Chicago, IL – On Wednesday, February 25, a coalition of organizations fighting for human rights and democracy in the Philippines rallied outside of the Philippine Consulate to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the ousting of Marcos Sr. and the People Power Revolution, to confront continued corruption in the Philippines, and to hold the Philippine Consulate accountable for its neglect of Filipino migrants.

“Imperyalismo!” “Ibagksak!” “Marcos mismo!” “Babagsak!”

“Imperialism!” “Will topple!” “Marcos!” “Will topple!” chanted protesters.

The action commemorated the 1986 People Power Revolution (EDSA), in which the Filipino people fought against corruption and ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos, whose rule saw grave human rights violations including extrajudicial imprisonment, torture, and the murder of 3240 Filipinos. Speakers emphasized that despite the ousting of Marcos Sr. in 1986, the struggle against corruption in the Philippines is ongoing and that collusion between the U.S. and Philippine government must end.

“Patience has never liberated a generation! Compliance has never protected democracy! Those crowds at EDSA were not waiting for permission, they flooded the streets!” declared a member of Anakbayan at UIC, a youth and student organization building international solidarity and fighting for the liberation of the Philippines.

Throughout the program, multiple groups performed songs about the struggle for national liberation in the Philippines. During one of the songs, Aklasan, the crowd was encouraged to sing along to the chorus:

“Bawat sipag, bawat lakas

Ay umaklas!

Diwang dungo’t ulong yuko’y

Itinayo

Ang maliit na ginahis

Ay nagtindig”

“Every effort, every force

Rose up!

Subdued spirits and bowed heads

Were lifted up!

The small that were subdued,

Stood up!”

Speakers from Malaya Chicago and Tanggol Migrante continued by uplifting the struggle for immigrant rights in the United States, citing the experiences of Filipino immigrants in detention who are experiencing medical neglect and incompetence from the Philippine Consulate.

One of the stories uplifted was that of Tita Rebecca, a 71-year-old Filipina grandmother who was held in ICE detention for nine months and repeatedly denied proper medical care or examination before being secretly deported without notice to her family. Throughout Tita Rebecca’s time in ICE detention, the Philippine Consulate proved to be unhelpful to her family and organizers, refusing to speak with her family and actively working with ICE to keep details of her deportation concealed.

“Lahat ng sangkot!” “Dapat managot!”

“Everyone involved!” “Must be held accountable!” chanted protesters.

Speakers also told the story of Chantal Anicoche, a Filipina-American youth activist taking part in an immersion trip who was kidnapped by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) following the U.S. backed bombing of the Mangyan people in Mindoro that killed five people. After a nearly month-long international campaign, Chantal Anicoche was freed and able to safely return home to the United States.

Organizers commenced the rally with more chants and a group photo.

“The people, united, will never be defeated!”

“El pueblo, unido, jamás será vencido!”

“Ang tao, ang bayan, ngayon ay lumalaban!”

Organizations participating in the event included Malaya, Migrante, Tanggol Migrante, Bayan, Anakbayan at UIC, Anakbayan Chicago, Philippine-U.S. Solidarity Organization (PUSO) Chicago, Chicago Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines (CCHRP), Anti-War Committee Chicago (AWC), and the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (CAARPR).

#ChicagoIL #IL #Anakbayan #Bayan #CAARPR #AWC #CCHRP #PUSO #International #Philippines

Chicago, IL – On January 8, Filipinos and allies gathered in front of the Consulate General of the Philippines to demand the release of Filipino American activist, Chantal Anicoche, and an end to the bombing of Mindoro.

On New Year's Day, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) conducted brutal raids and aerial bombings on indigenous Mangyan-Iraya villages, killing three children and displacing nearly 200 families. This style of military terror, backed by the United States, is a tool by big real estate and natural resource companies for land grabbing. It’s also an attempt to suppress the revolutionary people’s movements fighting against this consistent terror. Anicoche was caught in the crossfire and was kidnapped by AFP.

Progressive Filipino solidarity groups like Anakbayan Chicago, Kabataan Alliance-MW, Mayala, Chicago Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines, and more, spoke against the brutal bombings in Mindoro, and connected the struggle in the Philippines with that of the Palestinian people and the Venezuelan people. All show oppressed peoples fighting back against U.S.-backed war crimes, occupations and genocide. A member of Tanggol Migrante Chicago also gave an update of a local campaign to bring back home 70-year-old grandmother, Tita Rebecca, who was kidnapped by ICE.

Throughout the program, Filipino people’s artists sang songs and read poems to uplift the fighting spirit among the crowd. Speakers honored Anicoche’s dedication to fighting for her people. “Fight like Anicoche!” yelled a youth activist.

#ChicagoIL #IL #International #Philippines #Anakbayan #Kabataan #Malaya

Fight Back! News is circulating the following statement from the New Students for a Democratic Society at the University of Illinois Chicago (New SDS at UIC).

New Students for a Democratic Society at UIC is proud to announce that we’ve successfully pushed UIC administration to commit to increasing funding for all seven cultural centers on campus! In the era of Trump 2.0, this is an important victory in the struggle to defend diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education. When we dare to struggle, we dare to win!

