Fight Back! News https://fightbacknews.org/ News and Views from the People's Struggle Mon, 13 Jul 2026 20:40:07 +0000 https://i.snap.as/RZCOEKyz.png Fight Back! News https://fightbacknews.org/ Decorah Human Rights Commission advances separation ordinance https://fightbacknews.org/decorah-human-rights-commission-advances-separation-ordinance?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[Decorah, Iowa Human Rights Commission considering measure to limit collaboration with ICE. Decorah, IA - After months of organizing by immigrant rights advocates and community members, the Decorah Human Rights Commission voted July 7 to advance a proposed separation ordinance to the Decorah City Council, marking a significant step forward for local efforts to protect immigrants and challenge collaboration with federal immigration enforcement. !--more-- The 3-2 vote came after an emotional discussion in which commissioners wrestled with questions of legality, community safety and the commission’s responsibility to defend human rights in an increasingly hostile political climate. The proposed ordinance, developed by community advocates, seeks to establish policies governing local interactions with federal immigration authorities and has become a focal point for concerns about immigration enforcement in northeast Iowa. Several commissioners spoke candidly about the fear and uncertainty immigrant families are experiencing. Commission Chair Nikki Battle described the issue as deeply personal, saying concerns about racial profiling had affected their own family. The commissioner said they feared people could be targeted simply because they are “perceived not to belong,” and, “Morally, what I think is happening in this country is repugnant,” she said. Commissioners also debated whether advancing the ordinance could bring additional attention to Decorah and potentially expose vulnerable residents to greater risk. “My biggest concern is the safety of the people that we’re trying to protect,” one commissioner said, “We are the Human Rights Commission,” said Battle, arguing that elected officials should ultimately address legal questions while the commission focuses on the human impact of government policies. The discussion highlighted the difficult position facing local governments as federal immigration enforcement intensifies and immigrant communities seek assurances that local institutions will stand with them. Commissioners reviewed several provisions of the ordinance and discussed conversations with local officials regarding what protections and policies could be implemented immediately. Among the ideas discussed were distributing multilingual “know your rights” materials, increasing transparency and oversight, and providing additional resources to community members navigating encounters with law enforcement. After debate, the commission voted on whether to forward the ordinance to the city council. Initially, commissioners believed the motion had failed. Following the vote, members stated that four votes would be required for approval and announced that the measure had not passed. However, City Manager Travis Goedken later informed the commission that city code allows action to be approved by a majority of members present. “You guys have your own rule in city code that says a majority of those present can actually approve a vote,” Goedken told the commission. The clarification meant the 3-2 vote was sufficient for passage, allowing the ordinance to move forward to the Decorah City Council. The development was met with visible emotion from many attendees. One audience member responded by drawing parallels to historic struggles for voting rights and civil rights, arguing that unjust laws have often been challenged through organized action and public pressure. The commission then turned its attention to next steps, such as voting to contact community organizations and conduct a needs assessment to identify ways it can support immigrant residents and advocacy efforts. Several commissioners emphasized that the vote to advance the ordinance should not be viewed as the end of the process. “Our work is not done,” one commissioner said. The ordinance will now move to the Decorah City Council, where elected officials will decide whether to take up the proposal. For immigrant rights advocates and community members who have spent months raising concerns about immigration enforcement and its impact on local families, the commission’s vote represents an important victory and ensures that the issue will receive further public consideration. After the meeting, Brittany Berg, a member of Decorah Community for Immigrant Rights (DCIR), described the vote as the result of sustained grassroots organizing, “The Decorah Community for Immigrant Rights has been building the movement toward a separation ordinance for over a year now, In its earliest stages, we were met with staunch denial, then some shuffling, then stalling.” Berg said ordinance supporters intensified their efforts by speaking directly to the Human Rights Commission and building public support for the proposal. “After last month's forum, it was made clear that, one, the ordinance has large community support, and two, the Human Rights Commission has a responsibility to recommend it to city council,” Berg stated. Berg called the commission's action “a victory of collective effort of a grassroots movement” and emphasized that supporters intend to remain involved as the ordinance moves to the next stage of the process. “The recommendation to city council to review the ordinance is absolutely crucial,” a DCIR member said. “The fight most certainly does not stop now, as we move forward to work together with both the Human Rights Commission and city council. We will persist in our efforts to make Decorah safer and welcoming to all.” The ordinance will now move to the Decorah City Council. #DecorahIA #IA #ImmigrantRights #DCIR div id="sharingbuttons.io"/div]]> Decorah, Iowa Human Rights Commission considering measure to limit collaboration with ICE.

Decorah, IA – After months of organizing by immigrant rights advocates and community members, the Decorah Human Rights Commission voted July 7 to advance a proposed separation ordinance to the Decorah City Council, marking a significant step forward for local efforts to protect immigrants and challenge collaboration with federal immigration enforcement.

The 3-2 vote came after an emotional discussion in which commissioners wrestled with questions of legality, community safety and the commission’s responsibility to defend human rights in an increasingly hostile political climate.

The proposed ordinance, developed by community advocates, seeks to establish policies governing local interactions with federal immigration authorities and has become a focal point for concerns about immigration enforcement in northeast Iowa.

Several commissioners spoke candidly about the fear and uncertainty immigrant families are experiencing.

Commission Chair Nikki Battle described the issue as deeply personal, saying concerns about racial profiling had affected their own family. The commissioner said they feared people could be targeted simply because they are “perceived not to belong,” and, “Morally, what I think is happening in this country is repugnant,” she said.

Commissioners also debated whether advancing the ordinance could bring additional attention to Decorah and potentially expose vulnerable residents to greater risk. “My biggest concern is the safety of the people that we’re trying to protect,” one commissioner said, “We are the Human Rights Commission,” said Battle, arguing that elected officials should ultimately address legal questions while the commission focuses on the human impact of government policies.

The discussion highlighted the difficult position facing local governments as federal immigration enforcement intensifies and immigrant communities seek assurances that local institutions will stand with them.

Commissioners reviewed several provisions of the ordinance and discussed conversations with local officials regarding what protections and policies could be implemented immediately. Among the ideas discussed were distributing multilingual “know your rights” materials, increasing transparency and oversight, and providing additional resources to community members navigating encounters with law enforcement.

After debate, the commission voted on whether to forward the ordinance to the city council.

Initially, commissioners believed the motion had failed. Following the vote, members stated that four votes would be required for approval and announced that the measure had not passed.

However, City Manager Travis Goedken later informed the commission that city code allows action to be approved by a majority of members present. “You guys have your own rule in city code that says a majority of those present can actually approve a vote,” Goedken told the commission.

The clarification meant the 3-2 vote was sufficient for passage, allowing the ordinance to move forward to the Decorah City Council.

The development was met with visible emotion from many attendees.

One audience member responded by drawing parallels to historic struggles for voting rights and civil rights, arguing that unjust laws have often been challenged through organized action and public pressure.

The commission then turned its attention to next steps, such as voting to contact community organizations and conduct a needs assessment to identify ways it can support immigrant residents and advocacy efforts.

Several commissioners emphasized that the vote to advance the ordinance should not be viewed as the end of the process. “Our work is not done,” one commissioner said.

The ordinance will now move to the Decorah City Council, where elected officials will decide whether to take up the proposal.

For immigrant rights advocates and community members who have spent months raising concerns about immigration enforcement and its impact on local families, the commission’s vote represents an important victory and ensures that the issue will receive further public consideration.

After the meeting, Brittany Berg, a member of Decorah Community for Immigrant Rights (DCIR), described the vote as the result of sustained grassroots organizing, “The Decorah Community for Immigrant Rights has been building the movement toward a separation ordinance for over a year now, In its earliest stages, we were met with staunch denial, then some shuffling, then stalling.”

Berg said ordinance supporters intensified their efforts by speaking directly to the Human Rights Commission and building public support for the proposal.

“After last month's forum, it was made clear that, one, the ordinance has large community support, and two, the Human Rights Commission has a responsibility to recommend it to city council,” Berg stated.

Berg called the commission's action “a victory of collective effort of a grassroots movement” and emphasized that supporters intend to remain involved as the ordinance moves to the next stage of the process. “The recommendation to city council to review the ordinance is absolutely crucial,” a DCIR member said. “The fight most certainly does not stop now, as we move forward to work together with both the Human Rights Commission and city council. We will persist in our efforts to make Decorah safer and welcoming to all.”

The ordinance will now move to the Decorah City Council.

#DecorahIA #IA #ImmigrantRights #DCIR

]]> https://fightbacknews.org/decorah-human-rights-commission-advances-separation-ordinance Mon, 13 Jul 2026 15:52:44 +0000 Philippines: Marcos cannot crush the people's revolutionary struggle https://fightbacknews.org/philippines-marcos-cannot-crush-the-peoples-revolutionary-struggle?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from “Ang Bayan,” the official publication of the Communist Party of the Philippines. For four years, the Filipino people have endured suffering under Marcos’ puppet, oppressive, and fascist regime. Despite all of Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s efforts to paint Philippine “progress,” he cannot conceal the reality of worsening conditions of the country and the Filipino people. Marcos officials have repeatedly declared the defeat of the revolutionary armed struggle, yet military operations across all guerrilla fronts throughout the archipelago remain relentless. Marcos continues to fan the flames of the people’s war. !--more-- The situation of workers, farmers, fishermen, and other basic classes and sectors comprising the majority of the people further deteriorates. On the other hand, the few ruling classes, accomplices of US imperialism, feast on wealth accumulated from oppression and exploitation of the toiling masses, bureaucratic corruption, plunder of natural resources, and grabbing people’s land and livelihood. The nation’s security is in peril as Marcos allows the US to use the Philippines as a giant military base. Living standards plummet amid skyrocketing prices of oil, food, and daily necessities. Marcos’s photo-op gestures like rice giveaways and aid programs are hollow. Workers’ wages and the salaries of ordinary employees fall short of half what a family of five needs to live decently. Farmers are sinking deeper into debt in the face of rising costs of production and living. The unemployment crisis is acute. Millions are jobless, especially among the youth. Thousands of Filipino workers migrate overseas daily seeking employment. This results from the decline of local production in both manufacturing and agriculture, caused by all-out import liberalization and flooding of foreign commodities. There is no program to build local national industries to produce basic needs. Marcos continues to bury the Philippines deeper into debt. While the people struggle, factional strife over corruption and power continues unabated. The 2028 election remains far off, but maneuvering and posturing have already begun. To preempt Vice President Sara Duterte’s candidacy, the Marcos camp is pushing for her impeachment. What the people truly want is justice and accountability for all those involved in corruption and plunder of public funds, particularly Marcos himself as the highest official and chief of bureaucrat-capitalism. Marcos surpasses all previous puppet presidents in his subservience to US imperialist dictates. In the economic field, he provides boundless incentives and privileges to foreign capitalists. Everywhere, land is being taken away by plantations and “renewable energy” projects. While no land is allocated for farmers, Marcos will open 1,620 hectares of land for an “economic security zone” for American corporations under the Pax Silica framework. Militarily, there is an unprecedented increase in US military forces within Philippine territory as they prepare an imperialist war against China. Marcos blindly allows the Philippines to be used as a vast military base and launchpad for US aggression and intervention, showing utter disregard for Filipinos who will suffer from being dragged into a US-instigated war. The US provokes and fans fascist oppression in the Philippines to suppress the Filipino people’s anti-imperialist resistance in all forms—armed and unarmed. More than one billion dollars has been allocated by the US for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in the coming five years. The US military wages all-out intervention in counter-guerrilla warfare, campaigns of suppression and martial law imposition in the countryside, under the guise of the “Salaknib” and other military exercises. The US supplies AFP units with weapons and equipment for small-scale operations desperately attempting to crush the continuing spread and expansion of the NPA. From the people’s point of view, the Marcos regime equates to unparalleled corruption, suffering and hunger of the masses, subservience to foreign capital, and fascist oppression. Among the broad people, it is clear that Marcos represents the rotten and decrepit system ruled by US imperialism in collusion with the few ruling classes. Today, Marcos is the primary catalyst driving the Filipino people to rise up and take the difficult path of struggle. From various corners of the country, mass struggles are bursting forth to defend land and homes, struggle for living wages, expose corruption, hold plunderers accountable, defend people’s rights, oppose the destruction of the environment, protest the presence of foreign troops, and fight for national sovereignty. They are getting organized and acting together to defend their welfare and the interests of the entire nation. In the countryside, armed struggle advances steadily and expands across guerrilla zones and fronts. Wherever they go, Red fighters of the New People’s Army are warmly welcomed by the masses who firmly embrace them as their true army. With the NPA, the broad masses of peasants are emboldened to rise and fight against land grabbers and their fascist mercenaries. Amid the gross sufferings of the Filipino people, the Party is determined to serve as the core and vanguard of their struggle to end oppression, alter their destiny, and establish a new sovereign and democratic nation. In the spirit of the rectification movement, cadres and Party members devote their mind and strength to the people’s cause. Wherever the masses are, the Party takes deep and wide roots to guide them along the path of struggle. #International #ThePhilippines #AngBayan #CommunistPartyofthePhilippines #NPA #Marcos div id="sharingbuttons.io"/div]]> Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from “Ang Bayan,” the official publication of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

For four years, the Filipino people have endured suffering under Marcos’ puppet, oppressive, and fascist regime. Despite all of Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s efforts to paint Philippine “progress,” he cannot conceal the reality of worsening conditions of the country and the Filipino people. Marcos officials have repeatedly declared the defeat of the revolutionary armed struggle, yet military operations across all guerrilla fronts throughout the archipelago remain relentless. Marcos continues to fan the flames of the people’s war.

