Denver, CO — On April 3, about 60 protesters gathered outside the Colorado State Capitol to oppose the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Colorado’s ban on conversion therapy in an 8-1 vote. The action was organized by the Denver Coalition Against Trump and Bread and Roses Legal Center.

Conversion therapy, widely regarded as a pseudoscience, is the practice of attempting to change a person’s gender or sexuality to cisgender or heterosexual norms. This often happens against the subject’s will and it has been shown to be highly ineffective, often causing psychological harm and effects such as significantly higher mental health disorder rates and higher suicide rates. Conversion therapy practices range from the seemingly innocuous, like talk therapy, to cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, including treatment many experts would consider to be torture.

More than 20 U.S. states have banned conversion therapy for minors, and Colorado banned the practice as a whole in 2019.

Kacey Hicks of Denver Students for a Democratic Society, who emceed the action at the capitol, told the crowd, “This attack is just one of many carried out by the Trump administration and its allies on queer and trans people. It is one of many attacks used to try to make trans and queer people afraid while our rights keep getting stripped away.”

The crowd outside the capitol chanted “Donald Trump, let’s be clear, trans folks are welcome here!” and “Donald Trump, go away, trans folks are here to stay!”

After hearing speeches, the crowd took the streets of Denver. The protest leaders got on the back of a truck to continue chants throughout Capitol Hill, a neighborhood considered Denver’s main LGBTQ hub. Throughout the march, the crowd was cheered on by passersby in the local queer-owned businesses as they halted Friday night traffic.

After the protesters marched back to the capitol, Katherine Draken, a member of Teamsters for a Democratic Union gave a speech. Draken said, “It deserves to be repeated that conversion therapy has been thoroughly discredited! Doing conversion therapy on transgender children is child abuse!”

The protest closed out with more speeches, closing remarks, and chants calling for trans liberation.

#DenverCO #CO #LGBTQ #SupremeCourt #SCOTUS

Colorado Springs, CO – On April 1, the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) was joined by Colorado Springs faith leaders and community organizations outside of anti-LGBTQ counselor Kaley Chiles’ office to condemn her litigation against Colorado’s “conversion therapy” ban and the 8-1 Supreme Court ruling.

Faith leaders included Reverend Josh Rumple of First Congregational and Pastor Amanda Udis-Kessler of Vista Grande United Church of Christ, both progressive churches in Colorado Springs respectively.

The Supreme Court ruling overturning Colorado’s ban on “conversion therapy” came on Trans Day of Visibility and is a continued escalation from the Trump administration against LGBTQ rights and protections. The case's primary litigant, Kaley Chiles, is a known bigot who works at Deeper Stories Counseling in Colorado Springs and worked with conservative law firm Alliance Defending Freedom”

Several community members shared speeches to a crowd of about 50 that condemned the Supreme Court's decision. “Claiming that conversion therapy is free speech is like calling a noose neckwear,” said Genevieve Richard of the FRSO. Lenny Lorenz, a college student and organizer with New Era Colorado College said, “The Supreme Court’s decision sets an alarming precedent that leaves queer youth open to dangerous and discredited practices.”

The crowd stayed strong despite rain and light hail. Chants rang loud through Cascade Avenue, “We won’t go back! These queers bash back!” and “We’re here! We’re queer! We won’t disappear.” Anger and a determination to fight back filled the air and everyone’s faces.

#ColoradoSpringsCO #CO #LGBTQ #SupremeCourt

Englewood, CO – On April 1, teachers and faculty across five schools of the Sheridan School District went on strike demanding union recognition and the reinstatement of their contract. Over 100 teachers, faculty and community members walked the picket lines demanding that the school district come back to the table for negotiations.