There's no way around it – this victory is a result of the countless hours of organizing by the coalition of forces on campus fighting to defend the cultural centers. New SDS at UIC has been at the forefront of this fight since the launching of our campaign to increase funding for cultural centers earlier this Fall. We’ve maintained a strong pressure on UIC administration throughout the semester with days of action, protest rallies & marches, open-letter deliveries, petition signatures, coalition-building, speaking out at the Board of Trustees, meeting with administration, and much more.

We would like to salute the Centers for Cultural Understanding and Social Change (CCUSC) Student Workers Alliance, Anakbayan at UIC, Mexican Students de Aztlán (MeSA), Students for Justice in Palestine at UIC, and so many others for their solidarity with our campaign and outstanding organizing over the course of this semester. Without their efforts, this victory could not have been won as quickly as it was.

In a meeting with administrators a couple weeks ago called for by MeSA and attended by members of New SDS at UIC, Dr. Lionel Allen (Vice Chancellor for Equity and Diversity) and Dr. Michael Ginsburg (Special Advisor to the Chancellor for Student Affairs) acknowledged our organizing efforts and claimed that the seven cultural centers at UIC would be receiving increased funding sufficient to reverse the 5% budget cut previously carried out by UIC administration.

On top of this, Dr. Allen and Dr. Ginsburg promised a further increase in the operational budgets for the centers. This would secure the ability of the CCUSC to effectively operate the programming, events, space, and so much more that is near and dear to the UIC student body – something that was on the road to being slashed altogether by UIC administrators.

However, these UIC administrators were also strangely quiet on the details regarding the funding changes. So, we held a meeting with cultural center representatives. At this meeting, we confirmed the extent of our victory. While we know this is a clear win for our primary demand of the UIC administration to increase funding for our cultural centers, we also know that this fight is still ongoing.

We demand a clear statement from UIC administration that they will follow through with their promises! We will not stop fighting until all of our cultural centers – the Arab American Cultural Center, Asian American Resource Cultural Center, Black Cultural Center, Disability Cultural Center, Gender Sexuality Center, Latino Cultural Center, and the Women’s Leadership Resource Center – get what they deserve!

Join us this upcoming Spring as we continue this fight and bring our demands to the Board of Trustees meeting in Chicago on Thursday, January 15th! If you’d like to get involved with our campaign, please consider getting organized and attending one of our weekly meetings this winter break to help us secure this victory.

When Cultural Centers Are Under Attack – Stand up and Fight Back!

#StudentMovement #SDS #CulturalCenters #CCUSC #MeSA #SJPUIC #SWA #Anakbayan

Philadelphia, PA – On November 30, members of Anakbayan, the Filipino youth activist organization, hosted a fundraising gala. They were celebrating the five-year anniversary of their Philadelphia chapter.

Members and attendees gathered at the University of Pennsylvania’s campus to enjoy a program including a teach-in, music, drag performances and a competitive “Mx. Philly-pino” pageant. Funds went to Anakbayan and a relief fund for people displaced and devastated by the recent typhoons that hit the Philippines.

Since the founding of their chapter in 2020, Anakbayan Philadelphia has been tirelessly organizing and educating Filipino-American youth. They teach about general problems of Philippine society as a semi-colony of the United States. In addition, they explain the goals of the national democratic movement for complete independence of the Philippines. Anakbayan Philadelphia also leads the struggle against the particular repression that Filipino-Americans face as national minorities in the U.S.

One issue highlighted at the gala was the phenomenon of mass migration. Many Filipinos are forced to emigrate from their country. Most send a portion of their wages back home to their family due to the backwards economic and social conditions of the Philippines. A former colony of the U.S., the Philippines continues to be economically dominated by and nationally oppressed by the U.S.

Forced to leave their homes now for multiple generations, many Filipinos end up in the U.S. facing discrimination, low-wage jobs, and a broken immigration system. Especially sharp under the Trump administration are ICE and anti-immigrant attacks. The same Filipino-Americans forced to migrate to the U.S. by exploitation in the Philippines, are then punished in the U.S. for wanting to work.

In true contradiction to these harsh conditions, the gala was the perfect image of the Anakbayan’s warm comradery, clear militancy and genuine mass character. A plate of ube cookies baked by one of the members made the event feel especially welcoming.

The gala concluded with a satirical play, climaxing with the destruction of images of Philippine President Bong Bong Marcos Jr. and Vice-president Sara Duterte, both the objects of a recent wave of massive anti-corruption protests in the Philippines.

One refrain perfectly summed up the spirit of the night, its political clarity and optimism for the national democratic movement apparent, “The U.S. will never liberate the Filipino people! The Filipino people will be the ones to liberate themselves!”

#PhiladelphiaPA #PA #International #Philippines #Anakbayan

Chicago IL – 50 demonstrators rallied outside Chicago’s Philippine consulate for a People’s State of the Nation Address (PSONA), July 27. Filipino activists organized the PSONA to illuminate the real conditions faced by the Filipino masses a day before Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. delivered his SONA. Protesters demanded freedom for Filipino immigrants in the U.S. arrested by ICE, and an end to U.S. support for the Marcos regime.

