Grand Rapids, MI – More than 1000 students and community members marched in the streets here and at the nearby Grand Valley State University (GVSU) to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. on Jan. 19. Thousands then filled college field houses to hear Sybrina Fulton, mother of Trayvon Martin. Martin was the African American teenager murdered by vigilante George Zimmerman. Zimmerman was allowed to walk free from a Florida court.

Grand Rapids, MI – 100 people gathered in solidarity with the African American community of Ferguson, Missouri and to remember police shooting victim Michael Brown, Aug 16. Organized by two African American women, the crowd stood with their hands up so photographers could take photos on Calder Plaza. During the second round of photos outside Grand Rapids City Hall, the crowd chanted, “Hands up, don’t shoot!”

Grand Rapids, MI – As part of a national call for vigils, over 50 people gathered for Michael Brown at Cherry Park here, Aug. 14. Michael Brown is the teenager who just graduated high school and was about to start college, but was murdered by a white policeman in Ferguson, Missouri. There are large and militant protests taking place every day and night in Ferguson calling for justice and to jail the killer cop.

Grand Rapids, MI – Israel began air strikes, shelling and attacking Gaza with tanks on Aug. 8, after the end of a 72-hour ceasefire. Israel hit 150 targets and killed 15 more Palestinians. Palestinian freedom fighters are again defending the people against the invaders. The U.S. continues to call for talks while arming and supplying the Israeli military.

Grand Rapids, MI – Returning for a third time since the onset of the Israeli assault on Gaza, 100 people rallied in solidarity with Palestine at the Ford Federal Building here, Aug. 1. The crowd at the corner of Michigan Street and Ottawa Avenue chanted, “Israel, U.S.A., how many kids did you kill today?” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!” Every time a car honked in support, the cheers of the crowd could be heard a half-mile away.

Detroit, MI – As Rasmea Odeh appeared at the U.S. Court in Detroit here July 31, 120 supporters made a long picket line near the front steps. The crowd held big posters with Odeh’s photo saying, “I support Rasmea!” A number of large white SUVs from the Department of Homeland Security, with armed men loitering around them, lined the streets near the picket. Still, that could not stop Rasmea Odeh from smiling brightly as people chanted for dropping the case against her.

Grand Rapids, MI – A growing number of Michiganders are protesting the Israeli war on Gaza. A crowd of over 150 demonstrated at the Gerald R. Ford Federal Building in downtown Grand Rapids, July 25. Palestinian and Arab Americans were joined by larger numbers of other anti-war protesters to stand with signs reading “End U.S. aid to Israel,” and “Stop the war on Gaza!” Young people stood at one of the busiest corners in downtown Grand Rapids during rush hour traffic chanting, “Free, free, Palestine.”

Grand Rapids, MI – In the largest anti-war protest since the end of the U.S. war and occupation of Iraq, 140 people protested the Israeli war on Gaza, July 21. Chants of “Free, free, Palestine!” and “Hey Obama you will see, Palestine will be free!” rang out at the Gerald R. Ford Federal Building in downtown Grand Rapids. Young people lined the street with signs reading, “Free Palestine!” and “End U.S. aid to Israel!” The protesters were mostly Palestinian and Arab American, joined by a good number of local anti-war and environmental activists.

Tampa, FL—University of South Florida computer engineering professor Sami Al-Arian was set free today in Virginia. Federal prosecutors decided to finally drop his case today after his family waited in legal limbo for five years. The judge who delayed the ruling presides over a court nicknamed the “rocket docket” for its speed of settling cases.

Tampa, FL — University of South Florida computer engineering professor Sami Al-Arian was set free today in Virginia. Federal prosecutors decided to finally drop his case today after his family waited in legal limbo for five years. The judge who delayed the ruling presides over a court nicknamed the “rocket docket” for its speed of settling cases.