Tensions rose earlier this year when the school district passed a policy that stated they would not recognize staff without licenses in the union. That means school custodians, paraprofessionals on staff, bus drivers – workers who all keep the district’s schools running and operational – were not able to join. When contract negotiations fell apart, 98% of members voted to strike. While the Sheridan School District initially claimed that schools would stay open while the strike was ongoing, the school district was forced to cancel classes through the end of the week due to low staffing.

Kate Biester, president of the Sheridan Educators Association, reflecting on the start of the strike, said, “When we lost our contract for the teachers, it also lost what the district was giving in good faith to the rest of their workers – and we decided that wasn't good enough anymore. And we need to fully enfranchise all of the workers in our school district and give them all bargaining rights.”

According to the union, students and the local community have been very important every step of the way. Earlier this year, high school students in Sheridan School District walked out in support of the teachers, and elementary school students helped chant alongside their teachers.

“There's always been kind of like an undercurrent of community members, parents, students, really trying to make significant change in this community,” Biester said, ”And I feel like right now it's just all coming to a head, all the work we've done in different spaces over the last few years is showing up all at once.”

On day two of the strike, organizers hosted a car rally, driving by the district’s administration building with a truck from members of Teamsters Local 455 leading the way in solidarity.

Members of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) showed up in solidarity as well, decorating cars for the car rally. Circe Conway, an FRSO general member and former Starbucks Workers United organizer pointed out, “The more people that join the union, the more people that are eligible for and benefit from the union, the more powerful it’s going to get, and that builds a lot of worker power.”

After the car rally, workers went back to their strike shifts one more time before closing the day out in high spirits.

#EngelwoodCO #CO #Labor #Sheridan #Educators #Strike #Featured

Denver, CO – On Saturday, March 28, over 20,000 people showed up at the steps of the Colorado State Capitol to protest the Trump administration’s continued attacks on oppressed people and to demand an end to foreign wars. The day’s program included speeches as well as live music from Colorado Singing Resistance, Los Mocochetes, Brothers of Brass, and Notes of Dissent. The event, the third of its kind, was organized by a coalition of grassroots organizations, including Denver Coalition Against Trump, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Aurora Unidos CSO, Indivisible, and various labor unions.

Trump’s first year back in office has seen increased ICE attacks resulting in the kidnapping of community members. Laws passed by reactionary politicians have pushed back women’s, LGBTQ, and civil rights by decades in some instances. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has kidnapped Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, launched a war in Iran, and tightened its sanctions and blockade of Cuba. All of this, in addition to many other grievances, was aired by the protesters during the event, which lasted all afternoon.

Protesters began pouring into the capitol grounds around noon. Grassroots organizations set up tents and tables around the pavilion to share educational material and opportunities for organizing. The event was kicked off with short protest songs and a series of speeches by members of the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition, Rocky Mountain Equality, the ACLU, Colorado Education Association, and Rise and Represent.

“We are here to send one clear message: that the years and decades of exploitation and abuse by the billionaire class, the capitalist class, the Epstein class, on our communities must come to an end today,” said Kooper Karaway, executive director of Colorado Education Association.

After the initial rounds of speakers, two marches started. Chants filled the streets of downtown Denver as tens of thousands of protesters marched past places of business and recreation. People watched from the balconies of their apartments, cars honked in support, and Brothers of Brass kept spirits high.

After the two marches, there were more speeches back at the Colorado State Capitol.

“Here’s the good news: this war against the people of the world is not one-sided. There is widespread resistance, both here at home and all over the world.” said Shaine Carroll-Frey of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization. “One year ago today, Jeanette Vizguerra was detained over in Aurora by ICE. Where is she today? She’s here with us! We did that! With constant vigils, weekly vigils and protests, we freed Jeanette! That’s what organized people power looks like – that’s what organized worker power looks like.”

“We win when we all get into the struggle. We win when we let go of our fear.” said Jade Kelly, president of CWA Local 7799. “If you leave No Kings today remembering only one thing, remember the simple truth: that we already have the power as working people. We built this world. We keep this state running with our labor. And we have the power to build a better world. We just have to organize to get it.”