The situation of workers, farmers, fishermen, and other basic classes and sectors comprising the majority of the people further deteriorates. On the other hand, the few ruling classes, accomplices of US imperialism, feast on wealth accumulated from oppression and exploitation of the toiling masses, bureaucratic corruption, plunder of natural resources, and grabbing people’s land and livelihood. The nation’s security is in peril as Marcos allows the US to use the Philippines as a giant military base.

Living standards plummet amid skyrocketing prices of oil, food, and daily necessities. Marcos’s photo-op gestures like rice giveaways and aid programs are hollow. Workers’ wages and the salaries of ordinary employees fall short of half what a family of five needs to live decently. Farmers are sinking deeper into debt in the face of rising costs of production and living.

The unemployment crisis is acute. Millions are jobless, especially among the youth. Thousands of Filipino workers migrate overseas daily seeking employment. This results from the decline of local production in both manufacturing and agriculture, caused by all-out import liberalization and flooding of foreign commodities. There is no program to build local national industries to produce basic needs. Marcos continues to bury the Philippines deeper into debt.

While the people struggle, factional strife over corruption and power continues unabated. The 2028 election remains far off, but maneuvering and posturing have already begun. To preempt Vice President Sara Duterte’s candidacy, the Marcos camp is pushing for her impeachment. What the people truly want is justice and accountability for all those involved in corruption and plunder of public funds, particularly Marcos himself as the highest official and chief of bureaucrat-capitalism.

Marcos surpasses all previous puppet presidents in his subservience to US imperialist dictates. In the economic field, he provides boundless incentives and privileges to foreign capitalists. Everywhere, land is being taken away by plantations and “renewable energy” projects. While no land is allocated for farmers, Marcos will open 1,620 hectares of land for an “economic security zone” for American corporations under the Pax Silica framework. Militarily, there is an unprecedented increase in US military forces within Philippine territory as they prepare an imperialist war against China. Marcos blindly allows the Philippines to be used as a vast military base and launchpad for US aggression and intervention, showing utter disregard for Filipinos who will suffer from being dragged into a US-instigated war.

The US provokes and fans fascist oppression in the Philippines to suppress the Filipino people’s anti-imperialist resistance in all forms—armed and unarmed. More than one billion dollars has been allocated by the US for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in the coming five years. The US military wages all-out intervention in counter-guerrilla warfare, campaigns of suppression and martial law imposition in the countryside, under the guise of the “Salaknib” and other military exercises. The US supplies AFP units with weapons and equipment for small-scale operations desperately attempting to crush the continuing spread and expansion of the NPA.

From the people’s point of view, the Marcos regime equates to unparalleled corruption, suffering and hunger of the masses, subservience to foreign capital, and fascist oppression. Among the broad people, it is clear that Marcos represents the rotten and decrepit system ruled by US imperialism in collusion with the few ruling classes. Today, Marcos is the primary catalyst driving the Filipino people to rise up and take the difficult path of struggle.

From various corners of the country, mass struggles are bursting forth to defend land and homes, struggle for living wages, expose corruption, hold plunderers accountable, defend people’s rights, oppose the destruction of the environment, protest the presence of foreign troops, and fight for national sovereignty. They are getting organized and acting together to defend their welfare and the interests of the entire nation.

In the countryside, armed struggle advances steadily and expands across guerrilla zones and fronts. Wherever they go, Red fighters of the New People’s Army are warmly welcomed by the masses who firmly embrace them as their true army. With the NPA, the broad masses of peasants are emboldened to rise and fight against land grabbers and their fascist mercenaries.

Amid the gross sufferings of the Filipino people, the Party is determined to serve as the core and vanguard of their struggle to end oppression, alter their destiny, and establish a new sovereign and democratic nation. In the spirit of the rectification movement, cadres and Party members devote their mind and strength to the people’s cause. Wherever the masses are, the Party takes deep and wide roots to guide them along the path of struggle.

#International #ThePhilippines #AngBayan #CommunistPartyofthePhilippines #NPA #Marcos

]]> https://fightbacknews.org/philippines-marcos-cannot-crush-the-peoples-revolutionary-struggle Sun, 12 Jul 2026 21:32:49 +0000 Billings, MT demands justice for Lorenzo Salgado Araujo https://fightbacknews.org/billings-mt-demands-justice-for-lorenzo-salgado-araujo?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[By Itzu Romero and Lain Dorsey Billings, MT – On July 10, the Billings Alliance for Immigrant Rights (BAIR) gathered in protest of an ICE agent’s murder of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston, Texas. The protesters rallied on the Yellowstone County Courthouse lawn, chanting “Justice for Lorenzo! ICE terror’s got to go!” !--more-- Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, 52, immigrated from Mexico 35 years ago and built a life in the U.S. He was a husband, father of three, and a construction worker. Lorenzo’s son, Ronaldo Salgado, spoke out on July 8, describing his father as a “hardworking family man” who “dedicated his life in the United States to give his family the American Dream.” Like many others before Salgado Araujo’s death, he and his family were robbed of that dream under the Trump administration’s racist mass deportation campaign. Brooke Lynn, a member of BAIR, gave a powerful speech, stating “They lied to you and told you they were going after criminals, but they’re killing family men with no criminal record!” Lynn continued, “It’s criminal that we have two ‘democratic’ parties that both have failed our neighbors trying to live a better life.” During the rally, a member of BAIR read the names of those who died at the hands of ICE. Included were those who died from neglect and maltreatment in detention, as well as those murdered by ICE in the streets. The Billings Alliance for Immigrant Rights demands justice for Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and all victims of ICE terror. BAIR will continue to fight for a sanctuary city in Billings, in order to limit ICE’s ability to operate in the city and prevent residents from being targeted for their immigration status. To get involved in the fight, come to BAIR’s planning meetings, held every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in the Billings Public Library large conference room. Follow BAIR on Facebook or Instagram @Billings_AIR to stay informed. #BillingsMT #MT #ImmigrantRights #LorenzoSalgadoAraujo #BAIR div id="sharingbuttons.io"/div]]> By Itzu Romero and Lain Dorsey

Billings, MT – On July 10, the Billings Alliance for Immigrant Rights (BAIR) gathered in protest of an ICE agent’s murder of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston, Texas. The protesters rallied on the Yellowstone County Courthouse lawn, chanting “Justice for Lorenzo! ICE terror’s got to go!”

Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, 52, immigrated from Mexico 35 years ago and built a life in the U.S. He was a husband, father of three, and a construction worker. Lorenzo’s son, Ronaldo Salgado, spoke out on July 8, describing his father as a “hardworking family man” who “dedicated his life in the United States to give his family the American Dream.” Like many others before Salgado Araujo’s death, he and his family were robbed of that dream under the Trump administration’s racist mass deportation campaign.

Brooke Lynn, a member of BAIR, gave a powerful speech, stating “They lied to you and told you they were going after criminals, but they’re killing family men with no criminal record!” Lynn continued, “It’s criminal that we have two ‘democratic’ parties that both have failed our neighbors trying to live a better life.”

During the rally, a member of BAIR read the names of those who died at the hands of ICE. Included were those who died from neglect and maltreatment in detention, as well as those murdered by ICE in the streets.

The Billings Alliance for Immigrant Rights demands justice for Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and all victims of ICE terror. BAIR will continue to fight for a sanctuary city in Billings, in order to limit ICE’s ability to operate in the city and prevent residents from being targeted for their immigration status.

To get involved in the fight, come to BAIR’s planning meetings, held every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in the Billings Public Library large conference room. Follow BAIR on Facebook or Instagram @Billings_AIR to stay informed.

#BillingsMT #MT #ImmigrantRights #LorenzoSalgadoAraujo #BAIR

]]> https://fightbacknews.org/billings-mt-demands-justice-for-lorenzo-salgado-araujo Sun, 12 Jul 2026 21:23:34 +0000 San Jose protests against Trump relaunching war against Iran https://fightbacknews.org/san-jose-protests-against-trump-relaunching-war-against-iran?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[ San Jose, CA – On Wednesday, July 8, around two dozen people rallied at the corner of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library against Trump’s relaunching of the U.S. war against Iran. Signs depicting children murdered in the Minab school bombing by the U.S. were laid out on the steps in from of the library. Protesters held signs saying, “No war on Iran” and “Money for jobs and education, not for war and occupation.” !--more-- Donna Wallach of San Jose Against War spoke to the crowd about how popular opinion is against the ongoing war in Iran, saying, “The great majority of Americans do not support this horrible, horrendous attack on Iran.” Sharat Lin, board member of Human Agenda and the San Jose Peace and Justice Center, emphasized that the U.S. has always been the aggressor nation in the conflict, saying that the U.S. “must stop sabotaging the MOU. Stop trying to dominate the rest of the world. Stop trying to dominate Iran!” Jack McCann, member of Freedom Road Socialist Organization, highlighted that Trump has no geopolitical leverage against Iran, yet continually lashes out. He said, “As Iran remains steadfast, Trump has two options: lose quietly or lose loudly and he’s choosing the latter.” The chanting crowd drew supportive honks throughout the action. #SanJoseCA #CA #AntiWarMovement #Iran div id="sharingbuttons.io"/div]]>

San Jose, CA – On Wednesday, July 8, around two dozen people rallied at the corner of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library against Trump’s relaunching of the U.S. war against Iran.

Signs depicting children murdered in the Minab school bombing by the U.S. were laid out on the steps in from of the library. Protesters held signs saying, “No war on Iran” and “Money for jobs and education, not for war and occupation.”

Donna Wallach of San Jose Against War spoke to the crowd about how popular opinion is against the ongoing war in Iran, saying, “The great majority of Americans do not support this horrible, horrendous attack on Iran.”

Sharat Lin, board member of Human Agenda and the San Jose Peace and Justice Center, emphasized that the U.S. has always been the aggressor nation in the conflict, saying that the U.S. “must stop sabotaging the MOU. Stop trying to dominate the rest of the world. Stop trying to dominate Iran!”

Jack McCann, member of Freedom Road Socialist Organization, highlighted that Trump has no geopolitical leverage against Iran, yet continually lashes out. He said, “As Iran remains steadfast, Trump has two options: lose quietly or lose loudly and he’s choosing the latter.”

The chanting crowd drew supportive honks throughout the action.

