Tampa, FL – Feb. 26 marked the one-year anniversary of Trayvon Martin's murder. Students and community members met in front of the student union on the University of South Florida campus demanding justice for Martin and an end to Florida's 'Stand Your Ground' Law. This law legalizes murder on the grounds of self-defense. The state government and judges use it to let white murderers go free for killing African-Americans and Latinos. The same is true for George Zimmerman, Trayvon Martin’s murderer, whose lawyers are attempting to get his charges dropped.
Gainesville, FL – On Feb. 26, University of Florida Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), allied with other student and community organizations, will organize a local action demanding justice for Trayvon Martin, a black youth who was brutally murdered by George Zimmerman in Sanford, Florida on Feb. 26, 2012.
Kansas City, MO – 600 students and youth attended the United We Dream National Congress here, the weekend of Nov. 30. These young leaders gathered to decide the direction that the immigrant youth movement will take in the wake of the 2012 U.S. elections. United We Dream (UND) is the largest national network of immigrant youth organizations, with 47 affiliates and thousands of members across the country.
Gainesville, FL – On Sept. 25, over a dozen Gainesville and Tallahassee activists packed the room during a University of Florida (UF) Student Senate meeting. The Dream Defenders were there to support a non-binding referendum calling for a name change of the Reitz Student Union. Students will have a chance to reject the current building’s name, which commemorates known racist and homophobe John Wayne Reitz, in favor of one that commemorates Virgil Hawkins. Hawkins was a Black civil rights leader who gained renown for his successful desegregation campaigns at Florida university campuses.
Anaheim, CA – Cientos marcharon hacia la sede de la policía de Anaheim el 29 de julio para protestar contra los asesinatos policiales de jóvenes chicanos. Los manifestantes enfrentaron a la policía con cantos, gritos y pancartas que denuncian estos asesinatos brutales y racistas. El Departamento de Policía de Anaheim (APD) ha llevado a cabo una ola de asesinatos de este año, mucho más que en años anteriores. Dos personas han sido asesinadas en la última semana. Los manifestantes se encontraron con una fuerte presencia de la policía militarizada que incluía policía a caballos, helicópteros, vehículos blindados y policías francotiradores. La familia de César Ray Cruz, asesinado por la APD en 2009, levantó una pancarta pidiendo justicia y un cartel con las fotos de otros nueve hombres asesinados por la APD.
Salt Lake City, UT – A dozen activists gathered at the Federal Building here, July 31, to demand the release of the Tinley Park 5. The Tinley Park 5 are anti-racist activists who were arrested and jailed after an alleged altercation with a white supremacy group, in Tinley Park – a suburb of Chicago.
Chicago, IL – Students in Chicago came together today to oppose the threatened Qu’ran burning by the Dove Church in Gainesville, Florida. As part of a nationwide response, Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) chapters from the University of Illinois-Chicago, Wright College and Columbia College joined together with others from Northeastern Illinois University, Northern Illinois University and the Palestine Solidarity Group.
Minneapolis, MN – More than 200 people came together for a rally here, Sept. 11 to speak out against a wave of anti-Muslim bigotry that has spread across the U.S. This included the threatened Qur’an burning in Gainesville Florida. The event also called for an end to U.S. wars and occupations being carried out in the name of ‘fighting terrorism.’
Gainesville, FL – Despite an announcement by Pastor Terry Jones that he will not burn Qur’ans Sept. 11, organizers of the counter-protest against racism and anti-Muslim bigotry say they will go ahead with their rally and march.
Say “No!” to anti-Muslim bigotry, racism against Arabs, and war!
Minneapolis, MN – Peace, social justice and other organizations will hold a rally on Sept. 11 in Minneapolis, on the anniversary of the 2001 attacks in New York and Washington D.C., to speak out against a wave of anti-Muslim bigotry that has spread across the U.S. in recent weeks. The event will also call for an end to U.S. wars and occupations being carried out in the name of ‘fighting terrorism.’
East Los Angeles, CA – December 11, 60 young people, activists and organizers, met at the kick-off conference against Proposition 21. The purpose was to plan the strategy and actions against the racist, anti-youth ballot initiative called the Gang Violence and Juvenile Crime Prevention Act (Proposition 21). Californians will vote on the measure March 7.