“There was zero mention of Filipino migrant detention and deportation during Marcos and Trump’s meeting,” a said representative of the Malaya Movement. “From our local cases concerning Tita R and Tito E, to Max Londonio and Llewelyn Dixon across the country. All of their cases reflect a sad and contradictory reality for Filipinos who seek work abroad due to Marcos Sr.’s Labor Export Policy.”

Overseas Filipino workers make up the backbone of the Philippine economy and remittances from Filipino immigrants comprise 10% of the Philippines’ GDP. Across the U.S., they face intense forms of exploitation and now ramped-up ICE detentions and deportations.

“When we demand our democratic right to determine who polices our communities and how our communities are policed, we also demand the right to liberation for those under the boot of U.S. imperialism, from Palestine to the Philippines!” declared Alec Ozawa, a co-chair of the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (CAARPR).

“The Marcos regime’s collusion with U.S. imperialists to turn Subic Bay into a missile factory is a betrayal of the Filipino people,” said Hugo Gebner from the Anti War Committee Chicago. “This isn’t ‘self-reliant defense,’ it's a death trap designed to turn the Philippines into a staging ground for a U.S. war on China, while Filipino workers forge the very weapons that will slaughter Palestinians and others caught in Washington’s bloody proxy conflicts. Marcos isn’t defending the Philippines; he’s auctioning its sovereignty to line the pockets of U.S. arms dealers.”

Closing out the demonstration, a member of Malaya Chicago stated, “We demand the immediate release of Filipino migrants detained by ICE, including Tita R and Tito E! We demand the Philippine Consulate do their job and protect said Filipino migrants, and provide them with thorough assistance! We demand a Philippines that is able to provide for all of its people, instead of being stripped of its resources by the rich and powerful!”

The demonstration was organized by Malaya Chicago, Migrante Chicago, Anakbayan at UIC, Tanggol Migrante, and the Chicago Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines.

#ChicagoIL #IL #International #Philippines #SONA #Malaya #Anakbayan #CAARPR

Washington, D.C. — On Thursday, May 1, hundreds gathered in Freedom Plaza near the White House in celebration of May Day, International Workers Day. The event, hosted by Metro DC DSA and sponsored by Freedom Road Socialist Organization DC (FRSO DC), among others, called for “dignity, power, and a future for the many.”

The crowd included many organizations and contingents, such as the anti-Imperialist contingent formed by FRSO DC, the DC Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (DCAARPR), International League of Peoples Struggles Baltimore DMV (ILPS), Anakbayan DC, Anakbayan Montgomery County, and Migrante DMV. Their signs featured slogans such as “End U.S. militarization now!” “Fight for worker’s and immigrants’ rights!” and “Down with billionaires, we need socialism!”

“The people here today show the clear rising tide of workers who want a better future,” said Iain McNeely of FRSO DC, “When we fight, we win, and every day more and more people are answering the call and getting organized.”

The demonstration featured speakers voicing strong opposition to the Trump administration and his racist deportation policies, with chants of “The people, united, will never be defeated!” and “When immigrant rights are under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back!”

“The Philippians observe May Day as the real international workers day ” said Jhong Cruz, an organizer with Migrante, “we are fighting for a better society overall, with the working class at the core, and we want to fight for a society where many Filipinos like myself don't need to migrate to other countries in search of work.”

“There’s a willingness among people to explore more ideas that people maybe would not have thought of before because of the gross atrocities we are witnessing every day now,” said Christina Murdoch with DCAARPR, “We are unwilling to submit to pressure, and our instinct to seize this wave of struggle is necessary to take our movement forward towards a better future!”

#WashingtonDC #Labor #ImmigrantsRights #MayDay #FRSO #DCAARPR #NAARPR #ILPS #Anakbayan

Washington, D.C. — On April 30, over 30 Filipino and community activists gathered outside of the Embassy of the Philippines to celebrate International Workers Day and demand that the Philippine government stand up for Filipino workers in the US.

The action, which was one of many coordinated actions that day at Philippine consulates around the U.S., began with a small group of activists entering the embassy and attempting to deliver an open letter to Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez. When embassy staff refused to hear them out, the activists tried at the embassy annex across the street. Here, too, they were denied by staff, who shut the gate in their faces.

By this time a crowd of roughly 30 people had amassed outside the embassy, chanting “Romualdez! Do your job! Or! Step! Down!”

“The Philippine government has always bowed to the U.S.,” a member of Anakbayan DC, said in their speech. “The people in power have no problem ignoring the wellbeing of Filipinos if it means lining their pockets and making profit. The Filipino people are forced to migrate to the U.S. because of bureaucratic greed.”

A speaker from MIGRANTE noted, “Almost 10,000 Filipinos at this point leave the country to escape poverty and to make a living, however, we are here as proof that moving abroad is not the solution. Workers have no other choice than to stand together to unify their strength and change the system oppressing the ranks of our people. The oppressors built the chain, we will break it.”

This call for militant workers’ action was heard from other speakers as well. The speaker for the Justice for Jollibee Workers campaign said, “Just as workers before us fought for minimum wages, adequate hours, and occupational safety and health, we, even those non-workers, have a duty to continue the fight for workers’ rights everywhere, especially now when the new U.S. administration’s policies have a direct impact on workers.”

“We’ve witnessed firsthand the power of collective action,” they continued. “We must continue to educate and foster unity among our fellow workers to face the challenges ahead. We must take on the campaigns of our fellow workers, keep organizing more protests, keep speaking up, and keep calling out the matapobres or ruling class who continue to trample over our rights!”