#SanJoseCA #CA #AntiWarMovement #Iran

]]> https://fightbacknews.org/san-jose-protests-against-trump-relaunching-war-against-iran Sun, 12 Jul 2026 21:19:04 +0000 Killer cop Melvin Potter found with long history of violence https://fightbacknews.org/killer-cop-melvin-potter-found-with-long-history-of-violence?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[ Atlanta, GA - After the killing of Devon Anderson by Atlanta Police Department Officer Melvin Potter, more acts of violence and misconduct by Officer Potter have been made public as the family of Devon Anderson continues their struggle for justice. On the night of August 5, 2024, in South Fulton County, Devon Anderson was trying to de-escalate a situation outside of a club when off-duty Atlanta Police Officer Melvin Potter shot him three times with his service weapon and killed him. After the shooting that took Devon’s life, Officer Potter refused to take a blood alcohol test and was charged with obstruction of justice. He was out of jail that same night and he remains on the force. !--more-- For the family of Devon Anderson and the community, what may be even more troubling is learning that the night Officer Potter killed Devon Anderson is not the first time Officer Melvin Potter was in trouble or even refused to take a breathalyzer test since becoming an officer. Community organizers began investigating Potter's record only to find multiple incidents that show a pattern of Officer Potter’s reckless and violent behavior. Starting as early as 2018 he was under investigation for domestic violence while in a relationship with a female Atlanta Police Department (APD) officer who was pregnant at the time. Key points highlighted in the incident details describe Potter grabbing and ripping the female APD officer’s shirt and lifting her and throwing her outside. In another incident described by the victim, Potter visited her apartment, grabbed her by the shirt and pushed her against the wall in an attempt to intimidate her. Potter was not charged as a result of the investigation. Then in June 2021, Officer Potter was pulled over for driving over 100 miles per hour by a Coweta County sheriff’s deputy. According to the bodycam footage, Potter identified himself as an Atlanta police officer and said, “We’re on the same team.” When Potter refused a blood alcohol test, a field sobriety test, and had a strong smell of alcohol coming from the car he was driving, he was arrested on suspicion of DUI. Potter was convicted of DUI in a Coweta County courtroom the next year. After that, Officer Potter was caught on body camera in June 2023 aggressively grabbing by the neck and taking an unarmed individual to the ground. In the footage, Potter can be seen using his handcuffs as brass knuckles and repeatedly hitting the unarmed man in the face three times while screaming and cursing at him. Despite the clear use of excessive force, the investigation that followed stated that Potter had not done anything wrong in his conduct. Nearly two years after the killing of 38-year-old Devon Anderson, it was revealed to his family and community members, at the June 22nd Atlanta Public Safety Committee meeting, that the Georgia Bureau of Investigation had concluded its investigation and no criminal charges will be filed by District Attorney Fani Willis’ office. APD says they will continue their internal investigation while Melvin Potter remains on the force. “It seems like we are talking about an extremely dangerous man who I wouldn't trust to protect anybody in this city, I’m wondering why we are keeping these people on staff when they have very clear records of being a danger,” said City Councilmember Kelsea Bond, addressing the APD deputy chief present at the Public Safety Committee meeting. The investigation into Officer Melvin Potter’s record shows not only that his actions put everyone in the community in danger but also that he has continued to evade accountability, thanks to his uniform and badge. The family of Devon Anderson, their fight for justice, and their demands to have Officer Potter fired and indicted is a step towards accountability and building a safer community. #AtlantaGA #GA #InjusticeSystem #KillerCop #MelvinPotter #DevonAnderson div id="sharingbuttons.io"/div]]>

Atlanta, GA – After the killing of Devon Anderson by Atlanta Police Department Officer Melvin Potter, more acts of violence and misconduct by Officer Potter have been made public as the family of Devon Anderson continues their struggle for justice.

On the night of August 5, 2024, in South Fulton County, Devon Anderson was trying to de-escalate a situation outside of a club when off-duty Atlanta Police Officer Melvin Potter shot him three times with his service weapon and killed him. After the shooting that took Devon’s life, Officer Potter refused to take a blood alcohol test and was charged with obstruction of justice. He was out of jail that same night and he remains on the force.

For the family of Devon Anderson and the community, what may be even more troubling is learning that the night Officer Potter killed Devon Anderson is not the first time Officer Melvin Potter was in trouble or even refused to take a breathalyzer test since becoming an officer.

Community organizers began investigating Potter's record only to find multiple incidents that show a pattern of Officer Potter’s reckless and violent behavior. Starting as early as 2018 he was under investigation for domestic violence while in a relationship with a female Atlanta Police Department (APD) officer who was pregnant at the time. Key points highlighted in the incident details describe Potter grabbing and ripping the female APD officer’s shirt and lifting her and throwing her outside. In another incident described by the victim, Potter visited her apartment, grabbed her by the shirt and pushed her against the wall in an attempt to intimidate her. Potter was not charged as a result of the investigation.

Then in June 2021, Officer Potter was pulled over for driving over 100 miles per hour by a Coweta County sheriff’s deputy. According to the bodycam footage, Potter identified himself as an Atlanta police officer and said, “We’re on the same team.” When Potter refused a blood alcohol test, a field sobriety test, and had a strong smell of alcohol coming from the car he was driving, he was arrested on suspicion of DUI. Potter was convicted of DUI in a Coweta County courtroom the next year.

After that, Officer Potter was caught on body camera in June 2023 aggressively grabbing by the neck and taking an unarmed individual to the ground. In the footage, Potter can be seen using his handcuffs as brass knuckles and repeatedly hitting the unarmed man in the face three times while screaming and cursing at him. Despite the clear use of excessive force, the investigation that followed stated that Potter had not done anything wrong in his conduct.

Nearly two years after the killing of 38-year-old Devon Anderson, it was revealed to his family and community members, at the June 22nd Atlanta Public Safety Committee meeting, that the Georgia Bureau of Investigation had concluded its investigation and no criminal charges will be filed by District Attorney Fani Willis’ office. APD says they will continue their internal investigation while Melvin Potter remains on the force.

“It seems like we are talking about an extremely dangerous man who I wouldn't trust to protect anybody in this city, I’m wondering why we are keeping these people on staff when they have very clear records of being a danger,” said City Councilmember Kelsea Bond, addressing the APD deputy chief present at the Public Safety Committee meeting.

The investigation into Officer Melvin Potter’s record shows not only that his actions put everyone in the community in danger but also that he has continued to evade accountability, thanks to his uniform and badge. The family of Devon Anderson, their fight for justice, and their demands to have Officer Potter fired and indicted is a step towards accountability and building a safer community.

#AtlantaGA #GA #InjusticeSystem #KillerCop #MelvinPotter #DevonAnderson

]]> https://fightbacknews.org/killer-cop-melvin-potter-found-with-long-history-of-violence Sun, 12 Jul 2026 03:18:28 +0000 Grand Rapids, MI protest against U.S. war on Iran https://fightbacknews.org/grand-rapids-mi-protest-against-u-s-war-on-iran?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[Protest against new U.S. attacks on Iran. Grand Rapids, MI - On the evening of July 8, members from the Grand Rapids Opponents of War (GROW) and others gathered at Monument Park to demand an immediate end to the U.S.'s attacks on Iran. !--more-- This rally comes as an emergency response to the Trump administration's escalation with Iran, which happened just earlier in the week. Rally attendees held signs that read “Hands off Iran” and chanted “Money for jobs and education, not for war and occupation.” Honks of support were heard from passing vehicles throughout the course of the rally, and some passersby even stopped in to take a photo of themselves atop the park statue holding a sign that read “No war on Iran.” From the energy of the evening, it was clear that the recent attacks on Iran by the U.S. have sparked an outrage from the Grand Rapids community that will not be going away any time soon. #GrandRapidsMI #MI #AntiWarMovement #GROW #Iran div id="sharingbuttons.io"/div]]> Protest against new U.S. attacks on Iran.

Grand Rapids, MI – On the evening of July 8, members from the Grand Rapids Opponents of War (GROW) and others gathered at Monument Park to demand an immediate end to the U.S.'s attacks on Iran.

This rally comes as an emergency response to the Trump administration's escalation with Iran, which happened just earlier in the week. Rally attendees held signs that read “Hands off Iran” and chanted “Money for jobs and education, not for war and occupation.”

Honks of support were heard from passing vehicles throughout the course of the rally, and some passersby even stopped in to take a photo of themselves atop the park statue holding a sign that read “No war on Iran.”

From the energy of the evening, it was clear that the recent attacks on Iran by the U.S. have sparked an outrage from the Grand Rapids community that will not be going away any time soon.

#GrandRapidsMI #MI #AntiWarMovement #GROW #Iran

]]> https://fightbacknews.org/grand-rapids-mi-protest-against-u-s-war-on-iran Sun, 12 Jul 2026 01:46:09 +0000 Rally at Santa Ana courthouse shows support for Nadia Topete, condemns grand jury repression https://fightbacknews.org/rally-at-santa-ana-courthouse-shows-support-for-nadia-topete-condemns-grand?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[Santa Ana protest demands end of grand jury repression aimed at immigrant rights activists.. Santa Ana, CA - On July 8, over 50 Chicanos rallied outside a federal courthouse in support of Nadia Topete, a Chicana immigrant rights activist with Centro CSO who was inside with a grand jury. Just days before, on July 1, federal agents showed up to Nadia's home with another grand jury subpoena, threatening that, if she did not appear, she could be held in contempt. Nadia Topete walked out the federal courthouse with her head up high and stated she had exercised her Fifth Amendment right. She was greeted by chants of “Hands off Nadia Topete,” “Chinga la migra” and “DOJ hands off Nadia!” that were loud enough to be heard inside the federal building. !--more-- “Protesting ICE is not a crime!” said Verita Topete, Nadia’s sister and fellow Chicana organizer. “Our communities are stronger than Trump and the DOJ’s ruling class interests. The targeting of Nadia is a pattern of political repression from the federal government.” Jasia Topete, older sister of both Nadia and Verita, stated, “Today was a very moving gesture of unity and support for my baby sister, Nadia. Seeing the tremendous support she has gained on a national level through the calls to action online by different organizations was very heartening to see. Witnessing how many people took the time to come out and show her love was very heart warming and reassuring to our family. We know she did nothing wrong. Amplifying the voices of our people is not a crime. She will continue to hold her head high like the confident resilient that she is. Nadia, we love you, Thank you so much to everyone that is rooting for Nadia!” Mick Kelly of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression told the crowd, “I would like to salute Nadia, a woman of uncommon courage who is standing up for all of us. This will certainly not end here. We will stand with Nadia every inch of the way.” Emiliano Martin Del Campo, member of Centro CSO, stated, “I see this attack from the DOJ and the Trump administration as not only a direct attack on our sister Nadia but a direct blow to all of us fighting against this administration. An attack on one is an attack on all!” Speakers from Centro CSO, CSO OC, CLUE, ILPS, Freedom Road Socialist Organization and Legalization for All spoke in defense of Topete, condemning the political repression of Immigrant Rights activists. It is unclear what is next, but if the DOJ witch hunt continues, Centro CSO and their allies will be ready to defend their own, Nadia Topete, a daughter of Aztlan. #SantaAnaCA #CA #InJusticeSystem #GrandJury #PoliticalRepression #ImmigrantRights #CentroCSO #NadiaTopete #CSFR #Featured div id="sharingbuttons.io"/div]]> Santa Ana protest demands end of grand jury repression aimed at immigrant rights activists..

Santa Ana, CA – On July 8, over 50 Chicanos rallied outside a federal courthouse in support of Nadia Topete, a Chicana immigrant rights activist with Centro CSO who was inside with a grand jury. Just days before, on July 1, federal agents showed up to Nadia's home with another grand jury subpoena, threatening that, if she did not appear, she could be held in contempt.

Nadia Topete walked out the federal courthouse with her head up high and stated she had exercised her Fifth Amendment right. She was greeted by chants of “Hands off Nadia Topete,” “Chinga la migra” and “DOJ hands off Nadia!” that were loud enough to be heard inside the federal building.