Emergency protests being planned

Chicago, IL—With sectarian militants seizing cities and towns across northern Iraq and threatening war on Bagdad, President Obama announced on June 13, “We will not be sending US troops back into combat in Iraq, but I have asked my national security team to prepare a range of other options.” In response, antiwar leaders in the US are speaking out against US intervention and mobilizing people to protest US war moves.

Grand Rapids, MI – Many are out marching and protesting Monsanto this spring, demanding food be healthy and safe, that Monsanto products be labeled as GMOs (genetically modified organisms) and insisting that one corporation should not control the entire seed supply or corner the market. Unions and immigrant rights groups are demanding protections and decent pay for farm workers who use Monsanto products in the fields.

Grand Rapids, MI – Anti-war activist Deb Van Poolen appeared in the 61st District Court here, April 15, with a group of supporters. Van Poolen pled guilty to the charge of creating a disturbance on Jan. 31 at the DeVos Place Convention Center.

Grand Rapids, MI – More than a dozen protesters circled outside of the well-funded Acton Institute in downtown Grand Rapids on Feb. 18 chanting, “No to Prince, yes to peace, U.S. out of the Middle East!” As the founder of Blackwater, Erik Prince is on tour to justify U.S. wars and occupations and promote private mercenary armies. Republican Congressman Pete Hoekstra, responsible for lies about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, supported Erik Prince at the program.

Grand Rapids, MI – Deb Van Poolen appeared at the 61st District Court Feb. 7, to face charges for confronting U.S. war criminal General David Petraeus. Van Poolen was arrested for standing in the DeVos Center ballroom and asserting, “David Petraeus, you are a war criminal! You are responsible for the deaths of thousands of innocent men, women and children!”

Grand Rapids, MI – Singer and folk music icon Pete Seeger passed away today, Jan. 28. Seeger was known for popularizing folk songs and signing everywhere he went. Peter Seeger united peoples in song across the entire society. Children in schools, teenagers at summer camps, worshippers in churches, workers on strike picket lines, civil rights marchers in the South and anti-war protesters across the country and over the decades lifted their voices to sing with Pete Seeger. Always an internationalist, Seeger helped not only to launch the American folk music revival, but folk music revivals in other countries like Australia too.

Tucson, AZ – A significant grouping of communists recently joined the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO). Centered in Tucson, the group ranges from a well-read high school student up to a comrade in his late seventies with lifelong experience in the Communist Party-USA. They include students, workers and educators from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, united in struggle for immigrant rights, workers and unions and against U.S. wars and oppression. Rings of other activists and revolutionaries are now discussing this bold move by the Arizona communists.

Detroit, MI – In a blow to Detroit unionized public workers and their pensions, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Steven W. Rhodes ruled on Dec. 4, that workers’ pensions are not protected. The judge overruled the Michigan constitution, which protects pensions as contracts between government and workers. Judge Rhodes said the Detroit bankruptcy could proceed anyway. This means that city of Detroit workers will not hold a special place in the bankruptcy proceedings versus municipal bond holders, insurers and others jockeying to collect in court.

Detroit, MI – More than 100 people joined a rally in solidarity with Palestinian women’s leader Rasmea Odeh as she went to court here Nov.13. Agents of the Department of Homeland Security arrested Odeh on Oct. 22 at her home in Evergreen Park, a suburb of Chicago. Odeh is charged with immigration fraud. Allegedly, in her application for citizenship, she did not mention that she was arrested in Palestine 45 years ago, by an Israeli military court that detains Palestinians without charge – a court that has over 200 children in prison today and does not recognize the rights of Palestinians to due process.

Grand Rapids, MI – 40 people protested against a U.S. war on Syria at the War Memorial in downtown Grand Rapids on Sept. 7. Some brought flowers for the victims of U.S. wars to the noon time protest, while others brought anti-war signs and messages. After folk singer Carol Johnson opened the rally with her rousing voice, organizer Joe Fletcher welcomed the protesters.