In addition to general demands around migrant workers and other overseas Filipinos, the demonstrators made specific demands, that could be heard throughout the action and seen on signs including “Justice for Alma Bowman,” “Justice for Dhenmark and Jovi” and “Free Ligaya Jensen.”

#WashingtonDC #DC #ImmigrantRights #Labor #MIGRANTE #ILPS #Anakbayan #MayDay

Chicago, IL – On March 13, over 150 students, staff and faculty members at the University of Illinois-Chicago rallied in front of their administration building to protest budget cuts which threaten five majors, non-tenured faculty, and cultural programs. The emergency protest was called to demand funding for education and a “chop from the top” model, as inflated admin salaries were called to attention. The protest had support from a broad collection of student organizations, faculty and local activists.

Speaking on behalf of Student for a Democratic Society at UIC, Jeremiah Munoz kicked things off by stating, “Instead of cutting out classes, cut the bloated administrator salaries, not our education! Don’t play with our future for that bloated salary. Stop funneling money into police while students struggle to afford tuition. Invest in our cultural centers, our language programs, our communities—not in executives who do nothing but approve cuts to education while collecting a premium salary.”

Next was Liz Rathburn, a member of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, who stated, “UIC can find the money to advertise its diversity, it can find the money to raise the salaries of its admin, it can find the money to fund its own police force and it can even find money to buy new real estate, but when students and faculty need support, when it comes to funding what actually makes our university great, admin pleads poverty.”

Ending the rally on behalf of Students for a Democratic Society at UIC, April Rogers stated, “UIC is probably paying a lot to bring military recruiters on campus. They are probably paying a lot to have the CIA, the FBI, and even the State Department come to campus, as has happened multiple times since the start of the 2024-2025 academic year. UIC also gives millions of dollars to companies involved in the Israeli occupation of Palestine, including Boeing and Caterpillar. In 2023, this alone amounted to $21 million. Instead, UIC goes after cultural and language studies.”

Speakers from the Italian Club, Eastern European Student Association and Housing Staff United made it clear that the budget cuts are targeting the entire student body, and a cultural performance during the rally demonstrated the importance of preserving cultural studies and programs at UIC.

Although UIC administration forced the protest to move locations at the very last minute, students, staff and faculty remained undeterred. Despite the change in location, over 150 people marched through the campus chanting, demanding proper funding for education.

The protest was endorsed by Anakbayan, Sokoly, Housing Staff United, Eastern European Student Association, Italian Club, New Students for a Democratic Society. Students for Justice in Palestine, and the Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

#ChicagoIL #StudentMovement #SDS #Anakbayan #Sokoly #HousingStaffUnited #EasternEuropeanStudentAssociation #ItalianClub #SJP #FRSO

Washington, DC – On February 26, Wednesday evening, community organizers and activists gathered outside of the Embassy of the Philippines in DC to commemorate the 39th anniversary of the 1986 EDSA Peoples Power uprisings.

The action began with Tagalog chants of “Makibaka! Huwag matakot!” (Fight! Don’t be afraid!) and “From Palestine to the Philippines! Stop the U.S. war machine!” while speakers detailed the history of the EDSA uprisings and sacrifices of the Filipino people to oust the dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

Co-sponsoring organizations included the International League of Peoples Struggles Baltimore-DMV, Anakbayan DC and Montgomery County, Malaya Movement DC, and Katarungan DC.

After chants, a member of the DC Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression speaking on behalf of ILPS-DMV, stated, “The wave of political repression we’re seeing in the forms of ICE raids, police brutality, national oppression, and attacks on the rights of all oppressed peoples, draws parallels to horrors the Filipino people faced in their revolutionary struggle against the brutal dictator Ferdinand Marcos.”

The day before, Malaya Movement DC, in partnership with other organizations, held a panel discussion on the People Power anniversary at Cleveland Park Library. It included speakers from many Filipino organizations, as well as Tita Delia, an activist who organized during martial law in the Philippines.

Tita Delia spoke on how martial law and the decades- long occupation of the Philippines would not be possible without the backing and support of the United States government. When asked how Filipino consciousness has changed over the decades, Tita Delia answered that Filipino youth in particular are much more sensitive to gender and LGBTQ issues, but many are unaware of the fascist dictatorship that terrorized the Philippines, and that this is largely due to the Marcos regime’s revision of history.

A speaker from Malaya Movement DC also stressed the importance of the decades-long struggle waged by the New People’s Army in the Philippines in the countryside.

#WashingtonDC #International #Philippines #ILPS #Anakbayan #Malaya #Katarungan #NAARPR

Washington, DC — El viernes por la noche, 15 de noviembre, Anakbayan DC celebró su quinto aniversario con presentaciones culturales que incluyeron canciones, bailes, poesía, comida y más en la Universidad American.

Miembros de la comunidad, estudiantes y otras organizaciones, como Anakbayan del Condado de Montgomery, Movimiento Malaya DC, la Alianza de DC Contra la Represión Racista y Política, Occupation Free DC, entre otras más, también estuvieron presentes.