“Protesting ICE is not a crime!” said Verita Topete, Nadia’s sister and fellow Chicana organizer. “Our communities are stronger than Trump and the DOJ’s ruling class interests. The targeting of Nadia is a pattern of political repression from the federal government.”

Jasia Topete, older sister of both Nadia and Verita, stated, “Today was a very moving gesture of unity and support for my baby sister, Nadia. Seeing the tremendous support she has gained on a national level through the calls to action online by different organizations was very heartening to see. Witnessing how many people took the time to come out and show her love was very heart warming and reassuring to our family. We know she did nothing wrong. Amplifying the voices of our people is not a crime. She will continue to hold her head high like the confident resilient that she is. Nadia, we love you, Thank you so much to everyone that is rooting for Nadia!”

Mick Kelly of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression told the crowd, “I would like to salute Nadia, a woman of uncommon courage who is standing up for all of us. This will certainly not end here. We will stand with Nadia every inch of the way.”

Emiliano Martin Del Campo, member of Centro CSO, stated, “I see this attack from the DOJ and the Trump administration as not only a direct attack on our sister Nadia but a direct blow to all of us fighting against this administration. An attack on one is an attack on all!”

Speakers from Centro CSO, CSO OC, CLUE, ILPS, Freedom Road Socialist Organization and Legalization for All spoke in defense of Topete, condemning the political repression of Immigrant Rights activists.

It is unclear what is next, but if the DOJ witch hunt continues, Centro CSO and their allies will be ready to defend their own, Nadia Topete, a daughter of Aztlan.

#SantaAnaCA #CA #InJusticeSystem #GrandJury #PoliticalRepression #ImmigrantRights #CentroCSO #NadiaTopete #CSFR #Featured

]]> https://fightbacknews.org/rally-at-santa-ana-courthouse-shows-support-for-nadia-topete-condemns-grand Sun, 12 Jul 2026 01:23:35 +0000 Bozeman rallies against ICE as they invade Gallatin Valley https://fightbacknews.org/bozeman-rallies-against-ice-as-they-invade-gallatin-valley?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[ Bozeman, MT - On Monday, June 29, ICE agents arrived in Montana's Gallatin County and began a wide-ranging dragnet operation targeting the local immigrant communities, with assistance from the Montana Highway Patrol. More than 100 people are estimated to have been abducted as of July 9. !--more-- In contrast with ICE operations in the past, such as Metro Surge in Minneapolis, known abductions in Gallatin County have primarily targeted suburban and semi-rural residents, construction jobsites and areas devoid of potential witnesses. Most notably, buses full of hospitality staff bound for the Yellowstone Club, a private resort located an hour from Bozeman, were raided just before leaving to take their passengers to work. Around 80 people were estimated to have been detained in that raid alone. Bozeman residents determined ICE were staying at the Springhill Suites by Mariott on July 1 and attempted to protest outside. They were threatened with “disturbing the peace” charges by the Bozeman Police Department (BPD). The police were then seen guarding the hotel, and later escorting unmarked vehicles known to be ICE. In spite of the fact that BPD released a statement committing not to involve themselves in immigration enforcement after the mass protest in the wake of the murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, they acted as bodyguards for the federal agents. Word spread quickly, and Bozemanites flooded the city's public comment email address. In response, the city affirmed its position that BPD officers “are not assisting ICE and instead are ensuring safety for the general public.” In protest, activists from Students for a Democratic Society at Montana State University and Montanans for Palestine rallied outside the Bozeman Police Station on July 7, drawing some 25 people. The crowd was upbeat and focused in their anger, at times breaking into spontaneous chants of "Fuck ICE! Fuck ICE! Fuck ICE!" The crowd made crystal clear through their chanting and marching that "No human is illegal," they “will not put up with ICE," and that money spent on racist deportations would be better spent on employment and education. Confirmed Gallatin County ICE sightings have dramatically decreased, and the city government has not released any further statements. However, Bozemanites know the fight is far from over. As one marcher put it, "The city is lying to us. BPD knew ICE was coming, but didn't protect our communities when they came. How are we supposed to trust them to protect us when they're showing us that they won't?" #BozemanMT #MT #ImmigrantRights div id="sharingbuttons.io"/div]]>

Bozeman, MT – On Monday, June 29, ICE agents arrived in Montana's Gallatin County and began a wide-ranging dragnet operation targeting the local immigrant communities, with assistance from the Montana Highway Patrol. More than 100 people are estimated to have been abducted as of July 9.

In contrast with ICE operations in the past, such as Metro Surge in Minneapolis, known abductions in Gallatin County have primarily targeted suburban and semi-rural residents, construction jobsites and areas devoid of potential witnesses. Most notably, buses full of hospitality staff bound for the Yellowstone Club, a private resort located an hour from Bozeman, were raided just before leaving to take their passengers to work. Around 80 people were estimated to have been detained in that raid alone.

Bozeman residents determined ICE were staying at the Springhill Suites by Mariott on July 1 and attempted to protest outside. They were threatened with “disturbing the peace” charges by the Bozeman Police Department (BPD). The police were then seen guarding the hotel, and later escorting unmarked vehicles known to be ICE. In spite of the fact that BPD released a statement committing not to involve themselves in immigration enforcement after the mass protest in the wake of the murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, they acted as bodyguards for the federal agents.

Word spread quickly, and Bozemanites flooded the city's public comment email address. In response, the city affirmed its position that BPD officers “are not assisting ICE and instead are ensuring safety for the general public.”

In protest, activists from Students for a Democratic Society at Montana State University and Montanans for Palestine rallied outside the Bozeman Police Station on July 7, drawing some 25 people. The crowd was upbeat and focused in their anger, at times breaking into spontaneous chants of “Fuck ICE! Fuck ICE! Fuck ICE!” The crowd made crystal clear through their chanting and marching that “No human is illegal,” they “will not put up with ICE,” and that money spent on racist deportations would be better spent on employment and education.

Confirmed Gallatin County ICE sightings have dramatically decreased, and the city government has not released any further statements. However, Bozemanites know the fight is far from over. As one marcher put it, “The city is lying to us. BPD knew ICE was coming, but didn't protect our communities when they came. How are we supposed to trust them to protect us when they're showing us that they won't?”

#BozemanMT #MT #ImmigrantRights

]]> https://fightbacknews.org/bozeman-rallies-against-ice-as-they-invade-gallatin-valley Sun, 12 Jul 2026 01:07:40 +0000 Jacksonville protests 1002 days of genocide https://fightbacknews.org/jacksonville-protests-1002-days-of-genocide?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[July 4 protest in Jacksonville, FL. Jacksonville, FL – While heat warnings shortened celebrations of the 250th July 4, the Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network took to the hot Florida pavement to protest U.S. aggression both domestically and abroad, including its support for the genocide in Gaza. !--more-- The rally started at Memorial Park in the heart of Riverside, where members of organizations spoke on the injustices carried out by the U.S. A member of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) told the crowd, “Over the last three years, at least 75,000 Palestinians have been murdered in Israel’s genocide in Gaza, which the United States government has been bankrolling, another 1200 citizens in Syria killed in the regime change in their country, and another 3600 Iranians killed in the senseless war against their country and as if that's not bad enough, we have another 100 civilians of Venezuela killed in the kidnapping of their president, Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores.” The crowd yelled “Shame!” in response. Focus was also brought to the attacks the Trump administration has made on immigrant communities. Crystal Aguilar of the Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance stated, “250 years of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But for who? Certainly not for me, or for the millions of working-class people living in America. Not for the immigrants who die crossing the border every day to enter this country, those who have died in ICE detention, and those whose labor is being exploited by greedy corporations. Is this what we choose to stand for? Is this what we are going to continue to allow in our country?” The crowd yelled back, “No!” The rally became mobile as the participants began marching down Riverside Avenue toward the bustling arts market hosted under the Fuller Warren Bridge. Patrons of the market could hear the marchers steadily approach as the chanting and drumming grew louder. Anyone in the vicinity could hear roars of, “No boots on the ground, no bombs in the air! U.S. out of everywhere!” The chants echoed across the market with the help of the bridge's acoustics. Ryan Delaney of the Anti-War Action Network (AWAN) and a co-organizer of the march addressed the market’s attendees: “We are out here today as part of a national day of action called by the Anti-War Action Network. We are organizing in cities around the country, saying that we reject this idea of 250 years of freedom when we continue to take the freedom away from people around the world and in our own country.” Most of the market patrons stopped what they were doing to see what was going on. They listened intently as a call to action was issued, “Everybody who's here at the Riverside Arts Market, I want you all to know that we are going to continue to fight for this. And we want all of you to get involved. We want every single person here to wake up and rise to this occasion and get ready for the real fight ahead of us. So for every single one of y'all out here, if you're with us, we want y'all to march with us. Because we are going to continue to march, and we're going to go back to Memorial Park, where we're going to continue our program.” The march made its way back to Memorial Park with more people than it had started with. Upon returning, the attendees cooled down in the shade. Food and water were distributed as folks socialized and built community. #JacksonvilleFL #FL #AntiWarMovement #JPSN div id="sharingbuttons.io"/div]]> July 4 protest in Jacksonville, FL.

Jacksonville, FL – While heat warnings shortened celebrations of the 250th July 4, the Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network took to the hot Florida pavement to protest U.S. aggression both domestically and abroad, including its support for the genocide in Gaza.

The rally started at Memorial Park in the heart of Riverside, where members of organizations spoke on the injustices carried out by the U.S.

A member of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) told the crowd, “Over the last three years, at least 75,000 Palestinians have been murdered in Israel’s genocide in Gaza, which the United States government has been bankrolling, another 1200 citizens in Syria killed in the regime change in their country, and another 3600 Iranians killed in the senseless war against their country and as if that's not bad enough, we have another 100 civilians of Venezuela killed in the kidnapping of their president, Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores.” The crowd yelled “Shame!” in response.

Focus was also brought to the attacks the Trump administration has made on immigrant communities. Crystal Aguilar of the Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance stated, “250 years of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But for who? Certainly not for me, or for the millions of working-class people living in America. Not for the immigrants who die crossing the border every day to enter this country, those who have died in ICE detention, and those whose labor is being exploited by greedy corporations. Is this what we choose to stand for? Is this what we are going to continue to allow in our country?” The crowd yelled back, “No!”

The rally became mobile as the participants began marching down Riverside Avenue toward the bustling arts market hosted under the Fuller Warren Bridge. Patrons of the market could hear the marchers steadily approach as the chanting and drumming grew louder. Anyone in the vicinity could hear roars of, “No boots on the ground, no bombs in the air! U.S. out of everywhere!”

The chants echoed across the market with the help of the bridge's acoustics. Ryan Delaney of the Anti-War Action Network (AWAN) and a co-organizer of the march addressed the market’s attendees: “We are out here today as part of a national day of action called by the Anti-War Action Network. We are organizing in cities around the country, saying that we reject this idea of 250 years of freedom when we continue to take the freedom away from people around the world and in our own country.”

Most of the market patrons stopped what they were doing to see what was going on. They listened intently as a call to action was issued, “Everybody who's here at the Riverside Arts Market, I want you all to know that we are going to continue to fight for this. And we want all of you to get involved. We want every single person here to wake up and rise to this occasion and get ready for the real fight ahead of us. So for every single one of y'all out here, if you're with us, we want y'all to march with us. Because we are going to continue to march, and we're going to go back to Memorial Park, where we're going to continue our program.”

The march made its way back to Memorial Park with more people than it had started with. Upon returning, the attendees cooled down in the shade. Food and water were distributed as folks socialized and built community.