#DenverCO #CO #NoKings #PeoplesStruggles #AntiWarMovement #Labor #ImmigrantRights

Denver, CO – On Wednesday, March 11, Denver Students for a Democratic Society (Denver SDS) rallied to demand that the Auraria Higher Education Center (AHEC) – the owner and manager of the Auraria campus and all its buildings — ban ICE from campus.

The crowd of students gathered outside the Physical Education building and marched around the Tivoli Quad, chanting, “What do we want? ICE off campus! When do we want it? Now!” and “Skip Spear, can’t you hear? We want ICE out of here!”

During the spring 2025 semester, the Auraria Board of Directors passed a policy detailing what would happen if ICE is confirmed to be on campus. However, the policy does nothing except restate current state law regarding any federal agent activity: the Auraria Campus Police Department won’t interfere with any ICE or DHS operations, and the only requirement of ICE agents is that they have a judicial warrant.

ICE and the DHS are also allowed to teach in Auraria classrooms and recruit at job fairs, and have done so in the past, endangering immigrant students.

Nels Pine, a member of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, stated, “The problem is that ICE is coming on to campus, the same force that’s killing people in Minneapolis, and detaining people in Aurora right here in our community.”

While other multicultural student organizations at MSU Denver and CU Denver share Denver SDS’ concerns about AHEC’s passivity, students are confident in the campus community protecting each other.

“There is beauty in being one of Colorado’s schools with the most diversity, and they’re here to attack them,” said Aya Sharia of the Sudanese Student Union. “The cowards of border control will never know what it’s like to have a community that sticks by your side.”

The fight against AHEC’s refusal to protect the Auraria immigrant student population will continue on campus and at future board of directors meetings.

#DenverCO #CO #ImmigrantRights #StudentMovement #SDS

Greeley, CO – JBS Greeley workers are starting the first weekend of their strike strong, with over 1000 picketing outside the meatpacking plant on March 20.

United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 7 union members and JBS workers alike wrapped around the block outside the JBS factory on Friday. People crowded along the barrier on 8th Avenue and danced to music in Spanish and English, forming conga lines with supporters and strike marshals.

In December 2025, Haitian immigrant JBS employees, who comprise a large number of night shift plant workers, filed a class action lawsuit against the meatpacking company for dangerous working and living conditions, after being recruited under false pretenses.

When they were hired, JBS promised free housing and fair pay; instead, Haitian employees had to pay out of pocket to live with 20-30 people in a single motel room and get paid meager wages to meet dangerously high processing quotas.

Since the lawsuit was filed, conditions have only gotten worse. JBS has sped up production for members across the factory – so much so that employees aren’t getting the 40 hours of work a week that they were promised, according to a shop steward. Workers also must use dull knives to cut beef.

UFCW Local 7 has been negotiating with JBS since May 2025, and their contract ended in July. After nearly ten months of unsuccessful negotiations, over 90% of all workers in the plant voted to strike, which began on March 16.

Hundreds of non-workers and their families have also shown up to support the struggle against JBS.

“I was taught growing up, you pick a side and stand with it and that’s what I’m doing,” said one of the political coordinators of the strike, “fighting along my brothers and sisters who don’t have the support structure I have, but deserve a chance at the American dream.”

#GreelyCO #CO #Labor #Strike #UFCW

Greeley, CO – On March 16, 3800 members of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 7 went on strike at the JBS meatpacking plant in Greeley, Colorado. The union members walked out of their shift at 5:30 a.m. to picket the plant.

This strike marks the first time in over 40 years that workers at a major meat packer went on strike for a better contract. This came after management’s final offer of a 30-cent raise, with 22 cents going towards healthcare benefits. Workers were dissatisfied with all offers from the company’s side, and 99% authorized to strike.