Armand Cuevas, un organizador con Anakbayan DC, comentó, “Anakbayan originalmente empezó en las Filipinas y el capítulo local de DC empezó en 2019, entonces tuvimos una noche cultural el 15 de noviembre para celebrar cinco años de excitando, organizando y movilizando nuestras comunidades locales. Esperamos muchos más años de unir a la juventud filipina y sus aliados locales, luchando contra el descuido del estado y el saqueo en las Filipinas, y poniendo fin al imperialismo estadounidense a través de nuestro trabajo aquí dentro la panza de la bestia.”

Anakbayan USA es una organización nacional de jóvenes y estudiantes filipinos luchando por la democracia nacional en las Filipinas. Los organizadores del evento declararon los tres aspectos que el Movimiento Democratico Nacional busca combatir en Filipinas son el feudalismo, el imperialismo y el capitalismo burocrático. Adicionalmente, un organizador de Anakbayan DC habló brevemente sobre su experiencia asistiendo un viaje de exposición donde viajaron a las Filipinas, se integraron a varias comunidades, y aprendieron de los organizadores en el terreno.

Cuevas declaró, “Anakbayan DC es una organización local de base anti-imperialista luchando por la democracia nacional en las Filipinas con una perspectiva socialista. Queremos ver una Filipinas justa y libre de intervención extranjera con un gobierno que sea realmente para el pueblo.”

#WashingtonDC #DC #International #Philippines #Anakbayan

Washington, DC – On Friday evening, November 15, Anakbayan DC celebrated their five-year anniversary with cultural performances including songs, dances, poetry, food and more at American University.

Community members, students and other organizations, such as Anakbayan Montgomery County, Malaya Movement DC, the DC Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, Occupation Free DC, and others were also in attendance.

Armand Cuevas, an organizer with Anakbayan DC, stated, “Anakbayan originally started in the Philippines and the DC localized chapter started in 2019, so we had a cultural night on November 15 to celebrate five years of arousing, organizing and mobilizing our local communities. We look forward to many more years of uniting the local Filipino youth and allies, fighting against state neglect and plunder in the Philippines, and ending U.S. imperialism through our work here in the belly of the beast.”

Anakbayan USA is a national organization of Filipino youth and students fighting for national democracy in the Philippines. The organizers of the event stated the three aspects that the National Democratic Movement aims to combat in the Philippines are feudalism, imperialism and bureaucrat capitalism. Additionally, an organizer from Anakbayan DC briefly discussed their experience attending an exposure trip where they traveled to the Philippines, integrated into various communities, and learned from organizers on the ground.

Cuevas stated, “Anakbayan DC is an anti-imperialist local grassroots organization fighting for national democracy in the Philippines with a socialist perspective. We want to see a just and free Philippines without foreign intervention with a government that is truly for the people.”

#WashingtonDC #International #Philippines #Anakbayan

Chicago, IL – On Thursday, August 29, New Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) started the week strong with a demonstration on campus, with about 90 students, demanding U.S. hands off Lebanon, an end of U.S. aid to Israel and to stand strong with Palestine.

Speakers from other progressive student organizations like Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) at UIC, and Anakbayan at UIC, also spoke. The rally strengthened the students’ message of funding for education – such as cultural centers and student resources – not for genocide, war and occupation in Palestine.

Jeremiah Munoz, a member of SDS, told the crowd, “Here at UIC, complicity in genocide is nothing new. The institution allows military recruiters on a campus supposedly dedicated to education; the same military who will not hesitate to bring on a major war in the interests of corporations.”

Munoz continued, “UIC receives millions of dollars from the Department of Defense to fund weapons research used to bomb people in Palestine. This university allows ROTC to operate, continuing to train a generation that will carry out agendas of suffering abroad on behalf of a military that has been engaged in warfare against the Third World for the majority of its existence.”

Munoz called for students to mobilize against the university’s support of Israel and for complete divestment from apartheid Israel.

Sathvik Gowda, speaking for SJP at UIC, stated, “This past week Israel has raided and attacked countless villages in southern Lebanon. On July 31, Israel struck and assassinated the Palestinian resistance leader, Ismail Haniyeh, within the capital of Iran. Irael has deliberately assassinated the main ceasefire negotiator of the Palestinian resistance.”

Gowda also pushed for the mobilization of students and the continuation of the student intifada here in the United States.

Gowda stated, “As students in the U.S., it is our obligation and duty to not only hold our government accountable for genocide, but also hold our universities accountable for aiding and abetting this genocide. SJP has tried for close to a year now to meet with administration around these investments; however they continue to refuse to,” adding, “It is clear, the students at UIC overwhelmingly support divestment. Now the question is to UIC admin, will they stand for genocide or liberation?”

Liz Rathburn, a member of Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO), gave a fiery speech on the power of the Palestinian resistance, stating, “The Al Aqsa Flood of October 7 was a shot heard around the world, one that has shattered the myth of the invincibility of the Israeli occupation forces.”

As the Palestinian resistance and people’s movement continue to build their unity and strength against the occupation, they’ve shown more and more a future reality of a liberated Palestine. In Gaza, the United States, and all around the world, the racist state of Israel continues to be pushed to defeat. And in reaction, it has intensified its genocide and its brutality against the Palestinian resistance.

