Fight Back! News

News and Views from the People's Struggle

AfricanAmerican

By Alyssa Ferris

Salt Lake City protest against police shooting of Abdi Mohamed.

Salt Lake City, UT – 1000 people rallied and marched Feb 29, demanding justice for Abdullahi Omar Mohamed, who was shot and severely injured the night of Feb. 27, near the homeless shelter. Abdi Mohamed, a 17-year-old Black youth, engaged in a confrontation with a much older white man. Mohamed had an aluminum broom stick when the police arrived. They demanded he drop the broomstick and before he had a chance to comply they shot him multiple times. This sparked a rebellion among the homeless who clashed with police, resulting in 100 officers, many in riot gear, clearing the street.

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By Jess Sundin

Jodie Carroll, Brettina Davis and Wesley Martin

Minneapolis, MN – More than 50 people descended on the office of Hennepin County Prosecutor Mike Freeman, Feb. 19, for the second Friday in a row, to demand that he prosecute Mark Ringgenberg and Dustin Schwarze, the Minneapolis police officers that killed Jamar Clark. Protesters addressed their demands to two staff members. Speaking for the Twin Cities Coalition for Justice for Jamar, Jodie Carroll presented the groups’ position and Brettina Davis asked where Mike Freeman was – apparently he was out sick.

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By Dan Sullivan

Black Lives Matter protest in Austin, TX

Austin, TX – Over 300 students and activists marched at a Black Lives Matter demonstration in Austin on Jan. 30. The large crowd of both students and community activists rallied at the University of Austin campus to hear speeches and then marched to the Texas state capitol building.

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By Vera Lynn

Houston protest demands justice for Sandra Bland.

Houston, TX – Over 60 people gathered in front of the library at the University of Houston, Jan. 29, to protest against police brutality and demand justice for Sandra Bland, an African American woman who was murdered at the nearby Waller County jail last summer. The protest was organized by Students for a Democratic Society and participants included members of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, the Houston Anti-War Committee, the Student Feminist Organization, the New Black Panther Party, Workers World Party and a few other groups.

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By Carlos Montes

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Los Angeles, CA – A contingent from the Boyle Heights-based Centro CSO received enthusiastic responses from the Black public at the annual MLK parade, which took place in the heart of the African American community. The delegation from Centro CSO carried a large banner reading “Dump Trump and right-wing racists.” Many in the large crowds applauded and chanted, “Dump trump now.” A CSO member carried a poster urging Black and brown unity.

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By Katherine Draken

FSU students demand justice for Tamir Rice and Sandra Bland

Tallahassee, FL – A group of students gathered on the Florida State University (FSU) campus, Jan. 12 to demand justice for victims of police murder, Tamir Rice and Sandra Bland. The students also demanded “No more grand juries – jail killer cops.”

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By staff

Minneapolis, MN – On Dec. 26, Mall of America (MOA) security approached a 14-year-old black girl about being present at the mall without an adult. After being told to leave MOA, the child walked around on the transportation platform and began trying to get change for $20 for bus fare. It was at that point that she was violently tackled to the ground by MOA security. The brutal encounter was caught on video by a passerby who happened to witness the incident.

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By staff

Minneapolis, MN – In an unprecedented attempt at halting the upcoming Black Live Matters Minneapolis gathering, the Mall of America has sued eight activists to compel them to immediately” post messages on social media and send out a mass text message announcing their Dec. 23 event is cancelled.

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By Brad Sigal

Dec. 19 march demanding justice for Jamar Clark.

Minneapolis, MN – Chanting, “If Jamar don’t get it, shut it down!” hundreds of people marched Dec. 19 in frigid weather from the Fourth Police Precinct in north Minneapolis to city hall demanding justice for Jamar Clark. Clark, a 24-year-old African American man, was shot in the head and killed by the Minneapolis police on Nov. 15 on Plymouth Avenue in north Minneapolis, sparking an 18-day encampment at the Fourth Precinct to protest his killing. Today’s march was the largest protest since police dislodged the occupation in front of the Fourth Precinct on Dec. 3.