At least 1200 members walked the picket line the morning the strike started. Chants were being yelled out to the crowd, including “When we fight, we win” and “Sí se puede.” Union staffers and organizers kept members in high morale with hand warmers and water, and kept the crowd organized with megaphones, directing members to strategic areas around the plant.

Leticia Avalos, a member of UFCW Local 7, said, “Most of all, the strike is to make a statement to the company, that their members are tired of the mistreatment that they get – because not only is it in the contract or some safety issues they [the company] have been doing, but also the treatment that [workers] get. They get yelled at, they’re told that they have to wait to go to the restroom, and when you have to go you have to go.”

Members also cited other issues of safety, including a short supply of safety equipment supplied by the company with members having to purchase it themselves to stay safe.

Katherine Draken, of Freedom Road Socialist Organization, attended the event in support of the striking workers. Draken said, “These workers have shown incredible militancy rejecting JBS's pathetic contract proposal. Everyone who supports worker power and militancy should be out here to support this.”

Another supporter of the strike, Salem Chadwick, a member of Teamsters for a Democratic Union, said, “The JBS fight is connected to our fights. When we see unions win big, it inspires workers all over to fight the boss and win too.”

At 1:30 p.m., members switched shifts, with the second shift of strikers holding the line until 10:30 that night. Spirits were high on day one of the strike.

#GreelyCO #CO #UFCW #Labor #Strike #Featured

Colorado Springs, CO – On March 8, the Colorado Springs Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (COSAARPR) and the UCCS Feminist Club gathered at Colorado Springs City Hall to stand in solidarity with women impacted by repression, including abuse, police violence, and ICE deportations and harassment.

Around 100 people gathered at the rally, eager to show solidarity with survivors, support women’s liberation, and stand together against violence and oppression. Throughout the event, attendees shared conversations, resources, and messages of support, creating a sense of unity and shared purpose.

Recent events also helped motivate community members to attend. Ongoing public attention surrounding the abuse and exploitation linked to Jeffrey Epstein has renewed conversations about systemic failures to protect victims of sexual violence and hold powerful figures accountable. Locally, community members have also pointed to the case of Micaela Pasillas, a survivor of domestic violence who was shot multiple times by police in Colorado Springs while attempting to escape an abusive partner. Organizers said these national and local incidents reflect broader concerns about violence against women.

“The violence perpetuated onto women is inseparable from the violence, policing, incarceration, and imprisonment of all oppressed peoples. The fight for female rights is the fight for liberation for all,” said Memphis Curry of COSAARPR. Curry also called on participants to continue organizing beyond the rally, reminding the crowd, “This fight is up to us; the responsibility does not fall on some imaginary hero.”

“When there are folks who are oppressed, dehumanized, and erased, we must shatter those chains because a blow to one is a blow to all,” said Sparrow McKinney of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

Community members later marched from City Hall to the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, chanting anti-ICE slogans and calling out Sheriff Joseph Roybal for cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Demonstrators gathered outside the sheriff’s office to voice opposition to ICE activity in the region and demand greater protections for immigrant communities.

Many carried signs reading “Stand with immigrant women” and “Stand with women impacted by police violence,” highlighting the rally’s focus on solidarity with those most affected by state violence. Protesters also led chants including “Stop the deportations, no family separation,” “From Minnesota to the 719, observing ICE is not a crime,” “They say no choice, we say pro-choice,” and “Donald Trump, you can’t lie – because of you women die.”

After the demonstration outside the building, the group marched back to City Hall, continuing chants and carrying signs in support of women’s liberation, immigrant rights and community safety.

The rally was organized as a coalition effort, with a wide range of organizations including About Face, BREAD Book Club, Colorado Rapid Response Network, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, General Strike Colorado, La Casa Colorado Indigenous Brown Berets, and the Pikes Peak Justice & Peace Commission.

