To mark the May 5, 1818 birthday of Karl Marx, Fight Back News Service is circulating a work he wrote in 1864, a statement of congratulations to President Lincoln upon his reelection.
Address of the International Working Men's Association to Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States of America
Sir:
We congratulate the American people upon your re-election by a large majority. If resistance to the Slave Power was the reserved watchword of your first election, the triumphant war cry of your re-election is Death to Slavery.
Tampa, FL – On May 1, Tampa Bay’s Students for a Democratic Society held a rally in response to University of South Florida police’s plan to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The contract is an agreement between the University of South Florida Police Department and ICE that allows officers to enforce immigration laws under 287(g). This would allow police officers to detain, question and arrest students or faculty suspected of being undocumented.
Denver, CO – On May 1, hundreds of people came out for International Workers Day in solidarity with workers all around the world. Chants and demands included “No to deportations!” “No one is illegal” and “Legalization for all!”
New Brunswick, NJ – On Tuesday, April 29, Rutgers Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) held a rally against a speaking event hosted by Rutgers Hillel. The speech was part of “Israel Week,” a series of events intended to justify and celebrate the ongoing genocide and occupation of Palestine., New Jersey U.S. Representative Josh Gottheimer, a staunch Zionist and supporter of Israel’s war crimes, was invited to meet with students that day.
New Orleans LA – On May 1, New Orleans buzzed with activity to celebrate International Workers Day. In the morning, nurses at the University Medical Center (UMC) went on strike, with dozens picketing alongside them for hours. And later in the day at 6 p.m. hundreds gathered for a march to fight for immigrants and workers’ rights.
New Orleans, LA– On April 29, students at Loyola University New Orleans dropped a banner from the third floor of the school's Mass Communications building. The banner read “Loyola won’t listen, they’re raising our tuition: Affordable education for all.”
New York, NY – On Thursday, May 1, the first day of Mental Health Awareness Month, over 200 New Yorkers gathered to hear the city’s mayoral candidates speak on the topic of mental health at a town hall event. The event was organized by the New York City Mental Health Collective, a coalition of over 30 local community organizations working to improve mental health care in the city.
Los Angeles, CA – For the 10th consecutive year, hundreds of workers, students and activists joined Centro CSO for its May Day in Boyle Heights march and rally. For this year’s event, CSO raised two main demands: “Legalization 4 All” and “No to Deportations” as part of the movement against Trump’s attacks on immigrants.
After a spirited rally at the historic Mariachi Plaza in Boyle Heights, protesters marched to the Metropolitan Detention Center, a federal prison where immigrants are incarcerated.
Milwaukee, WI – On the morning of May 1, over 5000 people rallied and marched in Milwaukee under the banner of “A Day Without Immigrants and Workers.”
May 1 is a day of protest and celebration internationally to display the strength of worker solidarity. With Trump’s continued attacks on immigration, the people of Milwaukee and various organizations came out in force this year to stand in solidarity with the immigrant communities that define the city.
New York, NY – Thousands gathered in neighborhoods around the city on May 1 to celebrate International Workers Day. As this day is important for the people on the left, different events throughout the day pepper the streets calling for immigrants and workers’ rights.
Members of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization attended these different events as solidarity contingents.
Washington, D.C. — On April 30, over 30 Filipino and community activists gathered outside of the Embassy of the Philippines to celebrate International Workers Day and demand that the Philippine government stand up for Filipino workers in the US.
Jacksonville, FL – On Thursday, May 1, more than 450 workers, immigrants, students and community members rallied in front of the Duval County Courthouse for International Workers Day.
Austin, TX – On May 1, about 50 people, including students, labor organizers and community members, rallied outside the University of Texas at Arlington Tower for May Day around 5:00 p.m. The rally was organized by the Austin Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), with help from UT’s chapter of YDSA, to stand up for workers and immigrant rights.
Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from Elias Dipasupil, Secretary General of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.
This Labor Day, the longstanding demands of the working class for better wages and working conditions, embodied in the clamor for a national living wage, reflect the urgency and necessity of the people’s democratic revolution in the face of the anti-people neoliberal policies of the US-Marcos regime.
Minneapolis, MN – The Freedom Road Socialist Organization’s $100K Fund Drive has not only met its goal but surpassed it, with $104,600 raised and still climbing as we enter the final stretch. This is what revolutionary commitment looks like!
St. Paul, MN – On May 1, commemorated throughout the world as International Workers’ Day, thousands of Minnesotans are expected at the Minnesota State Capitol for a rally and march for immigrant and workers’ rights. The rally kicks off at 4:30 p.m. on the steps of the State Capitol with a march to follow at 5:30 p.m. that will end back at the Capitol. This is one of hundreds of May Day protests that will take place around the country.
Grand Rapids, MI – At 8:30 a.m. on the morning of April 28, the trial of Christopher Schurr for the murder of Patrick Lyoya began.
Patrick Lyoya was a Congolese man living in Grand Rapids when he was shot and killed by former Grand Rapids Police Department officer Christopher Schurr on April 4, 2022, during a traffic stop. A little over three years later, this officer who executed Lyoya is finally seeing his day in court.
Tallahassee, FL – On Thursday, April 24, Tallahassee Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) organized a rally demanding the FSU administration stop allowing manifestations of white supremacy on campus.
Jacksonville, FL – Hundreds rallied at the intersection of Southside and Beach Boulevards, a vital hub of Jacksonville’s immigrant community, on Saturday, April 26, heeding the call of the Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance (JIRA) and a coalition of faith and grassroots organizations.
St. Paul, MN – On Monday, April 21, the National Labor Relations Board filed a complaint and notice of hearing, accusing Amazon of illegally refusing to negotiate with warehouse workers out of the San Francisco DCK6 delivery station.