Bloomington, MN – More than 500 striking flight mechanics and their supporters rallied near the airport here, Sept. 17 to demand a fair contract from Northwest Airlines. In addition to the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) strikers, the rally drew from a cross-section of the local labor movement.

Minneapolis, MN – On Friday, July 31, at about 3:00 p.m., Rosemary Williams got word that the deal with Greater Metropolitan Housing Corporation (GMHC) to buy her home fell through. This, after the drama of July 24, when shortly after a 24-hour eviction notice was served, she got word that GMHC was to purchase her home and arrange to lease it back to her. A week of relief and celebration and hope was capped off by Friday’s devastating news.

Houston, TX – Requests for American Red Cross assistance surged beyond its capacity to deliver Sunday afternoon at the new St. Agnes Baptist Church for the second day in a row. The make-shift Red Cross center was opened Saturday in the heart of Houston’s African American community, eight miles away from the Astrodome and nearly an hour’s bus ride from downtown. As a red, black, and green Black Liberation flag waved overhead, aid volunteers passed out water and registration forms to those waiting outside.

Houston , TX – Today was one of the hottest, stickiest days in Houston since the evacuees arrived last week. Despite that, thousands converged on a Red Cross Center set up at Saint Agnes Baptist church, in far southeast Houston. Many exhausted families came in cars, the parking lot was filled up early, and vehicles with Louisiana plates were parked on the streets as far as the eye could see in all directions around the church. Cars were lined up in rows on the grass in the power line right-of-way and along Sims Bayou. The one city bus that runs to the area, the 52, was standing-room only with shell shocked individuals and families.

Brunswick, GA – Mayoral candidate Elaine Brown vowed to continue the fight for a fair and free election and to empower black people. Republicans and rich white developers stole this election here. Elaine Brown, a former Black Panther Party leader, now running with the Green Party, faced a calculated campaign of electoral intimidation and personal disenfranchisement.

Brunswick, GA – On Dec. 1, the Glynn County Superior Court heard the Contest of Election filed by mayoral candidate Elaine Brown and granted Brown’s motion to continue. The hearing is now scheduled for Dec.19 at 9:30 a.m.

In the wake of the controversy over the racist remarks by radio personality Don Imus, Fight Back! did the following interviews with grassroots leaders of the Black community in Newark, New Jersey.

Erika Zurawski traveled to Venezuela Aug. 10-22 to serve as an official elections observer under the auspices of the National Elections Council of Venezuela, which is overseen by the Venezuelan Supreme Court. Hugo Chavez, the president of Venezuela, faced a recall referendum which aimed to remove him from office. Chavez is leading a national democratic revolution which aims to empower Venezuela’s poor and free the country from foreign domination.

Frontline Defense for National Democratic Revolution

Dr. Rodrigo Chavez, coordinator of the Bolivarian Circles in Venezuela, was interviewed by Tom Burke of the Colombia Solidarity Committee in Chicago. The Bolivarian Circles, with 2.2 million members, are the backbone of the national democratic revolution in Venezuela. After an attempted U.S. coup against Chavez on April 11, 2002, the Bolivarian Circles helped reinstall popularly-elected President Hugo Chavez. The Bolivarian Circles also successfully organized mass resistance against criminal corporate managers’ and corrupt union officials’ attempted destruction of the oil industry.

Brussels, Belgium – Hundreds of people defied police in Brussels, Belgium on April 3, and demonstrated against the U.S./NATO war against Yugoslavia. Authorities had banned the demonstration and attacked with helicopters, water cannons, and tear gas. Michael Colon, a journalist with the newspaper of the Workers Party of Belgium was severely beaten, along with others. A bus from a nearby town was surrounded by police who arrested all passengers.

Minneapolis, MN – The Twin Cities-based Emergency Committee Against US Intervention in Yugoslavia sent a solidarity statement to an October 16 anti-war demonstration in Brussels, Belgium. The protest was a response to threats by the U.S.-dominated military alliance, NATO, to attack Yugoslavia. Demonstrators organized by the Workers Party of Belgium demanded, “No NATO Bombings, NATO out of the Balkans.”

Minneapolis, MN – Twin Cities peace organizations are mobilizing to stop the U.S. war threats to Yugoslavia. The White House is planning a new round of intervention in response to the conflict in Kosovo.

Millions of people in cities around the world hit the streets March 20 to protest the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq. Massive demonstrations took place in London, Brussels, Seoul, Tokyo and thousands of other cities and towns in 45 countries. Demonstrations took place in more that 250 cities across the United States. Many of these demonstrations also demanded an end to the U.S./Israeli occupation of Palestine and an end to the occupation of Afghanistan.

Minneapolis, MN – Two hundred people gathered here Nov. 8 to protest the U.S. attack on the Iraqi resistance in Fallujah. Chanting, “The people of Fallujah are under attack! What do we do? Stand up, fight back!” the enthusiastic crowd cheered as cars honking in support drove by. Demonstrations are taking place all over the word in response to these latest moves by the U.S. military.

Minneapolis, MN – About 100 people demonstrated here Jan. 29 to oppose the occupation and fake elections in Iraq. Similar protests took place around the country.

Chicago, IL - A noisy crowd of protesters, with banners demanding, “No to war and occupation,” marched here, Mar. 19. Over 3000 gathered in Federal Plaza at 2:00 p.m. to hear speeches by Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney of Georgia and a marine that refused orders to go to Iraq, among others. They were marking the second anniversary of the invasion of Iraq.

Minneapolis, MN - More than 200 people demonstrated June 30 in downtown Minneapolis at the Hennepin County Government Center plaza, demanding that the U.S. government, “End the war in Iraq, end the occupation and bring the troops home now!” The event was sponsored by the Iraq Peace Action Coalition, an organization made up of Twin Cities area peace and justice groups.

Chicago, IL – A noisy crowd of protesters, with banners demanding, “No to war and occupation,” marched here, Mar. 19.

Minneapolis, MN - More than 125 community and student activists attended A Conference for Iraq, Information to Resist Another Quagmire. The keynote address was given by Sami Rasouli, a long-time peace activist who has returned home to Iraq, to try to rebuild peace, in the face of U.S. occupation.