Saint Paul, MN – The city council here passed a resolution April 4 directing city personnel to ensure the right to political speech and civic debate during the Republican National Convention. The convention is scheduled to take place over Labor Day weekend, 2008.

Washington D.C. – On March 17, tens of thousands of people braved unseasonably cold weather and strong winds to march against the U.S. occupation and war in Iraq. This national protest marked the fourth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, and also commemorated the 40th anniversary of the historic 1967 march on the Pentagon against the Vietnam War. The 1967 Pentagon march is widely seen as representing the shift 'from protest to resistance' against the Vietnam War. The March on the Pentagon this year also aimed to express the need for an escalation from protest to resistance in order to stop the U.S. war in Iraq.

Atlanta, GA – Georgians will mark the fourth anniversary of the American invasion of Iraq by demanding, “Not one more death, not one more dollar.” Activities in various parts of the state will include delivery of petitions to congresspersons, a ‘constituent teach-in’ for Georgia’s U.S. senators and numerous street demonstrations, faith vigils and campus actions.

Fight Back! News Service is circulating the following statement from the National Democratic Front of the Philippines on the murder of Bishop Alberto Ramento.

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement by Jose Maria Sison. Sison is a leading figure in the movement to free the Philippines from United States domination. The Bush administration has falsely accused Sison of ‘terrorism’ and is trying to criminalize the Filipino people’s fight for national liberation.

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement in defense of Jose Maria Sison. Sison is a leading figure in the movement to free the Philippines from United States domination. The Bush administration has falsely accused Sison of ‘terrorism’ and is trying to criminalize the fight of the Filipino people for national liberation.

The Amado Kadena, a local union of National Federation of Labor Unions (NAFLU) affiliated to the militant labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), attained a landslide victory in the certification election, March 27, at the food processing company Dole Phils in Polomolok, South Cotabato.

Fight Back! News Service is circulating the following statement from the National Democratic Front of the Philippines about the wave of repression launched by U.S.-backed President Arroyo.

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from the Pilipino human rights organization KARAPATAN (Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights) on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. A wave of violence, organized by the U.S-backed government of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA), has been aimed at that country's progressive movement.

Trade union leader Rolando ‘Ka Rolly’ Mariano, 53 years old, was fatally shot by three unidentified men atop a single motorcycle. Mariano was aboard a minivan on his way to work Oct. 7 in San Fernando village in Victoria, Tarlac.

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following Sept. 23 statement from the main trade union federation in the Philippines, the KMU (May 1st Workers’ Center), concerning the assassination of one of its leaders, Diosdado Fortuna. The government of U.S.-backed Pilipino President Arroyo is responsible for a wave of human rights violations.

A campaign for the release of political prisoner Donato ‘Donat’ Continente has been announced by BAYAN, an alliance of progressive Pilipino organizations. Background information on this critical case appeared in the summer 2002 issue of Fight Back!

The Philippines is a country of extremes. There are very rich people and wealthy U.S. corporations in the Philippines. But most people, millions of them, are very poor. The Philippines is also a country that has been at war for over thirty years-a war between the haves and the have-nots.

Sun Hyung Lee traveled to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (north Korea) as part of a peace delegation of eight Korean Americans from Oakland, Los Angeles and New York in June of 2004. At a time when the Bush administration is carrying out war preparations against north Korea, the interview provides some important insights into developments on the Korean peninsula.

Commenting on the May 25 nuclear test, the Korean Central News agency stated, “The test will contribute to defending the sovereignty of the country and the nation and socialism and ensuring peace and security on the Korean Peninsula.”

New York, NY – On Nov. 21, U.S. District Court Judge Thomas P. Griesa ruled in favor of Brad Sigal, Ydanis Rodriguez and David Suker, three former student activists at the City College of New York (CCNY). The students praised the court decision in the Sigal v. Moses case, calling it an important victory for student activists and the student media.

In light of the intense repression carried out against protests at the Republican National Convention, we are reprinting material that Terri Smith, of Minnesota Homeland Security and Emergency Management, presented at the Fifth Annual Governor’s Homeland Security Conference, Sept. 29-Oct. 1 at the Embassy Suites in Des Moines, Iowa.

St. Paul, MN – A lawsuit resulting from a police home invasion before the Republican National Convention was announced here at a press conference in front of City Hall, Oct. 10. Notice was served on the city of Saint Paul that lawyers representing Mike Whalen will seek $250,000 in damages.

Chicago, IL – Across the country the rich are grabbing up land, pushing poor people and people of color to the suburbs and on to the streets. In Chicago this has meant the demolition of whole communities, the tearing down of public housing, violations of renters’ rights, condo conversions and working-class displacement.

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following call from the Twin Cites-based Anti-War Committee for an October 13 call-in day to demand that St. Paul officials drop the charges against RNC protesters.