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #AntiWarMovement #JPSN

]]> https://fightbacknews.org/jacksonville-protests-1002-days-of-genocide Sat, 11 Jul 2026 01:47:43 +0000 Minneapolis residents pack city council committee hearing to say no to Skydio drone proposal https://fightbacknews.org/minneapolis-residents-pack-city-council-committee-hearing-to-say-no-to-skydio?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[Residents testify against Skydio drone proposal. Minneapolis, MN - On July 8, Minneapolis City Council’s Public Health, Safety and Equity Committee held a public hearing on a proposal for a trial program for “drones as first responders” (DFRs). The drones are manufactured by Skydio, a California-based tech company that makes autonomous surveillance drones. !--more-- The Free Palestine Coalition (FPC) called for its supporters to pack the meeting, achieving this with both the meeting room and the overflow room at capacity. Over 40 people testified, all expressing opposition to the drone proposal. One of the main concerns residents raised is that Skydio is a major producer of drones for the Israeli military. Sarah Martin, a member of Women Against Military Madness (WAMM), testified on this point, saying, “300 to 500 Palestinians were killed every day and there's no question Skidio drones account for many of those deaths. You must decide to reject the contract with Skydio and continue to do the right thing, as you did when you passed one of the strongest if not the strongest, ceasefire resolutions in the country in 2024. Or when you voted not to use ZenCity, an Israeli surveillance company. We don’t want our tax dollars going to companies profiting from the genocide, and a company whose drones have been use to surveil protesters, including those opposing this vicious and evil genocide.” The other main concern residents raised is that drones operated by the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) would be used to violate the civil liberties of oppressed nationality communities, and to surveil protesters. Mary Ford, member of the Minnesota Anti-War Committee (AWC), testified, “I remember in late May, early June, 2020 during George Floyd \[protests\], the Blackhawk helicopter swooping low and loud over my house, breaking tree branches and scaring the neighbors that had banded together. The Minnesota State Patrol also flew a Cirrus spy plane over our city at this time. U.S. Customs & Border Patrol collected our data using a Predator drone during George Floyd. To track and pursue targets, both ICE and CBP have purchased Skydio drones. This is not the company that Minneapolis wants to keep. We want to demilitarize police work, not militarize police work to further ridiculous levels.” Maddy Schwartz, also of the AWC, expressed similar sentiments in her testimony, saying, “This could 100 percent be used as a tool to expand state-sanction violence, surveil protests and dissent, Black and brown communities, and bring in huge amounts of visual data. I worry that this will be the next course of violence against unhoused people who, as a city, we’ve already decided don’t deserve privacy, dignity, or any space to exist. I wonder how this could affect community rapid response systems as we rely on community members to respond to ICE. I’d like to know how many of your immigrant constituents still living in fear, would feel safer with this expanded surveillance through this third party. When we make these investments in law enforcement, it gets harder to trust that council cares about privacy rights and over-policing of communities of color.” The proposal is for the MPD to launch the Skydio pilot program in Ward 4 in the city’s Northside, which is a Black-majority neighborhood. Many residents came from the ward to address their councilmember, LaTrisha Vetaw, who authored the proposal and sits on the Public Health, Safety & Equity Committee. At the end of the hearing the committee voted to "forward without recommendation” and the full Minneapolis City Council is expected to discuss it at their 9:30 a.m. meeting on Thursday, July 16. #MinneapolisMN #MN #AntiWarMovement #MNAWC div id="sharingbuttons.io"/div]]> Residents testify against Skydio drone proposal.

Minneapolis, MN – On July 8, Minneapolis City Council’s Public Health, Safety and Equity Committee held a public hearing on a proposal for a trial program for “drones as first responders” (DFRs). The drones are manufactured by Skydio, a California-based tech company that makes autonomous surveillance drones.

The Free Palestine Coalition (FPC) called for its supporters to pack the meeting, achieving this with both the meeting room and the overflow room at capacity. Over 40 people testified, all expressing opposition to the drone proposal.

One of the main concerns residents raised is that Skydio is a major producer of drones for the Israeli military. Sarah Martin, a member of Women Against Military Madness (WAMM), testified on this point, saying, “300 to 500 Palestinians were killed every day and there's no question Skidio drones account for many of those deaths. You must decide to reject the contract with Skydio and continue to do the right thing, as you did when you passed one of the strongest if not the strongest, ceasefire resolutions in the country in 2024. Or when you voted not to use ZenCity, an Israeli surveillance company. We don’t want our tax dollars going to companies profiting from the genocide, and a company whose drones have been use to surveil protesters, including those opposing this vicious and evil genocide.”

The other main concern residents raised is that drones operated by the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) would be used to violate the civil liberties of oppressed nationality communities, and to surveil protesters.

Mary Ford, member of the Minnesota Anti-War Committee (AWC), testified, “I remember in late May, early June, 2020 during George Floyd [protests], the Blackhawk helicopter swooping low and loud over my house, breaking tree branches and scaring the neighbors that had banded together. The Minnesota State Patrol also flew a Cirrus spy plane over our city at this time. U.S. Customs & Border Patrol collected our data using a Predator drone during George Floyd. To track and pursue targets, both ICE and CBP have purchased Skydio drones. This is not the company that Minneapolis wants to keep. We want to demilitarize police work, not militarize police work to further ridiculous levels.”

Maddy Schwartz, also of the AWC, expressed similar sentiments in her testimony, saying, “This could 100 percent be used as a tool to expand state-sanction violence, surveil protests and dissent, Black and brown communities, and bring in huge amounts of visual data. I worry that this will be the next course of violence against unhoused people who, as a city, we’ve already decided don’t deserve privacy, dignity, or any space to exist. I wonder how this could affect community rapid response systems as we rely on community members to respond to ICE. I’d like to know how many of your immigrant constituents still living in fear, would feel safer with this expanded surveillance through this third party. When we make these investments in law enforcement, it gets harder to trust that council cares about privacy rights and over-policing of communities of color.”

The proposal is for the MPD to launch the Skydio pilot program in Ward 4 in the city’s Northside, which is a Black-majority neighborhood. Many residents came from the ward to address their councilmember, LaTrisha Vetaw, who authored the proposal and sits on the Public Health, Safety & Equity Committee.

At the end of the hearing the committee voted to “forward without recommendation” and the full Minneapolis City Council is expected to discuss it at their 9:30 a.m. meeting on Thursday, July 16.

#MinneapolisMN #MN #AntiWarMovement #MNAWC

]]> https://fightbacknews.org/minneapolis-residents-pack-city-council-committee-hearing-to-say-no-to-skydio Sat, 11 Jul 2026 01:43:39 +0000 New York City educators in solidarity with Nadia Topete https://fightbacknews.org/new-york-city-educators-in-solidarity-with-nadia-topete?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from the Movement of Rank and File Educators (MORE Caucus) of the United Federation of Teachers in New York City. The MORE Caucus stands in absolute solidarity with Nadia Topete, an immigrant’s rights activist who has been subpoenaed a second time to a grand jury for her role protesting ICE. We know grand juries are used by the DOJ and Trump as a weapon to target activists for speaking out. !--more-- Protesting and organizing against ICE terror is not a crime. Last year, the UFT’s delegate assembly adopted an organizing resolution that supports both the rights of immigrant students as well as anti-ICE activists and unionists in the face of bogus charges from the corrupt Trump government. We know very well that these blatant attacks will not stop at activists and will attempt to put a muzzle on the brave people’s resistance to ICE, and as progressive educators we cannot allow that to happen. Hands off Nadia Topete! #InJusticeSystem #ImmigrantRights #NadiaTopete #PoliticalRepression #MORE #UFT div id="sharingbuttons.io"/div]]> Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from the Movement of Rank and File Educators (MORE Caucus) of the United Federation of Teachers in New York City.

The MORE Caucus stands in absolute solidarity with Nadia Topete, an immigrant’s rights activist who has been subpoenaed a second time to a grand jury for her role protesting ICE. We know grand juries are used by the DOJ and Trump as a weapon to target activists for speaking out.

Protesting and organizing against ICE terror is not a crime. Last year, the UFT’s delegate assembly adopted an organizing resolution that supports both the rights of immigrant students as well as anti-ICE activists and unionists in the face of bogus charges from the corrupt Trump government. We know very well that these blatant attacks will not stop at activists and will attempt to put a muzzle on the brave people’s resistance to ICE, and as progressive educators we cannot allow that to happen. Hands off Nadia Topete!

#InJusticeSystem #ImmigrantRights #NadiaTopete #PoliticalRepression #MORE #UFT

]]> https://fightbacknews.org/new-york-city-educators-in-solidarity-with-nadia-topete Sat, 11 Jul 2026 01:40:52 +0000 New Orleans marches on July 4 against U.S. war and terror https://fightbacknews.org/new-orleans-marches-on-july-4-against-u-s-war-and-terror?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[July 4 protest in New Orleans. New Orleans, LA- On July 4, downtown in Lafayette Square, a crowd of about 100 people participated in an anti-imperialist rally and march. The action was organized by local anti-Zionist organization New Orleans Stop Helping Israel’s Ports (NOSHIP) and was endorsed and attended by several local New Orleans groups. !--more-- Speakers included activists from the anti-war movement, Indivisible, and the movement for police accountability. Although every speaker used their own words and language, every speech had one through-line, demanding an end to US wars for blood and oil. The rally chanted and marched in 95-degree heat to Jackson Square to unveil a banner that read “250 years of imperialism, oppression & war” to passersby on the scorching Saturday afternoon. Rosalie Framboise of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization declared to the crowd, “We are here on the 250th anniversary of the American empire, a hydra that has strung its tentacles all over the world, in pursuit of raising its stock price, and manifesting the destiny of the billionaire, monopoly capitalists who control it.” Framboise went on to decry how Donald Trump wants us to celebrate American wars and empire. In conjunction with NOSHIP’s action, high school student activist groups Student Action Movement (SAM) and Students for Resistance (SFR) spoke against the development of a planned AI Hyperion data center along Louisiana Highway 183, emphasizing the threat that data center expansion poses to the environment. “We are out here in the streets protesting imperialism, oppression and war that the U.S. has been engaging in for 250 years,” said one of the organizers of the action. “We’re angry, and it’s hot as hell but we’re fired up, we’re mad, and we’re not going to stop.” Despite the incredible heatwave in New Orleans city, the locals came out in droves either to actively participate in the march, or clearly show solidarity with our united messaging. #NewOrleansLA #LA #AntiWarMovement #AWAn #NOSHIP div id="sharingbuttons.io"/div]]> July 4 protest in New Orleans.

New Orleans, LA- On July 4, downtown in Lafayette Square, a crowd of about 100 people participated in an anti-imperialist rally and march. The action was organized by local anti-Zionist organization New Orleans Stop Helping Israel’s Ports (NOSHIP) and was endorsed and attended by several local New Orleans groups.

Speakers included activists from the anti-war movement, Indivisible, and the movement for police accountability. Although every speaker used their own words and language, every speech had one through-line, demanding an end to US wars for blood and oil.

The rally chanted and marched in 95-degree heat to Jackson Square to unveil a banner that read “250 years of imperialism, oppression & war” to passersby on the scorching Saturday afternoon.

Rosalie Framboise of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization declared to the crowd, “We are here on the 250th anniversary of the American empire, a hydra that has strung its tentacles all over the world, in pursuit of raising its stock price, and manifesting the destiny of the billionaire, monopoly capitalists who control it.” Framboise went on to decry how Donald Trump wants us to celebrate American wars and empire.

In conjunction with NOSHIP’s action, high school student activist groups Student Action Movement (SAM) and Students for Resistance (SFR) spoke against the development of a planned AI Hyperion data center along Louisiana Highway 183, emphasizing the threat that data center expansion poses to the environment.

“We are out here in the streets protesting imperialism, oppression and war that the U.S. has been engaging in for 250 years,” said one of the organizers of the action. “We’re angry, and it’s hot as hell but we’re fired up, we’re mad, and we’re not going to stop.”

Despite the incredible heatwave in New Orleans city, the locals came out in droves either to actively participate in the march, or clearly show solidarity with our united messaging.

