Baltimore, MD – Dozens of protesters gathered on February 5 in downtown Baltimore to speak out against a possible U.S./NATO war on Russia and Donbass. Speakers called on the U.S. government to fight COVID and poverty instead of Russia.

Protesters chanted demands for money for social investments in healthcare, housing and jobs instead of the military budget and war. Cars honked their horns in solidarity as they drove by the picket. A caravan of protesters drove throughout the city after the initial picket, before meeting up with another group for a joint closing rally at a different intersection.

A coalition of local Baltimore organizations called for the protest, including the People’s Power Assembly and Maryland Peace Action. Organizers from Freedom Road Socialist Organization participated in the picket.

The United States has been aggressively posturing for war with Russia. The Biden administration recently deployed 3000 troops to Eastern Europe in an act of hostility toward the people of Russia, Ukraine and Donbass. Meanwhile, thousands of people continue to die from COVID each day in the United States – a country with no universal healthcare program – as public housing and other infrastructure continue to crumble.

#Baltimore #AntiwarMovement #NATO #Donbass #Biden

“Nobody can give you freedom. Nobody can give you equality or justice or anything. If you’re a man, you take it.” – Malcolm X

Each year pro-government organizations in U.S. release reports on human rights violations in other countries. These reports become basis of sanctions, military and social propaganda for foreign policy of the United States. Human rights are used as a trigger to push sovereign states, while mass media are preparing the society for “democratic” changes in their country.

It was like this in Ukraine, where up now the blood of innocent is being spilled. We see how human rights are being crudely violated in United States itself. Thanks to independent mass media and Internet, we can receive truthful information about the reasons behind the conflict.

The mass events of expressing people’s will in Ferguson have barely calmed down, when the fire of struggle got lit in Baltimore, where many U.S. citizens are undergoing repressions by law enforcement officers. When police arrests somebody, they use force in such way, that “suspects” usually suffer serious medical injuries. Federal government tries to convince international mass media, that Baltimore is a capital of poor and uneducated people, whom turned the area into criminal playground.

We know that in reality it’s a place where working class is living – regular citizens, struggling throughout their life, not criminals in any way. Criminals are sitting in Washington, DC, carrying the policy of lobbying oil and military corporations, in order to create even more wars. The whole world is tired of infinite conflicts, provoked by U.S. Government. Billions of dollars are spent for military operations and upholding of a huge army, while this money could be used to create new jobs or provide free health care. Put this entire immense budget together, and you could have yourself hundreds of factories, huge state hospitals, etc; but alas, U.S. Department of State and Obama administration spend this budget on arming law enforcement and the Army

One kills inside U.S., another – outside. That is the true face of US ‘democracy.’

Today we’re Rasmea Odeh, Mumia Abu Jamal, Konstantin Yaroshenko and others, who suffered the U.S. government repressions.

#Russia #AfricanAmerican #PoliceBrutality #Antiracism #AntiGlobalizationMovementAGM #Baltimore

Salt Lake City, UT – Freddie Gray committed no crime on April 12 when he was arrested by Baltimore Police Officers. Gray sustained a spinal cord injury and fell into a coma. He died on April 19.

Baltimore residents took to the streets in protest. After several days of curfew and repression from the National Guard, city prosecutor Marilyn Mosby announced criminal charges would be filed against six officers for the death of Freddie Gray. In a press conference, Mosby nodded to protesters, “I heard your calls of no justice, no peace.”

Despite rain, 200 people took the streets of Salt Lake City to show solidarity with Baltimore protesters. With Utah ranked as the third most dangerous state for police violence, people here are no stranger to the reality of police murders in America. Family members of police terror victims Dillon Taylor, Darrien Hunt and Corey Kanosh were present to condemn the racist violence against Baltimore protesters.

Those attending were encouraged to become active locally. Utah Against Police Brutality organizers urged those present to fill empty slots on the Salt Lake City police civilian review board as a first step towards a larger struggle of taking on the system.

Pratik Raghu spoke first, saying “As far as I’m concerned now, the people of Baltimore are strongly on the side of non-violence: that is, they are opposed to the vicious violence of a police force that is out of control, a state government that does not have their interests at heart whatsoever and a federal government that condemns their actions without adequately considering larger forces at play. Their resistance is fierce because they are fighting for nothing less than their community’s very survival. To condemn their anger and militancy, then, is to deny their right to exist.”

Fubuki Abe, of the group Stand For Queer Lives, spoke to the gathered crowd about the murder of transwoman Mya Hall by NSA cops in Baltimore. Abe emphasized the importance of keeping all Black lives visible. “During this movement, there have been less than subtle heteropatriarchal undertones, and if we are going to stand in unity to confront the face of white supremacy, we cannot turn a blind eye to the face of transmisogyny.”

Shekinah Stanton, from Salt Lake Community College Black Student Union, told people “This issue goes beyond a Black or white issue, this is an issue about our humanity. It's something we've lost along the way – that few still possess. We need a legal policy change, to truly make a difference that holds those in authority accountable. Community leaders, government officials and police chiefs need to sit down and have a conversation on how to make our communities communities and not war zones. And the conversation needs to happen yesterday.”

Nakita Swanigan spoke to the corrupt nature of policing in the U.S., stating “The institution needs to be torn down and rebuilt brick by brick because the foundation is wicked. Its foundation is wicked. Its foundation wasn’t built for me. It wasn’t built for you.”