#ColoradoSpringsCO #CO #InternationalWomensDay #WomensMovement #ImmigrantRights

Colorado Springs, CO – On February 25, the Colorado Springs Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (COSAARPR) gathered with the family of Alex Martinez-Sarmiento in front of the 4th Judicial District Attorney’s office to demand justice for Alex, and that DA Michael Allen move to indict his killer, officer Connor Jacob Wallick. Over 20 people gathered, including several of Alex’s siblings, nieces and nephews, friends, his mother, and his young daughter who is now growing up without her dad.

On July 5, 2025, CSPD’s Downtown Area Response Team responded to a call about a conflict outside of busy nightclubs at around 1 a.m. Based on surveillance footage from the Real Time Crime Lab, responding officers believed Alex Martinez Sarmiento was armed. When officer Connor Wallick approached with his gun drawn, yelling “Get your fucking hands up,” Alex, who did not have a gun in his hand, ran in fear and Wallick opened fire, shooting Martinez Sarmiento in the back several times and ultimately killing him.

This was the second instance of the Downtown Area Response Team fatally shooting someone in the back in the span of a few months – Nathaniel “Johnny” Altman, a disabled Black man experiencing homelessness was also shot in the back and killed by DART officer Carlos Pittman on March 31, 2025.

The group held banners calling for Connor Wallick’s indictment and Justice for Alex, one with a painted portrait of Alex, as well as picket signs with messages like “Justice for Alex Martinez! Indict Officer Wallick now!” “Blue lives murder!” “Justice for victims of police violence,” and “wanted” signs with Connor Wallick’s photo and a description of his violent and racist patterns of behavior.

The group chanted “Alex Martinez deserves to be alive! Connor Jacob Wallick deserves to rot in jail,” “No justice, no peace! No racist police,” “Connor Wallick we see you – racist, coward, killer too! DA Allen we see you – on the Brady List too,” and “When killer cops are on patrol, what do we need? Community Control!” to the beat of a drum.

Alex’s sister, Saray Rocha told the crowd, “My brother was always tough. Even as a little boy, he was never afraid of anything. That’s why it hurts so much knowing he ran because he was scared to go back to jail. He didn’t run because he wanted to hurt anyone, or because he wanted to die, he ran out of fear. I demand justice for my brother and I won’t stop until justice is served!” The group responded to her speech and tears with a resounding chant of “We love you, we we love you!”

COSAARPR chair Brandon Rincon highlighted Wallick’s pattern of racist policing, noting that “Connor Jacob Wallick had history of harassing Latinos and Chicanos, he’s famously known for arresting Club Q hero, Rich Fierro, put him in the back of a police car while he put the actual killer, Lee Anderson Aldrich, in an ambulance with victims.”

Rincon also spoke on the need for community control of the police, asserting that “We should have a mechanism for the people, by the people, that allows us to hold officers accountable when they wrong their communities. We deserve a say in how our communities are policed, and we deserve a say in who polices our communities, and we know damn well we don’t want Connor Jacob Wallick policing us anymore!”

#ColoradoSpringsCO #CO #InjusticeSystem #KillerCop #COSAARPR

Denver, CO – On Sunday, March 8, International Women’s Day, over 200 people gathered at the Colorado State Capitol for a rally and march to celebrate the ongoing struggle for women's liberation.

The event comes in the midst of increased ICE presence, U.S.-Israeli military operations in Iran, the U.S. blockade of Cuba, and U.S. military interventions in Venezuela and elsewhere.

“Women’s oppression under capitalism takes on many forms, but across the world we are seeing women's struggles of resistance,” said Katherine Draken of FRSO, “We see the women of Gaza fighting back against a U.S.-funded genocide. We see the women of Venezuela bravely standing up to U.S. imperialism to defend the Bolivarian Revolution even as Maduro and First Lady Flores were abducted. We see the women of Cuba fighting back against a U.S. embargo and blockades. We see the women of Iran fighting back against U.S. warmongering after the U.S. bombed a girl’s school and slaughtered 168 children.”