Rathburn stated, “Now the Zionists are invading the West Bank and bombing south Lebanon. The U.S. and Israel have assassinated political leaders all over the region and have engaged in illegal acts of war by bombing Yemen, Iran, Syria and Lebanon. It is clear that it wants to start a wider war and bring in their patron, the U.S. empire.”

After the program, students marched around campus, with others joining the march as it went along. The march was also able to loop around UIC’s University Hall, where it was in sight and sound of the administration.

This first demonstration shows the continuation of the student movement here at UIC. It is still strong and daring to struggle, despite repression against the movement intensifying.

#ChicagoIL #IL #AntiWarMovement #Lebanon #Palestine #StudentMovement #SDS #FRSO #SJP #Anakbayan #Feature

Philadelphia, PA – Over 70 people took to the streets of North Philadelphia on May 1, International Workers Day. Community members and political organizations rallied together at the Philadelphia Peace Park, an area that has been liberated by the community from the Philadelphia Housing Authority’s racist management. It is now the site of a community garden where Peace Park volunteers are building a structure to hold community and educational events.

Although it is an international holiday and is more widely recognized in some countries than it is in the United States, the origins of May Day stretch back to Chicago in the 1880s. For over 100 years, May 1 has marked a day for the international working class to show solidarity as a class and support the rights of all.

The initial rally at the Peace Park stressed both the solidarity of those present in their fight against the oppressors and the memory of those fighters who live on through their contributions to the struggle.

The crowd formed up in the street and proceeded to the beat of drums to wave the red flag of socialism, the red, black and green flag of Black liberation, and the banners of embattled Palestine and the Philippines. Police shut down the roads three blocks in each direction of the demonstration as it moved. They marched chanting, “What’s the plan? Free the land! What’s the call? Free them all,“ to the office of the Philadelphia Housing Authority to deliver a statement demanding the deed to the land where the park is located. Marchers made it clear that Peace Park isn’t going anywhere and will not be surrendered back to the housing authority to be used for gentrification.

Organizers stopped two more times and took the mic to speak on imperialism, the history of Philadelphia, and the need for organization and solidarity in the international struggle against capitalism and national oppression.

Krystal Strong, representing Black Lives Matter Philly, spoke on the importance of organization and solidarity, stating “If you look at our history when we’ve been our strongest, when we’ve been the closest to liberation there's two things that we’ve done: the first is to join an organization, there is a place for every single member of our community, including the children, in our struggle; and we have connected across our organizations.”

Demonstrators finished their march back at the Peace Park where they shared a delicious and healthy meal.

Many organizations contributed to and supported the day’s events including the Philly Peace Park, We Charge Colonialism, African People’s Socialist Party, Philly Black Worker’s Project, Black Lives Matter Philly, Ubuntu Freedom, All-African People’s Revolutionary Party, Voices of the People Podcast, Anakbayan Philly with many others present including Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

#PhiladelphiaPA #PA #Labor #MayDay #FRSO #APSP #WCC #BLM #BWP #AAPRP #Anakbayan

Washington, DC — On April 25, at 5 a.m., students from Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapters from multiple DC universities took to George Washington University’s campus and started a Washington DC student encampment for Palestine.

George Washington University has been criticized for repressing its Palestinian students and their allies on campus while defending both on and off-campus Zionists. The university called the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) to intimidate the students and start the sweep of the encampment. The MPD then sent out a notice to all students ordering their dispersal at 7 p.m.. In response, the organizers in DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia) SJP made a call for increased community mobilization to stave off the police. Within a few hours, the DC community mobilized to support the encampment in the thousands. At its peak, around 2000 people were on campus at the event, chanting and supporting the students. University faculty and alumni from multiple DC universities formed a barrier between students and the police.

Because of this mass mobilization effort, 7 p.m. came and went; the police did not follow through on their dispersal order, instead waiting until late in the evening, when people had started to go home, to try to sweep the encampment.

As of April 26, the encampment is still standing, and the community continues to rally around the four demands of the students, which are for the university to one, disclose how their endowment is spent; two, divest from all companies and partnerships who participate in the colonization and ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people; three, defend Palestine activism which has been repressed and censored, and four, declare the Zionist occupation, colonization and ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people and the U.S.-Israeli genocide on Gaza illegal and indefensible.

There were many community organizations present, participating in teach-ins and protests, including the Palestinian Youth Movement, Anakbayan DC, the DC Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (DCAARPR), and many more.

A member of DCAARPR stated in their speech, “We are engaged in an act of rebellion. This moment of struggle on GW’s campus is a powerful thread in the worldwide struggle against Zionism and, by extension, American imperialism. The student movement has always been at the forefront of anti-imperialist struggles, and who has always been called as the first line of defense against them? The police!” This was followed by the masses of people chanting in unison, “MPD, KKK, IOF, they’re all the same!”.

The students continue to call for community mobilization and support in the D.C. area.

#WashingtonDC #StudentMovement #SDS #AntiWarMovement #International #MiddleEast #Palestine #DCAARPR #PYM #Anakbayan #GWU

Chicago, IL – Organizers with the Coalition to March on the Democratic National Convention held a press conference outside City Hall on Tuesday morning to speak out against the denial of their permit applications. The Chicago Department of Transportation gave the coalition an alternate route four miles away from where the DNC is scheduled to happen.

