Fight Back! News

News and Views from the People's Struggle

Student Movement

By Ben Rothschild

Trustees exiting the meeting as protestors begin chanting

Urbana, IL – On September 23rd, the Board of Trustees for the University of Illinois met in Urbana, on the flagship state university campus, to approve budgetary operations for fiscal year 2011. The University of Illinois has come under recent criticism for its mismanagement of University funds and mistreatment of University employees.

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By Fern

Community members rally outside the office of an FBI agent in downtown Gainesvil

Gainesville, FL – Approximately 30 people protested outside an FBI office in downtown Gainesville on Sept. 27. Activists held signs that said “Stop the FBI Raids!” and “End Political Repression”.

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By Kas Schwerdtfeger

Milwaukee activists protest to stop FBI raids and intimidation of anti-war activ

Milwaukee, WI – Students and community members held a rally in front of Milwaukee's Federal Building to protest the Sept. 24 FBI raids on anti-war activists in the Midwest and elsewhere in the United States.

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By staff

States more students are becoming revolutionaries and communists

Education rights protest in Milwaukee, WI.

Fight Back! interviewed Kas Schwerdtfeger, a co-chair of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization student commission.

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By Daniel Ginsberg

Milwaukee SDS sign says "Student Bailout not Student Debt"

Milwaukee, WI – If high level administrators and the resigning chancellor thought the education rights movement at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) would go away this year, they are wrong. School began at UW-Milwaukee with an energized and well-attended speak-out on education rights. Organized by Milwaukee Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), the speak-out announced new demands for whoever the next chancellor may be.

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By Network to Fight for Economic Justice

Fight Back News is circulating the following call from the Network to Fight for Economic Justice to join the massive protest set for Oct. 2 in Washington, D.C.

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By staff

SDS at UNC-Asheville protest bigotry, racism, and war on Sept 11

Asheville, NC – Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) at University of North Carolina-Asheville and allied community members assembled at Pack Square Sept. 11, united to oppose bigotry, racism and war. The demonstrators stood determined to promote their peace and justice message in solidarity with the Gainesville chapter of SDS who were leading a large protest against Terry Jones and the Koran burning that same day.

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By staff

SDS at the march against anti-Muslim bigotry in Gainesville.

Gainesville, FL – Chanting, “When the Muslim people are under attack, what do we do? Stand up fight back!” about 300 people rallied and marched here Sept. 11 in response to the threatened Qur’an burning by Pastor Terry Jones's church, the Dove World Outreach Center. The protest was organized by the Gainesville Area Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and it received support from the community at large.

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By staff

SDS is preparing a protest at the Dove World Outreach Center

Gainesville, FL – Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) came together here, Sept. 10, for a pre-demonstration action at the Dove World Outreach Center, the site of the possible Qur’an burning. SDS organizers announced plans for major march and rally Sept. 11 to oppose racism and anti-Muslim bigotry.

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By Kosta Harlan

March organized by CGE Local 6069 confronts OSU administration

CGE Local 6069 VP of Organizing Michelle Zellers speaks at rally.

Corvallis, OR – Chants rang out across the steps of Memorial Union on the campus of Oregon State University (OSU) Sept. 8, as 100 graduate workers, staff, professors and students rallied in support of a fair contract for the graduate employees. “Who does the work? We do! Who are we? C-G-E! What do we want? Contract!”

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By staff

Interview with Justin Wooten of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS)

Justin Wooten from the Gainesville Area Students for a Democratic Society.

Gainesville, FL – Fight Back! interviewed Justin Wooten from the Gainesville Area Students for a Democratic Society about the upcoming protest against the burning of the Qur’an in Gainesville, Florida on Sept. 11.

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By Daniel Ginsberg

March 4th protesters in Milwaukee.

Milwaukee, WI – Milwaukee Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and the movement for education rights at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) is celebrating a victory just as school begins. UWM Chancellor Carlos Santiago declared he is resigning by October 1, 2010.

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By Michael Graham

Asheville, NC – Across the country, Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) is gearing up for an important fall semester. Chapters everywhere are seeing renewed interest and higher turnout than in past months. The evidence projects a coming year of great activity and enthusiasm.

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By Kas Schwerdtfeger

SDS Members protest the war in Afghanistan.

Milwaukee, WI — The new school year has started at many campuses and members of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) are preparing for this year’s important SDS National Convention. Set for Oct. 22-24 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the convention will be the first since the historic March 4 Protests for Education Rights that took place in 36 states around the country. Because of the greatest economic crisis since the 1930’s Great Depression, most state governments are now in budget crisis, with politicians trying to shift the burden onto working people and making cuts to public education. SDS is building the movement opposing cuts to public education and hopes their fall convention draws more new students to attend and coordinate plans for the school year.

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By Doug Michel

Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) disrupted convocation on Aug. 22

Chicago, IL – Students and youth at the University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC) have hit the campus strong in the first days of classes in anticipation for a hard struggle this fall semester. Targeting University of Illinois President Hogan for his nearly $230,000 raise, members of the campus Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) disrupted convocation on Aug. 22 and sent a clear message to the several thousand incoming freshman, parents and relatives in attendance.

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By Freedom Road Socialist Organization

Over the summer of 2010, undocumented students organized a series of militant sit-ins and hunger strikes in support of the DREAM act, raising the level of struggle to legalize undocumented youth who attend college or serve in the military. In March, four undocumented student marched 1500 miles from Miami, Florida, to Washington D.C. to highlight the need for Congress to pass the Dream Act. In May, another four undocumented students were arrested at the offices of Arizona Republican Senator John McCain. In June, students held a hunger strike in North Carolina to pressure Democratic Senator Kay Hagen to support the DREAM act. Then in July, 20 undocumented students from across the country were arrested in Washington, D.C. as they protested to pressure more senators to support the DREAM act.

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By Natasha Morgan

Milwaukee, WI – The student and youth leaders of the Chicano student group Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán (MEChA) are at the forefront in building for July 29, the National Day of Action Against SB1070. They have set forth the plan for a massive march and demonstration in downtown Milwaukee.

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By staff

Protest outside of the Illinois Republican Party offices in Chicago

Chicago, IL – 50 immigrant rights activists and community members gathered outside of the Illinois Republican Party offices here, July 21, show solidarity with undocumented youth who were arrested in Washington D.C. the day before. On July 20, many youth, including nine from Chicago, were arrested as they staged a sit-in inside the capitol’s lobby and at several representatives’ offices. The youth were demanding the passage of the Dream Act, which would legalize undocumented students.

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By Jacob Flom

Milwaukee, WI – Members of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) jumped into multiple parades here this past Fourth of July weekend. The students carried banners demanding education rights, and an end to U.S. occupation of Afghanistan. This marks the third consecutive year that Milwaukee SDS has made a presence in area of July 4 parades.

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By staff

Milwaukee March 4 protest for educational rights

Milwaukee, WI – The Milwaukee 16, the students who were arrested at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) on March 4, the National Day of Action to Defend Education, have achieved victory. On June 29, the University offered to drop the charges and the investigation into the conduct of the UWM campus police continues.

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