Lex Scott, the president of United Front Party and member of Utah Against Police Brutality said, “Black men and women in this country are at a boiling point, we refuse to be silenced, we refuse to sit down, we will rise and remain risen. Let no one and nothing attempt to silence our beautiful rebellion.”

Scott led protesters in a chant she learned from her time in Ferguson, “Indict, convict, send that killer cop to jail! The whole damn system is guilty as hell!”

Gregory Lucero, speaking for the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, stated “What’s happening in Baltimore is not a riot, it’s a rebellion. It’s right for the people of Baltimore to rebel against the racist killer cops. It’s right to rebel against the economic system that has taken good jobs from Baltimore. It’s right to rebel against the government that continues to arm these killer cops, that has money for endless wars, but no money for schools, education and rebuilding Baltimore.” Lucero led protesters in chanting, “It’s right to rebel!”

Protesters also chanted, “You can’t respect us! You can’t protect us!” “Serve and protect, that’s a lie, you don’t care when Black folks die!” and “Black lives matter!”

#SaltLakeCityUT #PoliceBrutality #FreddieGray #Baltimore

“Black existence is revolutionary. Every inch you take up is space that is not occupied by white oppressors. Freddie Grey deserved to exist. This protest will bring more awareness of the genocide that is being committed against Black and brown people,” said Ellena Fisher, a member of BLACC.

The protesters took to the streets and blocked traffic, chanting: “Can’t stop, won’t stop, ‘til killer cops are in cell blocks,” and “All night, all day, we will fight for Freddie Grey”, in addition to other chants on their way downtown. They held signs reading “Jail killer cops” and “From Baltimore to Palestine, occupation is a crime.” Then, they marched to the state capitol building where several people gave speeches about the protests in Baltimore and police brutality. They also spoke about May Day and workers’ struggles, connecting the struggle for workers’ rights to the struggle for Black rights and the struggles of oppressed peoples worldwide.

“It’s important that we’re out on the streets and that we’re organized. When the Black masses assemble, the bourgeoisie tremble,” said Regina Joseph, lead organizer of the Black Liberation Action Coordinating Committee.

#TallahasseeFL #InJusticeSystem #Labor #StudentsForADemocraticSociety #MayDay #AfricanAmerican #PoliceBrutality #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganization #internationalWorkersDay #frso #Antiracism #BlackLiberationActionCoordinatingCommittee #BLACC #FreddieGray #Baltimore #TransLiberationFront

Tampa, FL – University of South Florida (USF) students rallied in solidarity with protesters in Baltimore, April 30. Over 100 students gathered at the USF library and marched to MLK plaza, chanting “No justice, no peace, no racist police.” Upon reaching MLK plaza, protesters formed a circle, while leading activists gave speeches. The speeches addressed the need to fight for justice in the face of police brutality. Many student speakers denounced the corporate media for lying and distorting.

Jared Austin of Tampa Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) said, “Today was a great day for solidarity on the USF campus in regards to the Baltimore movement that is currently sweeping the nation out of anger and frustration over the execution of Freddie Gray. Today shed light on the fact that the U.S. has long been in need of systematic reform of the racist police institution that has terrorized the Black community for too long. While today was certainly a step in the right direction, we as students need to continue our solidarity and struggle in this fight against racist police and these brutal killings as they happen in our own communities. It’s time to truly show that black lives matter!”

The Tampa police department is in the center of a controversy involving the persecution of African American bicyclists.

“Racism is ingrained into American culture and society, there is no tiptoeing around or reforming it. Law enforcement is no exception. We came together because we wanted to stand in solidarity with Baltimore's Black community and condemn what is one of the many every day realities that they face. If we don't stand together against these atrocities, then nobody will, it is not optional, it is our moral duty as fellow human beings,” said George Nasser, a student at USF.

More Baltimore solidarity protests are planned over the next few days.

#TampaFL #StudentMovement #SDS #PoliceBrutality #UniversityOfSouthFlorida #Antiracism #FreddieGray #Baltimore

Houston, TX – The spark that began last September in Ferguson is now a prairie fire in Baltimore. Like people in many cities, Houston activists held an anti-police brutality rally in solidarity with Baltimore, April 29. Over 50 activists gathered in Houston’s Third Ward, a predominately African American neighborhood, to denounce the crimes of the Houston Police Department.

As elsewhere in the U.S., there is a long and continuing history of African Americans being brutalized by a racist police force. From when the Houston Police Department assassinated Carl Hampton, a leader of the Black Panthers in the 1970s, to the recent murder of African American man Jordan Baker. The police murder African Americans in Houston and get away with it.

The Houston police tried to be intimidating at the April 29 protest, with over 200 police, horses, a paddy wagon and an entire command station. The police threatened to arrest anyone crossing a Highway 288 bridge and closed all the major side streets. Police even flew a helicopter around, trying to scare the protesters away.

The activists were not intimidated at all and confronted the police, chanting, “Hands up, don't shoot!” “Black lives matter!” and “Hey, hey, ho, ho, racist police have got to go.”

People in the community watching were very supportive, some joined the protest and others provided water for the activists. As the African American freedom movement builds momentum, there will be more protests in Houston.

#HoustonTX #PeoplesStruggles #PoliceBrutality #Antiracism #FreddieGray #Baltimore