“We reject their decision because we have the right to voice the demands of the people within sight and sound of the DNC. We demand a permit to march as a gesture of good faith that the police will not introduce violence into our family-friendly protest.” said Jasmine Smith, a co-chair of the Campaign to Free Incarcerated Survivors of Torture (CFIST), which is a campaign of the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression.

“Many of the attendees of the DNC are responsible for or complicit in U.S. aggression against other countries including genocide in Palestine, police committing crimes with impunity, mass incarceration, deportations, neglect of LGBTQ and reproductive rights, undermining of workers’ demands, and other injustices against the people,” Smith continued.

“We all have the right to protest within sight and sound of the DNC, but right now, Palestinians should be afforded even more of this right, since the politicians that will be here, including Genocide Joe Biden, are the ones responsible for the almost 30,000 Palestinians who have been killed in Gaza by the U.S.-funded Israeli military since October 7,” said Nazek Sankari with the US Palestinian Community Network (USPCN)

Tthe Democratic Party base in Chicago wants a ceasefire, wants to see Israel stop the genocide, wants to see its nominal leader, Joe Biden, stop arming Israel and end U.S. aid to Israel,” Sankari continued.

“We want money for jobs and education, not for wars and occupation. From Palestine to the Philippines, we demand an end to the U.S. war machine,” said Diana Balitaan with Anakbayan Chicago, after explaining how Democratic Party politicians are allied with the reactionary Marcos Duterte regime in the Philippines.

“We’re demanding that the Democrats act and vote on our behalf, on behalf of asylum seekers and all immigrants,” said Maggie Lugo, executive director of the Federation of Michoacan Clubs. “We’re not asking, we're demanding what we deserve.''

“With or without a permit we are going to be out there. They can't stop u,” said Regina Russell, member of Mothers Advancing Movements for Abolition and Solidarity (MAMAS) in a written statement.

The coalition will be appealing the decision in court this week, but organizers emphasized that the mass movement will ultimately be responsible for winning the permit.

“This is not our first rodeo,” Joe Iosbaker with CAARPR said in reference to his and other coalition members’ experience organizing marches on NATO and the RNC, as well as mass rallies for all the fights coalition members are involved in.

Iosbaker continued, “We’re going to get a permit because the power of the people is stronger than the people in power.”

#ChicagoIL #PeoplesStruggles #UnitedStates #DNC #MarchOnDNC2024 #NAARPR #CAARPR #USPCN #CFIST #Anakbayan

Santa Ana, CA – On Wednesday, October 25, chants of “When people are occupied, resistance is justified!” and “Not another nickel! Not another dollar! No more money for Israel’s slaughter!” filled the streets of Santa Ana as over 50 people rallied outside the Ronald Reagan Federal Building to protest Israeli occupation of Palestine.

This rally occurred as part of a national student walkout for the following demands: for the University of California system to divest from weapon’s manufacturers arming Israel’s genocide in Gaza; for Israel to end its siege on Gaza, and for the U.S. to end its funding for Israel.

A representative of SoCal Students for Justice in Palestine put the bombing of Gaza in historical context, going back to 1948, when “the violent expulsion of indigenous Palestinian people displaced over 600,000 Palestinians.” She also called out the UC school system for its complicity in funding Israel’s genocide in Gaza, which includes the use of “internationally prohibited weapons such as white phosphorus shells and new chemical weaponry, burning victims beyond recognition.”

An organizer with the Stop LAPD Spying Coalition supported student demands for universities to divest from the weapons manufacturers that profit from Israeli occupation, stating, “These same weapons manufacturers produce tools to police and surveil our communities here and at the U.S./Mexico border.”

A member of Anakbayan Long Beach spoke in solidarity with Palestine, stressing that they support “the people of Palestine as they fight for liberation from the U.S.-backed Zionist settler-colonialist state.” The speaker underscored not only the U.S. role in maintaining the occupation of Palestine, but also of the resistance of the Palestinian people, who continue to “fight resolutely for their land and liberation, even in the face of the unrelenting Israeli military siege in Gaza.”

The rally concluded with chants such as, “From the belly of the beast! No justice, no peace!” and “Free, free, free Palestine!”

#SantaAnaCA #Palestine #SJP #Anakbayan

Chicago IL – On October 25, over 400 students at the University of Illinois Chicago walked out of their classes and rallied to demand that Israel end its genocidal siege of Gaza. The protest was coordinated with dozens of campuses across the country holding actions simultaneously.

UIC’s protest was called by Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), Students for a Democratic Society, Anakbayan, and Dissenters.

Activists led the crowd in chants of “There is only one solution, intifada revolution!” and “Not another nickel, not another dime, no more money for Israel’s crimes!”

The rally kicked off with speeches from faculty members Nesreen Hassan and Andy Clarno. Hassan emphasized the importance of faculty supporting students organizing to support Palestinian liberation in the face of repression, stating, “Students who speak for Palestinian rights are facing a lot, you’re being vilified by the media, you’re being attacked. But everyone is standing by you, the public is standing with you.”