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By staff

Black Lives Matters protest at Mall of America.

Minneapolis, MN – Black Lives Matters Minneapolis announced Dec. 17, that a #Justice4Jamar protest will move forward at the Mall of American in Bloomington, unless authorities release the tapes of Clark’s killing, prosecute the police by a special prosecutor without a grand jury, and bring federal terrorism charges against the white supremacists who shot protesters at the Fourth Precinct police station.

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By Chrisley Carpio

Tampa students drop giant banner in support of affirmative action.

Tampa, FL – On Dec. 3, a dozen University of South Florida students gave out hundreds of flyers and dropped a banner in support of affirmative action for African American and Latino students. As part of the National Day to Demand Affirmative Action called by the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), chapters held events calling for increased African American enrollment, a defense of affirmative action and an end to racist admissions policies.

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By staff

'Blacksgiving’ gathering at Minneapolis Fourth Police Precinct occupation

Minneapolis, MN – On Thanksgiving, Nov. 26, the round-the-clock occupation outside the Fourth Police Precinct in North Minneapolis continued demanding justice for Jamar Clark, the Black man killed by Minneapolis police on November 15.

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By Fight Back! Editors

The following editorial was distributed at the Nov. 24 protests in Minneapolis demanding justice for Jamar Clark. “The whole damn system is guilty as hell!” has been chanted at anti-police brutality protests around the country, and at the occupation of the Fourth Precinct in North Minneapolis this past week. It was proven true in the streets of North Minneapolis last night when white supremacists shot five anti-racist protesters in cold blood.

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By Jess Sundin

Minneapolis, MN – Some 3000 people marched two-and-a-half miles from the Minneapolis Police Fourth Precinct to City Hall to protest the police murder of Jamar Clark, and demand the prosecution of the police officers that were involved. The march from the Fourth Precinct started in the afternoon of Nov. 24. Protesters have been occupying the precinct around the clock since the killing on November 16.

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By staff

U of MN students rally against white supremacist shooting of Black protesters

Minneapolis, MN – 400 students at the University of Minnesota rallied Nov. 24 on Northrop Plaza in response to the prior night’s white supremacist shooting of five Black Lives Matter protesters in North Minneapolis. After the U of MN rally, they went together to the city-wide march for Justice for Jamar Clark, the Black man who was executed by the Minneapolis police a week ago, sparking an around-the-clock occupation of the front of the Fourth Police Precinct in North Minneapolis.

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By staff

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Minneapolis, MN – More than 500 protesters have gathered at the 4th Precinct Police station, shortly before 2:00 p.m., this afternoon, Nov. 24, to demand justice for Jamar Clark, an unarmed African American man killed by Minneapolis police. The number of demonstrators is growing rapidly.

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By staff

Jigme Ugen, vice president of SEIU Healthcare MN

Minneapolis, MN – On Nov. 21, more than 200 labor union leaders, members and supporters rallied to demand justice for Jamar Clark at the Minneapolis Police Fourth Precinct, where Black Lives Matter Minneapolis has held a constant presence all week.

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By Chris Getowicz

November 16: Protesters take over Interstate 94 in Minneapolis demanding justice for Jamar Clark, who was murdered by the Minneapolis police. Photos by Chris Getowicz.

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By staff

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Minneapolis, MN – Hundreds of protesters are standing strong at the Fourth Precinct Minneapolis police station on the night of Nov. 18, pressing the demand for justice for Jamar Clark. Police have fired a rubber bullet, known as a marking round, into the crowd and have been spraying people with pepper spray.

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By Manuel Berduc

Minneapolis, MN – Protesters gathered between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m. at the Minneapolis Police Department’s 4th Precinct, Nov. 16, where an occupation is underway to demand justice for Jamar Clark, a 24-year-old Black man shot while in police custody over the weekend. Led by Minneapolis Black Lives Matter, the occupation has been disciplined and well organized with water, food and shelter surrounding the front of the building. Protesters gathered around the fire as people began to arrive. Tensions began to rise early, as the rally began with the expelling of the “white media” demanding that oppressed nationalities be allowed to tell their side of the story.

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