#NewOrleansLA #LA #AntiWarMovement #AWAn #NOSHIP

]]> https://fightbacknews.org/new-orleans-marches-on-july-4-against-u-s-war-and-terror Sat, 11 Jul 2026 01:20:43 +0000 Portland protests endless U.S. wars on July 4 https://fightbacknews.org/portland-protests-endless-u-s-wars-on-july-4?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[ Portland, OR – For this year’s July 4 holiday, the United States’ 250th anniversary, Portland made it clear with a rally and protest that there was nothing to celebrate. The event aimed to establish that there is “No freedom in endless war” and demand that money be spent on human needs, not war and genocide, referring to the increase of U.S. aggression internationally over the last year and over 1000 days of genocide against the Palestinian people. !--more-- The event was hosted by Portland for Palestine (P4P), following the national call to action from the Anti-War Action Network (AWAN). P4P was joined by the Portland district of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO), Portland Contra Las Deportaciones (PDXCD), Portland Extinction Rebellion, Brown Hope, and Veterans for Peace Portland chapter 72. The event started off with a rally at Terry Schrunk Federal Plaza, where over 150 people gathered with Palestine flags, upside-down American flags and signs opposing war, ICE and President Donald Trump. Judas Graves of P4P addressed the crowd with a question for the crowd, “I heard there is a holiday today but do we have anything to celebrate?” to which the crowd responded with a loud and resounding, “No!” The energy of the crowd was high from the very beginning, with Graves leading chants of “No more endless war!” and “No more killing kids!” Samantha Ibarra, a Marine Corp veteran and organizer with PDXCD, spoke of her time in the military as she joined with the hope of fulfilling the “American Dream” for her family. She states that instead she found the truth about military service: “Black, indigenous and people of color, immigrants or not, sacrifice themselves and gain nothing. Countless siblings, parents and partners are being used as disposable property of the government while the rich line their pockets from endless wars.” Ibarra is currently facing charges from the Portland police after exercising self-defense against right-wing agitators who regularly attend Portland protests and assault attendees. The very same right-wing agitators were in attendance on the 4th, all holding their phones on tripods and yelling obscenities at the crowd before being pushed to the perimeter of the event by event and drowned out by chants. Cameron Whitten from Brown Hope evoked the words of Frederick Douglass from his speech “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” from 1852: “There is not a nation on the earth guilty of practices, more shocking and bloody, than are the people of these United States, at this very hour.” The weight of these words spoken nearly 175 years later was felt by everyone in attendance. Whitten continued, “I am tired of having to see what is going on in this country on headlines with a degree of powerlessness. Because what I know is that we are powerful, we are a movement! We are a movement against war, against genocide, for education, for opportunity, for peace. We are here knowing that we have been trampled on, disgraced and insulted for far too long and enough is enough!” After the rally, the sizable crowd embarked on a nearly two-mile march around the downtown Portland area. The group was followed by the city-famous “World on Fire” protest firetruck that was draped in banners that read “Stop the genocide, break the bonds” and “It will take all of us.” The group marched past the annual Waterfront Blues Festival that runs every Fourth of July weekend with chants of “Money for homes and education, not for bombs and devastation!” Veterans for Peace Chapter 72 President Dan Shea, in a statement that was read aloud in his absence, pointed out “At 250 years, America does not need another hollow celebration. We need an honest reckoning: leaders who respect dissent, veterans who speak truth, communities that refuse fear, and citizens who know freedom is not proven by fireworks. Freedom is proven when the vulnerable are protected, war is restrained, power is accountable, and truth-tellers are heard instead of silenced.” Portland for Palestine will continue to protest and speak out against unjust wars waged by the United States. The group maintains their demand to end all U.S. aid to Israel to stop the genocide of the Palestinian people. #PortlandOR #OR #AntiWarMovement #AWAN #P4P div id="sharingbuttons.io"/div]]>

Portland, OR – For this year’s July 4 holiday, the United States’ 250th anniversary, Portland made it clear with a rally and protest that there was nothing to celebrate. The event aimed to establish that there is “No freedom in endless war” and demand that money be spent on human needs, not war and genocide, referring to the increase of U.S. aggression internationally over the last year and over 1000 days of genocide against the Palestinian people.

The event was hosted by Portland for Palestine (P4P), following the national call to action from the Anti-War Action Network (AWAN). P4P was joined by the Portland district of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO), Portland Contra Las Deportaciones (PDXCD), Portland Extinction Rebellion, Brown Hope, and Veterans for Peace Portland chapter 72.

The event started off with a rally at Terry Schrunk Federal Plaza, where over 150 people gathered with Palestine flags, upside-down American flags and signs opposing war, ICE and President Donald Trump. Judas Graves of P4P addressed the crowd with a question for the crowd, “I heard there is a holiday today but do we have anything to celebrate?” to which the crowd responded with a loud and resounding, “No!”

The energy of the crowd was high from the very beginning, with Graves leading chants of “No more endless war!” and “No more killing kids!”

Samantha Ibarra, a Marine Corp veteran and organizer with PDXCD, spoke of her time in the military as she joined with the hope of fulfilling the “American Dream” for her family. She states that instead she found the truth about military service: “Black, indigenous and people of color, immigrants or not, sacrifice themselves and gain nothing. Countless siblings, parents and partners are being used as disposable property of the government while the rich line their pockets from endless wars.” Ibarra is currently facing charges from the Portland police after exercising self-defense against right-wing agitators who regularly attend Portland protests and assault attendees.

The very same right-wing agitators were in attendance on the 4th, all holding their phones on tripods and yelling obscenities at the crowd before being pushed to the perimeter of the event by event and drowned out by chants.

Cameron Whitten from Brown Hope evoked the words of Frederick Douglass from his speech “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” from 1852: “There is not a nation on the earth guilty of practices, more shocking and bloody, than are the people of these United States, at this very hour.” The weight of these words spoken nearly 175 years later was felt by everyone in attendance.

Whitten continued, “I am tired of having to see what is going on in this country on headlines with a degree of powerlessness. Because what I know is that we are powerful, we are a movement! We are a movement against war, against genocide, for education, for opportunity, for peace. We are here knowing that we have been trampled on, disgraced and insulted for far too long and enough is enough!”

After the rally, the sizable crowd embarked on a nearly two-mile march around the downtown Portland area. The group was followed by the city-famous “World on Fire” protest firetruck that was draped in banners that read “Stop the genocide, break the bonds” and “It will take all of us.” The group marched past the annual Waterfront Blues Festival that runs every Fourth of July weekend with chants of “Money for homes and education, not for bombs and devastation!”

Veterans for Peace Chapter 72 President Dan Shea, in a statement that was read aloud in his absence, pointed out “At 250 years, America does not need another hollow celebration. We need an honest reckoning: leaders who respect dissent, veterans who speak truth, communities that refuse fear, and citizens who know freedom is not proven by fireworks. Freedom is proven when the vulnerable are protected, war is restrained, power is accountable, and truth-tellers are heard instead of silenced.”

Portland for Palestine will continue to protest and speak out against unjust wars waged by the United States. The group maintains their demand to end all U.S. aid to Israel to stop the genocide of the Palestinian people.

#PortlandOR #OR #AntiWarMovement #AWAN #P4P

]]> https://fightbacknews.org/portland-protests-endless-u-s-wars-on-july-4 Sat, 11 Jul 2026 01:07:06 +0000 Dallas demands justice for Lorenzo Araujo https://fightbacknews.org/dallas-demands-justice-for-lorenzo-araujo?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[Dallas protest demands justice for Lorenzo Araujo. Dallas, TX - On July 8, in response to the fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by ICE agents in Houston the day before, NAARPR-Dallas organized an emergency rally at the Dallas City Hall to demand justice and that his killers be held accountable, Over 50 people crowded in front of Dallas City Hall to make their demands heard. They chanted “El pueblo unido jamás será vencido! !--more-- Between chants members of DAWC, FRSO-Dallas, and PYM Dallas gave speeches. Blake Van Wicklen of FRSO-Dallas told the crowd, “We will not allow fear to silence us. We will continue organizing in our workplaces, in our unions, in our neighborhoods and in the streets until every worker, regardless of immigration status, can live with dignity and without fear.” Jo Hargis of DAWC stated, “It is clear to anyone who is looking that the violence we export to Palestine, to Iran, and around the world is inextricably linked with violence visited upon people here at home. We must hold accountable the forces who profit off of these murders, whether the murdered be a father on his way to work in Texas, or a school full of little girls in Minab, or the steadfast people of Palestine.” Xavier Velasquez, the chair of the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression - Dallas stated, “This is what we are up against: ICE had been targeting people thru large raids which resulted in the deaths of Renee Good, Alex Pretti and Keith Porter Jr.. What we've witnessed thru the course of the year is a de-emphasis on large raids and they've been doing smaller scale kidnappings and quieter raids. These new ICE tactics are no less deadly, as we saw yesterday. The spin they are giving this recent killing is the end goal of this racist system. They are now trying to say that this killing is OK because Lorenzo was a so called ‘illegal alien.’ Shame!” An altar was set up in remembrance of Lorenzo Araujo where people paid their respects. NAARPR members encouraged people to attend a vigil on July 10 in Dallas for Lorenzo Araujo at Huitzitzilin cafe and promoted their “ICE out of the World Cup” protest that is set for July 14. #DallasTX #TX #InJusticeSystem #ImmigrantRights #KillerCops #KillerICE #Featured div id="sharingbuttons.io"/div]]> Dallas protest demands justice for Lorenzo Araujo.

Dallas, TX – On July 8, in response to the fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by ICE agents in Houston the day before, NAARPR-Dallas organized an emergency rally at the Dallas City Hall to demand justice and that his killers be held accountable,

Over 50 people crowded in front of Dallas City Hall to make their demands heard. They chanted “El pueblo unido jamás será vencido!

Between chants members of DAWC, FRSO-Dallas, and PYM Dallas gave speeches.

Blake Van Wicklen of FRSO-Dallas told the crowd, “We will not allow fear to silence us. We will continue organizing in our workplaces, in our unions, in our neighborhoods and in the streets until every worker, regardless of immigration status, can live with dignity and without fear.”

Jo Hargis of DAWC stated, “It is clear to anyone who is looking that the violence we export to Palestine, to Iran, and around the world is inextricably linked with violence visited upon people here at home. We must hold accountable the forces who profit off of these murders, whether the murdered be a father on his way to work in Texas, or a school full of little girls in Minab, or the steadfast people of Palestine.”

Xavier Velasquez, the chair of the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression – Dallas stated, “This is what we are up against: ICE had been targeting people thru large raids which resulted in the deaths of Renee Good, Alex Pretti and Keith Porter Jr.. What we've witnessed thru the course of the year is a de-emphasis on large raids and they've been doing smaller scale kidnappings and quieter raids. These new ICE tactics are no less deadly, as we saw yesterday. The spin they are giving this recent killing is the end goal of this racist system. They are now trying to say that this killing is OK because Lorenzo was a so called ‘illegal alien.’ Shame!”

An altar was set up in remembrance of Lorenzo Araujo where people paid their respects. NAARPR members encouraged people to attend a vigil on July 10 in Dallas for Lorenzo Araujo at Huitzitzilin cafe and promoted their “ICE out of the World Cup” protest that is set for July 14.