SJP UIC President Jenin Zayed condemned the discrimination Palestinian students face from UIC administrators. During an informational Zoom call on the university’s study abroad program in Israel Palestinian students were denied access to the call until they changed their display names to white-sounding names like Hayley and Rebecca. On another occasion members of SJP had the police called on them for flyering against a Zionist speaker, this led to police grabbing one student by her hijab. Zayed denounced the racist actions of the administration and called on the university to cut its ties with Israel.

SDSer Angel Naranjo denounced the U.S. government's support for Israel’s ongoing genocide of Palestine, stating, “The mass murder of Palestinians is not an issue for Palestinians only. It’s not an issue for politicians only – and it can’t be – because many of them are also supporting the ongoing genocide of Palestinians. It’s an issue for everybody.”

Naranjo continued, “We must understand that we have way more in common with the Palestinian people than we do with many of our so-called ‘elected officials.’ In fact, we share a common enemy: the corporate Democrats and the reactionary Republicans of these United States. So my message to our ‘elected’ officials is stop calling the weapons that you are supplying these racists ‘aid.’ Stand with the Palestinian people if you are truly about justice!”

Naranjo ended in a message of support for the Palestinian resistance, stating, “In SDS we say dare to struggle, dare to win! But, we don’t gotta tell the Palestinians that, because they’ve been struggling their whole lives. And they will win!”

#ChicagoIL #Palestine #StudentMovement #SDS #SJP #Anakbayan #Dissenters

Salt Lake City, UT – On October 21, hundreds of protesters gathered at the steps of the University of Utah’s administrative offices in solidarity with the Palestinian resistance. Speakers condemned the University’s cooperation with Israel and called for the community to take action towards an academic boycott of Israel.

The action came on the heels of University of Utah President Taylor Randall’s noncommittal, pro-Israel statement concerning the attempted ethnic cleansing of the Gaza strip and the ongoing rebellion throughout Palestine.

Julio Irungaray, an organizer with MECHA at the University of Utah, said “There are no both sides to this genocide. The U.S. government should end aid to apartheid!”

Adrian Romero from Utah Students for a Democratic Society condemned the university’s study abroad program with Israel, saying, “By working with an Israeli university, the U is complicit in the atrocities against the Palestinian people. We demand that the U end this partnership.”

Protesters chanted “From Palestine to Mexico, all these walls have got to go!” and “Intifada, intifada!” as they marched to the Legacy Bridge over Mario Capecchi Drive, a major thoroughfare in northern Salt Lake City. Protesters waved Palestinian flags over the side of the bridge, and many passing cars honked in a show of support for the event.

The event was organized by MECHA of U of U, Utah Students for a Democratic Society, and Anakbayan Phoenix.

#SaltLakeCityUT #Palestine #StudentMovement #SDS #MECHA #Anakbayan

Celine Qussiny from Palestinian Youth Movement explained that Palestinians have a right to resist and respond to the ongoing Zionist attacks and occupation. “This escalation is a direct response to 75 years of ongoing Nakba and ethnic cleansing. The Zionist entity bears full responsibility for this escalation.” She ended her speech with “the struggle for Palestinian liberation continues and will continue until the complete liberation and return of our people!”

President Joe Biden has called the operation a terrorist assault and has stated that the U.S. is “ready to offer all appropriate means of support to the government and people of Israel.”

In response to these accusations of terrorism, John Nonato from Anakbayan University of California, Irvine and Bayan Southern California, stated: “We understand that it’s the U.S. imperialists that are the number one terrorists. The U.S. imperialists funding the IDF [Israeli Defense Forces], the occupation forces that are also training the armed forces in the Philippines to suppress our people. We have a right to resist – it is not terrorism.”

#AnaheimCA #Palestine #PalestinianYouthMovement #Anakbayan #Bayan

New York, NY – Starting the morning of Monday, May 9, Filipinos and allies across the tri-state area began hosting a vigil outside of the Consulate General of the Philippines. They committed to stay until the results of a historic election were announced.

The Northeast Vigil for Democracy was one of dozens across the U.S. calling for a fair election as Filipinos voted for a variety of different positions. All eyes are on the presidency as two main candidates fight it out – Bongbong Marcos and Leni Robredo. While Marcos ran on a robust social media campaign based on rewriting history of his family, Robredo brought forward the people in effort to affect positive change.

At 7 p.m. that day, a rally began with close to 100 protesters. Speakers from different organizations, such as BAYAN, Malaya, Anakbayan, and others spoke about the meaning of this election, and why it was important that all voted. A few of the speakers emphasized how this was an avenue to explore when it came to change, but regardless of the results it was important to continue organizing.

Jessica Schwartz from the New York Community Action Project gave a speech in solidarity, stating, “That is why those of us fighting against the police here must also stand with the national democratic movement of the Philippines. We have a shared interest in the overthrow of U.S. imperialism and freedom for the Philippines and all nations facing violence by the U.S. government. None of us will be free until all of us are free. Long live international solidarity!”

The rally ended in high spirits as protesters set up to keep vigil overnight.

Unfortunately, in the morning hours, the results showed that Marcos, who is guilty of massive election fraud, had won. However, this didn’t deter the protesters from keeping vigil outside of the consulate. They are currently still protesting and calling for justice and democracy.

#NewYorkNY #Philippines #BAYAN #ANAKBAYAN #NewYorkCommunityActionProjectNYCAP #Asia