Fight Back! News

News and Views from the People's Struggle

People's Struggles

By Eric Struch

Chicago event marks International Revolutionary Day 2018.

Chicago, IL – International Revolutionary Day convened at noon, at Ground Zero, as it does every year on December 4 here in Chicago. The Black Panther Party Cubs refer to 2337 W. Monroe as Ground Zero and say the Black community's 9/11 occurred here 1969 – with the government assassination of Illinois Black Panther Party Chairman Fred Hampton, Sr. and Peoria Chapter Defense Captain Mark Clark.

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By staff

Buffalo, NY – The United Steelworkers (USW) and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) announced December 13 that workers at Tesla’s solar panel factory in Buffalo will hold a union organizing drive.

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By staff

Mariam El Khatib, a leader with American Muslims for Palestine, speaking

Minneapolis, MN – On December 8 the MN Anti-War Committee celebrated its 20th anniversary at the Hook & Ladder Theater in Minneapolis. The event featured music by Chickpea, Garbanzo and Refried, Mestifonia, Calliope Women’s Chorus and the Unlawful Assembly marching band. Interspersed through the event were spoken word artists Angelica and Aisha, Paul Dosh and the Anti-War Committee’s own Misty Rowan. The event had toasts from local activists celebrating the contributions the Anti-War Committee has made to fighting U.S. imperialism and to helping build social movements of resistance in the Twin Cities.

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By staff

Human Rights Day protest in NYC.

New York, NY – Around 60 New Yorkers gathered in front of the Consulate General of the Philippines, December 10, in Manhattan to mark the 70th anniversary of Human Rights Day. On this day in 1948 the United Nations General Assembly ratified the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).

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By staff

Human Rights Day protest in NYC.

New York, NY – Around 60 New Yorkers gathered in front of the Consulate General of the Philippines, December 10, in Manhattan to mark the 70th anniversary of Human Rights Day. On this day in 1948 the United Nations General Assembly ratified the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).

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By staff

Leader of Marxist-Leninist Party of Germany (MLPD) speaks on political situation

MLPD Chairwoman Gabi Fechtner.

Fight Back! interviewed Gabi Fechtner, Chairwoman of the Marxist-Leninist Party of Germany (MLPD), on the fight against the ultra-right in Germany and the current political situation.

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By Sean Orr

The working class of Venezuela is advancing.

Chicago, IL – In the months since President Nicolás Maduro’s re-election, the Venezuelan bourgeoisie – more politically and socially isolated than at any point in their history – has launched into a vicious struggle against the working class, which is rising to a position of revolutionary potential not yet seen.

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By staff

CTU strikers victory rally.

Chicago, IL – The 500 striking Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) members at 15 UNO/Acero charter schools won a major victory in the early morning of December 9, when a tentative agreement was reached.

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By staff

Chicago, IL – UNO/Acero teachers and paraprofessionals continue to strike at 15 schools, December 7. Since Tuesday, Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) educators at UNO/Acero schools have held the picket lines and protested for more classroom resources, smaller class sizes, sanctuary protections for their immigrant students and fair wages—particularly for low-wage paraprofessionals.

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By staff

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU).

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By Masao Suzuki

San José, CA – On Friday, December 7, the Department of Labor released its report on the job market in November. There was a net gain of 155,000 jobs, less than the predicted 200,000 and less than the average gains for the first ten months of the year. While the official unemployment rate stayed the same at 3.7%, the broadest measure of unemployment, which includes part-time workers who can’t find full-time work, ticked up to 7.6%, more than twice the official rate.

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By staff

LA action in solidarity with refugee caravan.

Los Angeles, CA – Community members and activists of Centro CSO held a rally and donation drive, December 1, in a busy street intersection of Boyle Heights to support of the Central American refugee caravan whose participants are currently seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border in Tijuana, Baja California.

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By staff

Representative of MIRAC speaking at Municipal ID press conference.

Minneapolis, MN – Immigrant rights activists celebrated as the Minneapolis City Council voted unanimously, at their final meeting of the year, December 7 to create a new Minneapolis Municipal ID.

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By Jazmine Salas

Chicago, IL – Closing arguments in the trial related to Laquan McDonald’s murder finished on Thursday, December 6. On trial are retired Chicago Police Detective Joseph Walsh, the lead detective on the case; retired Officer David March, who was on the scene with Officer Van Dyke; and suspended Officer Thomas Gaffney, who had a prior encounter with McDonald the night of his murder. Charged with conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and misconduct, the officers are accused of providing false statements to protect Van Dyke and cover up the murder.

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By staff

Picket line at Acero Tamayo.

Chicago, IL – Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) teachers, paraprofessionals and support staff at 15 charter schools run by the UNO/Acero charter network are striking for a third day, December 6, and extending picket times to two shifts at each school.

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By staff

CTU picket line at Acero Marquez.

Chicago, IL – Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) teachers, paraprofessionals and support staff at 15 charter schools run by the Acero charter network (formerly known as UNO) are in the second day of their historic strike.

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By linden

Kelly Suzick, sister of J Widmark, who was murdered by police, speaks

Minneapolis, MN – In the month of November, Minnesota police officers killed three Native American men. Natives Lives Matter called for a candlelight vigil to honor their memories and demand justice here, December 3. Over three dozen people gathered in front of the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa Urban office on Franklin Avenue, in the historical hub of the Minneapolis Native community.

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By Joe Iosbaker

Chicago charter school strikers.

Chicago, IL – “We see students. They see dollars!” chanted the 30 strikers, parents and students in front of the Paz school in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood, December 4. More than 500 teachers and other professionals, members of the Chicago Teachers Union–Alliance of Charter Teachers and Staff, are on strike this morning in the UNO/ACERO charter school network. CTU is again leading the way in the first strike in the country against a charter operator.

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By Cassia Laham

South Florida rallies for refugees at Mexico border

Fort Lauderdale, FL – Thirty community activists gathered at the federal courthouse in downtown Fort Lauderdale, December 2, to denounce the violent treatment of Central American refugees at the U.S. border. Protesters present demanded asylum for the refugees, the withdrawal of troops from the border and an end to U.S military involvement in the Americas.

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By staff

March in Minneapolis stand in solidarity with refugee caravan.

Minneapolis, MN – As national attention has focused on the caravan of Central American refugees winding its way through Mexico towards the U.S.-Mexico border, on November 30 more than 250 immigrants and human rights activists in Minnesota rallied in support of the caravan.

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