#DallasTX #TX #InJusticeSystem #ImmigrantRights #KillerCops #KillerICE #Featured

]]> https://fightbacknews.org/dallas-demands-justice-for-lorenzo-araujo Fri, 10 Jul 2026 13:45:02 +0000 Job growth slows in June https://fightbacknews.org/job-growth-slows-in-june?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[San José, CA - The job market slowed sharply in June, to only 57,000 net new jobs, less than half the monthly increases in April and May. In addition, these two reports were revised downward a total of 74,000 new jobs. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics released the report for June 2026 on July 2. !--more-- The biggest surprise of the jobs numbers was the loss of 55,000 jobs in hotels and restaurants. This was the biggest loss since the COVID pandemic in 2020. Many economists questioned this figure, given the tourism for the FIFA World Cup soccer games. But tourism, and thus employment in hotels and restaurants, has been declining under the Trump administration, while increasing in the rest of the world. Trump’s repeated claim to want to make Canada a U.S. state, his restrictions on travel visas, and harassment of tourists at U.S. borders and airports have made the United States a less desirable destination. U.S. hotels reported room booking during FIFA World Cup was below expectations, and some even said bookings were below usual summer rates. An early sign of the impact of artificial intelligence or AI on jobs was the continued drop in information technology jobs. 9000 jobs were lost in this sector, marking the 17th time in the last 18 months jobs have been lost. Job losses in information technology and finance, which are almost all white-collar jobs most susceptible to AI replacement, have accelerated this year. In 2026, an average of more than 20,000 jobs were lost each month in these two industries. While the unemployment rate ticked down in June to 4.2% from 4.3% in May, this was mainly because more than 700,000 workers dropped out of the labor force. This happens when jobless workers stop looking for work and are not counted as unemployed. Without this, the unemployment rate would have gone up in June to 4.5%. Latino workers were hit especially hard, as their unemployment rate rose to 5.2% in June from 5.0% in May. At the same time, their labor force participation rate fell from 67.2% to 66%. If Latinos who dropped out of the labor force were counted as unemployed, their unemployment rate would have risen to 6.4%. Wage growth for production and non-supervisory workers grew 3.4% from June last year, significantly behind the 4.4% increase in prices for the same workers as reported in June. The June inflation report will come out on July 14. #SanJoseCA #CA #CapitalismAndEconomy #Jobs #Unemployment div id="sharingbuttons.io"/div]]> San José, CA – The job market slowed sharply in June, to only 57,000 net new jobs, less than half the monthly increases in April and May. In addition, these two reports were revised downward a total of 74,000 new jobs. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics released the report for June 2026 on July 2.

The biggest surprise of the jobs numbers was the loss of 55,000 jobs in hotels and restaurants. This was the biggest loss since the COVID pandemic in 2020. Many economists questioned this figure, given the tourism for the FIFA World Cup soccer games. But tourism, and thus employment in hotels and restaurants, has been declining under the Trump administration, while increasing in the rest of the world. Trump’s repeated claim to want to make Canada a U.S. state, his restrictions on travel visas, and harassment of tourists at U.S. borders and airports have made the United States a less desirable destination. U.S. hotels reported room booking during FIFA World Cup was below expectations, and some even said bookings were below usual summer rates.

An early sign of the impact of artificial intelligence or AI on jobs was the continued drop in information technology jobs. 9000 jobs were lost in this sector, marking the 17th time in the last 18 months jobs have been lost. Job losses in information technology and finance, which are almost all white-collar jobs most susceptible to AI replacement, have accelerated this year. In 2026, an average of more than 20,000 jobs were lost each month in these two industries.

While the unemployment rate ticked down in June to 4.2% from 4.3% in May, this was mainly because more than 700,000 workers dropped out of the labor force. This happens when jobless workers stop looking for work and are not counted as unemployed. Without this, the unemployment rate would have gone up in June to 4.5%.

Latino workers were hit especially hard, as their unemployment rate rose to 5.2% in June from 5.0% in May. At the same time, their labor force participation rate fell from 67.2% to 66%. If Latinos who dropped out of the labor force were counted as unemployed, their unemployment rate would have risen to 6.4%.

Wage growth for production and non-supervisory workers grew 3.4% from June last year, significantly behind the 4.4% increase in prices for the same workers as reported in June. The June inflation report will come out on July 14.

#SanJoseCA #CA #CapitalismAndEconomy #Jobs #Unemployment

]]> https://fightbacknews.org/job-growth-slows-in-june Thu, 09 Jul 2026 15:40:28 +0000 St. Paul plans to continue contract with Waterfall despite ties to genocide https://fightbacknews.org/st-paul-plans-to-continue-contract-with-waterfall-despite-ties-to-genocide?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[St. Paul, MN - Saint Paul is attempting to almost double its contract with Israeli cybersecurity company, Waterfall, proposing over $150,000 and another five years. Waterfall has ties to the Israeli military, which has been accused of carrying out genocide against Palestinians. The Palestine Solidarity Committee of Women Against Military Madness (WAMM) found out on July 7 from the Saint Paul Water Board website that they have selected Waterfall Security Solutions again for a contract. !--more-- Saint Paul provides water to Saint Paul, Falcon Heights, Lauderdale, Lilydale, Maplewood, Mendota, Mendota Heights, West Saint Paul, Roseville, Little Canada and Arden Hills. Meredith Aby, the WAMM director, explains, “After a year of attending board meetings, meeting with board members, petitioning and calling, we are angered that, despite Waterfall being an Israeli company that works hand in hand with Israel in its genocide of the Palestinian people, Saint Paul wants to expand and extend their contract. The new proposed contract will be $153,611.74 and for five years. They proposed this knowing that their constituents do not support genocide.” WAMM has been working on this campaign for a year as a part of the boycott, divest and sanctions (BDS) movement. WAMM chose this strategy because it was previously successful in pressuring the U.S. to stop supporting South African apartheid. The BDS Movement website says that the tech sector “feeds Israel’s war chest, making up 20% of Israel’s GDP (in 2023) and 53% of its exports (2023).” The goal of the BDS movement is to isolate Israel economically to pressure them to end apartheid and genocide. Aby continued, “If you drink or use Saint Paul water, please call today - 651-266-6350 extension 7. And regardless of where you live, we need you to come out to the next Water Board meeting on Tuesday, July 14 at noon at Saint Paul City Hall, 15 W Kellogg Boulevard in room 300 to demand that they cut the contract with Waterfall!” #StPaulMN #MN #AntiWarMovement #Divestment #BDS #Palestine #WAMM div id="sharingbuttons.io"/div]]> St. Paul, MN – Saint Paul is attempting to almost double its contract with Israeli cybersecurity company, Waterfall, proposing over $150,000 and another five years. Waterfall has ties to the Israeli military, which has been accused of carrying out genocide against Palestinians.

The Palestine Solidarity Committee of Women Against Military Madness (WAMM) found out on July 7 from the Saint Paul Water Board website that they have selected Waterfall Security Solutions again for a contract.

Saint Paul provides water to Saint Paul, Falcon Heights, Lauderdale, Lilydale, Maplewood, Mendota, Mendota Heights, West Saint Paul, Roseville, Little Canada and Arden Hills.

Meredith Aby, the WAMM director, explains, “After a year of attending board meetings, meeting with board members, petitioning and calling, we are angered that, despite Waterfall being an Israeli company that works hand in hand with Israel in its genocide of the Palestinian people, Saint Paul wants to expand and extend their contract. The new proposed contract will be $153,611.74 and for five years. They proposed this knowing that their constituents do not support genocide.”

WAMM has been working on this campaign for a year as a part of the boycott, divest and sanctions (BDS) movement. WAMM chose this strategy because it was previously successful in pressuring the U.S. to stop supporting South African apartheid. The BDS Movement website says that the tech sector “feeds Israel’s war chest, making up 20% of Israel’s GDP (in 2023) and 53% of its exports (2023).” The goal of the BDS movement is to isolate Israel economically to pressure them to end apartheid and genocide.

Aby continued, “If you drink or use Saint Paul water, please call today – 651-266-6350 extension 7. And regardless of where you live, we need you to come out to the next Water Board meeting on Tuesday, July 14 at noon at Saint Paul City Hall, 15 W Kellogg Boulevard in room 300 to demand that they cut the contract with Waterfall!”

#StPaulMN #MN #AntiWarMovement #Divestment #BDS #Palestine #WAMM

]]> https://fightbacknews.org/st-paul-plans-to-continue-contract-with-waterfall-despite-ties-to-genocide Thu, 09 Jul 2026 15:08:00 +0000 Family and community remembers Alex Martinez-Sarmiento one year after police killing https://fightbacknews.org/family-and-community-remembers-alex-martinez-sarmiento-one-year-after-police?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[ Colorado Springs, CO – On July 5, the family of Alex Martinez-Sarmiento gathered in the parking lot where Martinez-Sarmiento was killed one year before by Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) officer Connor Jacob Wallick. More than 30 people gathered around a shrine for Martinez-Sarmiento, including members of Colorado Springs Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (COSAARPR) and Freedom Road Socialist Organization. Many attendees held signs and banners demanding justice for Alex and the indictment of Wallick. COSAARPR member Brandon Rincon led the group in chants like “Running away, don’t shoot” and “Indict, convict, send that killer cop to jail.” As the sun set, people in attendance held up candles and released balloons to honor Alex. !--more-- On July 5, 2025, Wallick chased and shot Martinez-Sarmiento in the back three times as he was running away, killing him. In the year since then, members of the family and COSAARPR led dozens of actions demanding that Wallick be fired and charged with murder. On December 10, 2025, District Attorney Michael Allen ruled the shooting justified, angering the family, who continue to fight alongside COSAARPR to get justice and accountability for their loved one. Recently, the family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Colorado Springs. “It’s heartbreaking being out here,” said Rincon, “We shouldn’t have to be out here demanding justice. We shouldn’t have to have our loved ones gunned down in the streets by racist, crooked, cowardly police officers like Connor Jacob Wallick.” Rincon echoed the demands of the family, stating “This family deserves justice, this family deserves peace of mind, this family deserves transparency, accountability and answers, and Connor Wallick deserves to rot in jail.” FRSO member Bug Peterson condemned the killing as a case of national oppression, saying that “here in Aztlán, the Chicano nation, there’s a long history of racist police violence against Chicanos, Mexicanos and Latinos.” Peterson described how American imperialism brutalized not just nations around the world, but also nations here in the U.S., noting that “police are on the front lines of enacting that brutality.” As the family mourns, they continue to fight. Alongside COSAARPR and FRSO, they are determined to win justice for Alex and to get violent police officers off the streets of Colorado Springs. #ColoradoSpringsCO #CO #InjusticeSystem #KillerCop #COSAARPR #OppressedNationalities div id="sharingbuttons.io"/div]]>

Colorado Springs, CO – On July 5, the family of Alex Martinez-Sarmiento gathered in the parking lot where Martinez-Sarmiento was killed one year before by Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) officer Connor Jacob Wallick.

More than 30 people gathered around a shrine for Martinez-Sarmiento, including members of Colorado Springs Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (COSAARPR) and Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

Many attendees held signs and banners demanding justice for Alex and the indictment of Wallick. COSAARPR member Brandon Rincon led the group in chants like “Running away, don’t shoot” and “Indict, convict, send that killer cop to jail.” As the sun set, people in attendance held up candles and released balloons to honor Alex.

On July 5, 2025, Wallick chased and shot Martinez-Sarmiento in the back three times as he was running away, killing him. In the year since then, members of the family and COSAARPR led dozens of actions demanding that Wallick be fired and charged with murder.

On December 10, 2025, District Attorney Michael Allen ruled the shooting justified, angering the family, who continue to fight alongside COSAARPR to get justice and accountability for their loved one. Recently, the family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Colorado Springs.

“It’s heartbreaking being out here,” said Rincon, “We shouldn’t have to be out here demanding justice. We shouldn’t have to have our loved ones gunned down in the streets by racist, crooked, cowardly police officers like Connor Jacob Wallick.”

Rincon echoed the demands of the family, stating “This family deserves justice, this family deserves peace of mind, this family deserves transparency, accountability and answers, and Connor Wallick deserves to rot in jail.”

FRSO member Bug Peterson condemned the killing as a case of national oppression, saying that “here in Aztlán, the Chicano nation, there’s a long history of racist police violence against Chicanos, Mexicanos and Latinos.” Peterson described how American imperialism brutalized not just nations around the world, but also nations here in the U.S., noting that “police are on the front lines of enacting that brutality.”

As the family mourns, they continue to fight. Alongside COSAARPR and FRSO, they are determined to win justice for Alex and to get violent police officers off the streets of Colorado Springs.

