges against him be dropped. Montes is a prominent Los Angeles Chicano civil rights and immigrant rights activist and a leader in the anti-war movement.
Minneapolis, MN – A group of supporters gathered at the intersection of Chicago Avenue and Lake Street during a sunny south Minneapolis rush hour May 15, in support of Carlos Montes, on the first scheduled day of his trial.
Los Angeles, CA – Over 100 supporters rallied in front of the Los Angeles Superior Court May 15 to demand, “Drop the charges against Carlos Montes.” The supporters included MECHA students, union members, teachers, vendors and community members, as well as activists from the anti-war movement.
Chicago, IL – More than 125 people gathered here for a candlelight vigil in support of over 2,000 Palestinian political prisoners currently on hunger strike in Israeli jails.
Chicago, IL – On Sunday, May 20, students throughout the country will come together in Chicago to join the student contingent in opposition to the NATO summit and demand money for education, not for war.
Minneapolis, MN – About 25 people marched in the Minnesota Committee to Stop FBI Repression contingent in the annual Heart of the Beast Theater May Day parade here, May 13. The contingent passed out thousands of flyers educating the public about the upcoming trial of Carlos Montes and the attacks on the 23 Midwest activists who have been targeted by FBI and grand Jury repression. They asked people along the parade route to call the Los Angeles District Attorney Cooley to demand that he drop the charges against Carlos Montes. The crowd was receptive and supportive. The Minnesota Committee to Stop FBI Repression built for their picket in solidarity with Montes on the first day his trial, May 15, as well as to invite people to come to the protest against NATO next weekend in Chicago.
#MinneapolisMN #CarlosMontes #MinnesotaCommitteeToStopFBIRepression #AntiWar23
San Jose, CA – On May 12, the South Bay Committee Against Political Repression held an art auction fundraiser for the defense of Carlos Montes. Bay Area artists contributed their paintings, posters, photographs and other art for a silent auction. The program included music and spoken word. Hundreds of dollars were raised for the legal defense and organizing efforts for Carlos Montes.
#SanJoséCA #CarlosMontes #SouthBayCommitteeAgainstPoliticalRepression #Art
Minneapolis, MN – This coming weekend, Minnesotans will fill two buses headed for Chicago to participate in an anti-war march and rally outside the NATO summit meeting on Sunday, May 20.
African American woman gets 20 years for firing warning shot to ward off abuser
Jacksonville, FL – On May 11, students from the civil rights group Dream Defenders protested at the sentencing hearing of Marissa Alexander, a young black woman who was convicted of aggravated assault stemming from an episode in 2010 where she fired a warning shot at her abusive ex-husband Rico Gray, who had previously beaten her.
Jesse Jackson and Carlos Montes among speakers
Chicago, IL – The Coalition Against NATO/G8 War And Poverty Agenda (CANG8), which is spearheading the massive march on the NATO summit May 20, has announced the speakers and cultural performers who will be on stage during the protest.
Speakers call for stepped up efforts to support Carlos Montes
Chicago, IL – On May 6 over 100 people attended a panel at the Labor Notes conference called Solidarity Forever: The Labor Movement, Political Repression and the Fight for Civil Liberties. The panel focused on the repression against Carlos Montes and the Anti-War 23 and explained why it’s important for the labor movement to take a stand against political repression.
Fond Du Lac, WI – Dozens of Wisconsin Occupy groups gathered here for a day of actions and discussions during the first state-wide General Assembly (GA) of Occupy Wisconsin. The assembly was held over the May 5 weekend in the occupied Veteran's Memorial Park. Two demonstrations were held to draw connections between the banks, police, jails and the military recruitment center in downtown Fond Du Lac. Protesters held a die-in in front of the military recruitment center, holding signs that demanded “No war on Iran,” and “U.S. out of Afghanistan.”
Los Angeles, CA – The Committee to Stop FBI Repression has created a great new video on the life of Carlos Montes, and the fight to beat back the attempt to jail him.
Minneapolis, MN – More than 1500 people marched on Lake Street for immigrant and workers rights here on May 1, International Workers Day. Organized by the May 1st Coalition and initiated by the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAc), the march focused on legalization for undocumented immigrants, ending deportations and support for workers and their unions. The march had the support of the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation (AFL-CIO), most immigrant rights groups in the city and many Latino student groups from nearby colleges and high schools.
Supporters charge that racism and transphobia in legal system continue the assault against McDonald
Minneapolis, MN – Chrishaun “CeCe” McDonald accepted a plea agreement, May 2, to a reduced charge of manslaughter in the second degree in the criminal case resulting from the racist, transphobic assault that she survived last June.
Los Angeles, CA – Thousands of protesters took to the streets here on May 1, International Workers Day, to demand legalization for all. The protest, organized by Southern California Immigration Coalition, was the largest Los Angeles May Day event. The mostly Chicano/Latino crowd was made up of students, teachers, vendors, garment workers, parents and activists from all the progressive movements, including the Occupy movement. Participants and supporters of the demonstration included the United Teachers Los Angeles, International Action Center, Union Del Barrio, Bayan USA, FMLN, FSLN, L.A. Committee to Stop FBI Repression, Mecha and others.