#ColoradoSpringsCO #CO #InjusticeSystem #KillerCop #COSAARPR #OppressedNationalities

]]> https://fightbacknews.org/family-and-community-remembers-alex-martinez-sarmiento-one-year-after-police Thu, 09 Jul 2026 15:03:43 +0000 Chicana immigrant rights activist Nadia Topete resists grand jury repression https://fightbacknews.org/chicana-immigrant-rights-activist-nadia-topete-resists-grand-jury-repression?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[ | Fight Back! News") Santa Ana, CA - On the morning of July 8, immigrant rights activist Nadia Topete went before a grand jury at the Ronald Reagan Federal Courthouse. Topete was inside for a short time before reappearing out of the courthouse to state that she exercised her Fifth Amendment right to stay silent. The crowd of over 50 supporters from Los Angeles and Orange County cheered her on, chanting, “DOJ: Hands off Nadia!” and “What do we want? Hands off Nadia! When do we want it? Now!” !--more-- Nadia Topete is a 21-year-old who twice had FBI agents show up at her door. Topete is a proud Chicana and immigrant rights activist. She has done nothing wrong and continues mobilizing to beat the attacks the Trump administration is enacting on immigrants. Among those gathered outside were members of Centro CSO in Los Angeles and CSO Orange County. Others present were also with the Committee to Stop FBI Repression, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Gabriela - LA, ILPS, Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE), and others. “We applaud the tremendous strength of my sister Nadia Topete and will be ready to fight back for her if she is summoned once again,” said Verita Topete, a member of Centro CSO and chair of the CSO immigration committee. #SantaAnaCA #CA #OrangeCounty #LosAngelesCA #ImmigrantRights #NadiaTopete #PoliticalRepression #GrandJury #CentroCSO #Featured div id="sharingbuttons.io"/div]]>

Santa Ana, CA – On the morning of July 8, immigrant rights activist Nadia Topete went before a grand jury at the Ronald Reagan Federal Courthouse. Topete was inside for a short time before reappearing out of the courthouse to state that she exercised her Fifth Amendment right to stay silent.

The crowd of over 50 supporters from Los Angeles and Orange County cheered her on, chanting, “DOJ: Hands off Nadia!” and “What do we want? Hands off Nadia! When do we want it? Now!”

Nadia Topete is a 21-year-old who twice had FBI agents show up at her door. Topete is a proud Chicana and immigrant rights activist. She has done nothing wrong and continues mobilizing to beat the attacks the Trump administration is enacting on immigrants.

Among those gathered outside were members of Centro CSO in Los Angeles and CSO Orange County. Others present were also with the Committee to Stop FBI Repression, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Gabriela – LA, ILPS, Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE), and others.

“We applaud the tremendous strength of my sister Nadia Topete and will be ready to fight back for her if she is summoned once again,” said Verita Topete, a member of Centro CSO and chair of the CSO immigration committee.

#SantaAnaCA #CA #OrangeCounty #LosAngelesCA #ImmigrantRights #NadiaTopete #PoliticalRepression #GrandJury #CentroCSO #Featured

]]> https://fightbacknews.org/chicana-immigrant-rights-activist-nadia-topete-resists-grand-jury-repression Thu, 09 Jul 2026 13:36:45 +0000 Protest at White House on July 4 against 250 years of exploitation, plunder and war https://fightbacknews.org/protest-at-white-house-on-july-4-against-250-years-of-exploitation-plunder-and?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[ Washington, D.C. - Amid military displays celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States, more than 120 workers, migrants, students and community members mounted opposition in the nation's capital. Participants kicked off their activities with a banner drop on a Rhode Island Avenue overpass. Later they held a Peace Forum, then a protest on July 4 at the White House. Participants in the forum argued that the country's anniversary should instead be a moment to address ongoing impacts of militarism, political repression and economic exploitation. !--more-- "While we were shackled in detention, we learned the U.S. government is the real criminal, but that we also need to fight for justice not just for ourselves, but to make sure this doesn't happen to anyone again," said Ana from Las Madres Unidas en la Lucha, a collective of migrant mothers. Group members were detained during a March 2026 ICE operation in Baltimore and were later transferred to detention in Tacoma, Washington. David Black of the DC Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (DCAARPR) said, "I spent 26 years in prison for a crime I didn't commit. What happened to me wasn't an isolated case, the sheriff who put me there harmed others too. This fight is bigger than my story. It's just beginning, and we're going to keep demanding justice for everyone who has been wronged.” "Migrant workers are among the underclass in the countries they have migrated to because we are the scapegoats of economic crises, a source of cheap labor, and in times of crisis, we are abused by the government, as is the case today with Trump" said Jabi, a food service worker with Filipino Workers of Wheaton (FilWoW). The Peace Forum brought together communities addressing issues such as ICE violence, police terror and wars of aggression that impact the people around the world. The gathering strengthened local fights to build a larger movement to address the root causes. Emerging from the Peace Forum, community members committed to advance campaigns against violence due to state agencies and expansion of weapons production. Participants reconvened on the morning of July 4 for a protest at the White House, targeting Trump, who is responsible for attacks on the people domestically and abroad. "We see this contradiction intensifying today, with Trump staging a military occupation right here in the belly of the beast, Washington, D.C., where Black, brown, and working-class neighbors are being kidnapped and terrorized by federal agents with the help of MPD. The National Guard occupation alone costs millions of dollars that could be used for healthcare, housing and human needs," said Juliet Thomas from Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO-DC). "Today, July 4, also marks 80 years of semi-colonial oppression of the Philippines by America," says Marcel Castro from Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN DMV). He condemned the U.S.-led Pax Silica initiative for increasing land theft and exploitation of Filipino workers, as the U.S. aims to control the semiconductor supply chain. "1600 hectares of land were offered on a silver platter to the U.S., which will displace peasant and indigenous people. Large-scale mining operations will destroy water sources and agricultural land. The Filipino people are not pawns and sacrifices for U.S.-led war!" Marcel concluded. "Whether it's detention centers, war profiteers, or the daily oppression we face under this system, this week of action shows that the most exploited and oppressed are organizing to fight back. Our fight is to unite workers, migrants, and all people struggling for sovereignty and liberation!" said Liz Park, secretary general of the International League of Peoples' Struggle - US (ILPS-US). #WashingtonDC #DC #July4th #PeoplesStruggles #AntiWarMovement #ILPS #Philippines div id="sharingbuttons.io"/div]]>

Washington, D.C. – Amid military displays celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States, more than 120 workers, migrants, students and community members mounted opposition in the nation's capital.

Participants kicked off their activities with a banner drop on a Rhode Island Avenue overpass. Later they held a Peace Forum, then a protest on July 4 at the White House. Participants in the forum argued that the country's anniversary should instead be a moment to address ongoing impacts of militarism, political repression and economic exploitation.

“While we were shackled in detention, we learned the U.S. government is the real criminal, but that we also need to fight for justice not just for ourselves, but to make sure this doesn't happen to anyone again,” said Ana from Las Madres Unidas en la Lucha, a collective of migrant mothers. Group members were detained during a March 2026 ICE operation in Baltimore and were later transferred to detention in Tacoma, Washington.

David Black of the DC Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (DCAARPR) said, “I spent 26 years in prison for a crime I didn't commit. What happened to me wasn't an isolated case, the sheriff who put me there harmed others too. This fight is bigger than my story. It's just beginning, and we're going to keep demanding justice for everyone who has been wronged.”

“Migrant workers are among the underclass in the countries they have migrated to because we are the scapegoats of economic crises, a source of cheap labor, and in times of crisis, we are abused by the government, as is the case today with Trump” said Jabi, a food service worker with Filipino Workers of Wheaton (FilWoW).

The Peace Forum brought together communities addressing issues such as ICE violence, police terror and wars of aggression that impact the people around the world. The gathering strengthened local fights to build a larger movement to address the root causes. Emerging from the Peace Forum, community members committed to advance campaigns against violence due to state agencies and expansion of weapons production.

Participants reconvened on the morning of July 4 for a protest at the White House, targeting Trump, who is responsible for attacks on the people domestically and abroad.

“We see this contradiction intensifying today, with Trump staging a military occupation right here in the belly of the beast, Washington, D.C., where Black, brown, and working-class neighbors are being kidnapped and terrorized by federal agents with the help of MPD. The National Guard occupation alone costs millions of dollars that could be used for healthcare, housing and human needs,” said Juliet Thomas from Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO-DC).

“Today, July 4, also marks 80 years of semi-colonial oppression of the Philippines by America,” says Marcel Castro from Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN DMV). He condemned the U.S.-led Pax Silica initiative for increasing land theft and exploitation of Filipino workers, as the U.S. aims to control the semiconductor supply chain. “1600 hectares of land were offered on a silver platter to the U.S., which will displace peasant and indigenous people. Large-scale mining operations will destroy water sources and agricultural land. The Filipino people are not pawns and sacrifices for U.S.-led war!” Marcel concluded.

“Whether it's detention centers, war profiteers, or the daily oppression we face under this system, this week of action shows that the most exploited and oppressed are organizing to fight back. Our fight is to unite workers, migrants, and all people struggling for sovereignty and liberation!” said Liz Park, secretary general of the International League of Peoples' Struggle – US (ILPS-US).

#WashingtonDC #DC #July4th #PeoplesStruggles #AntiWarMovement #ILPS #Philippines

]]> https://fightbacknews.org/protest-at-white-house-on-july-4-against-250-years-of-exploitation-plunder-and Wed, 08 Jul 2026 15:20:25 +0000 Chicago Alderwoman Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez: ‘Why I stand with immigrants' rights activist Nadia Topete against grand jury repression’ https://fightbacknews.org/chicago-alderwoman-rossana-rodriguez-sanchez-why-i-stand-with-immigrants?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[ Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement by Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez, alderwoman, 33rd Ward, Chicago City Council. Last year, Donald Trump sent his ICE troops into immigrant and Latino communities across the country. I was physically assaulted by ICE in June when I advocated for my neighbors at an immigration facility. Protesting ICE is not a crime. That’s my response to news that Nadia Topete of Centro CSO in Los Angeles has been subpoenaed to a federal grand jury for a second time. !--more-- Nadia did nothing wrong. All she did was exercise her right to speak out against the violence being perpetrated against her Chicano and Latino immigrant community. I am from Puerto Rico, and the Puerto Rican movement has been subjected again and again to grand juries. We know that grand juries are a prosecutorial tool to produce indictments instead of justice. I understand this also could be an attempt to re-examine the case of Alejandro Orellana, another immigrant’s rights activist in LA who participated in the anti-ICE protests last year. Alejandro was charged with conspiracy to commit civil unrest. The false charges were later dropped. When I confronted ICE last year, I said, “We would do whatever we can to help anyone in need.” I took that stand a year ago; I take that stand today. #ChicagoIL #IL #ImmigrantRights #NadiaTopete #PoliticalRepression #CentroCSO #Featured div id="sharingbuttons.io"/div]]>

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement by Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez, alderwoman, 33rd Ward, Chicago City Council.

Last year, Donald Trump sent his ICE troops into immigrant and Latino communities across the country. I was physically assaulted by ICE in June when I advocated for my neighbors at an immigration facility.

Protesting ICE is not a crime. That’s my response to news that Nadia Topete of Centro CSO in Los Angeles has been subpoenaed to a federal grand jury for a second time.

Nadia did nothing wrong. All she did was exercise her right to speak out against the violence being perpetrated against her Chicano and Latino immigrant community.

I am from Puerto Rico, and the Puerto Rican movement has been subjected again and again to grand juries. We know that grand juries are a prosecutorial tool to produce indictments instead of justice.

I understand this also could be an attempt to re-examine the case of Alejandro Orellana, another immigrant’s rights activist in LA who participated in the anti-ICE protests last year. Alejandro was charged with conspiracy to commit civil unrest. The false charges were later dropped.

When I confronted ICE last year, I said, “We would do whatever we can to help anyone in need.” I took that stand a year ago; I take that stand today.

#ChicagoIL #IL #ImmigrantRights #NadiaTopete #PoliticalRepression #CentroCSO #Featured

]]> https://fightbacknews.org/chicago-alderwoman-rossana-rodriguez-sanchez-why-i-stand-with-immigrants Wed, 08 Jul 2026 12:24:57 +0000