Close to 70,000 people are currently held in ICE detention centers, and ICE is no longer required to report gender-based demographics. Multiple complaints filed with various human rights organizations have alleged sexual violence and torture against women at these facilities.

“We will stop at nothing until we get justice for our sisters and siblings. When ICE comes into our streets, we will stand with immigrant women and say, ‘No more ICE!,’” said Kacey Hicks of SDS.

ICE policy states that “ICE should not detain, arrest, or take into custody for an administrative violation of the immigration laws individuals known to be pregnant, postpartum, or nursing” except in exceptional circumstances, but this policy is routinely ignored.

A march through downtown Denver came after the initial round of speakers, the voices of the protesters ringing out down the 16th Street Mall, in front of the Federal Courthouse, and outside the Customs House. Chants about women’s liberation, trans liberation, Palestinian liberation, and an end to the war in Iran echoed off the concrete and glass.

The final speaker of the rally, Z Williams of Bread and Roses Legal Center, stated, “It's time we unite now. Join one of the organizations here, join a consolidated organized struggle and fight for your neighbors, fight for your siblings, and fight for yourselves!”

Members of over a dozen organizations, including Aurora Unidos CSO, Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO), the US Palestinian Community Network, Denver Anti-War Action, and the Denver Aurora Community Action Committee came together for this event.

#DenverCO #CO #InternationalWomensDay #WomensMovement #ImmigrantRights

Colorado Springs, CO – On March 1, the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) organized a protest over 150 people at Colorado Springs City Hall to demand an end to all military action against Iran.

Protesters chanted, “Hands off Iran,” “Donald Trump, CIA, how many kids did you kill today?” and “No boots on the ground, no bombs in the air, US out of everywhere!”

“How dare [Trump] act like he has the moral high ground when this is his second extrajudicial regime change in as many months?” asked Rowan Mayfair from AFVAW. Veterans make up around 15% to 17% of the population of Colorado Springs.

Brianna Campbell of Colorado Springs Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression told the crowd, “Can we blame the Iranians for turning to Khomeini, who promised independence and dignity after what we had done to them? Can we blame the Iranians for even storming the U.S. embassy? Can we blame the Iranians for shouting ‘death to America’ after what we have done? No!”

The action ended with a speech from Jessie Proffitt of the FRSO, who stated, “This is a war for control and for profit, for an empire that is clinging onto its waning power, one that is willing to make the people pay any price to hold onto it. Long gone are the days of unchallenged U.S. dominance.”

Proffitt concluded, “It is time to make the U.S. ungovernable. We reject a future of blood and fire and we assert a future for workers, for socialism. If you want to help us fight for that future, to fight for revolution, join us in FRSO. If you want to fight for any future, join an organization today. The one thing the billionaire class fears more than losing control is the millions united in action.”

About Face Veterans Against War (AFVAW), 50501, Pikes Peak Justice and Peace Commission (PPJ&PC), and the Colorado Springs Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (COSAARPR) endorsed the action.

#ColoradoSpringsCO #CO #AntiWarMovement #FRSO #Iran

Denver, CO – Around two dozen activists in Denver gather in front of Colorado Senator Michael Bennet’s office to demand that he oppose Trump’s recent escalations against Cuba and that he support the release of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores.

The rally was called by Denver Anti-War Action (DAWA) in response to a national call for a day of action from the Anti-War Action Network, addressing the urgency in resisting Trump’s attacks on Venezuela, Cuba and Iran.

Protesters gathered in front of the building and occupied the space right next to Speer Boulevard during rush hour, allowing thousands of cars driving by to see banners demanding “No war with Venezuela” and “Reel in Trump.” Members of the crowd held Cuban and Venezuelan flags as well as signs to show solidarity with the countries under attack. DAWA members spoke out against Donald Trump’s actions and the disastrous effects they have had so far.

Salym Mead of DAWA told the crowd, “In the early morning of January 3, 2026, the United States forces launched an aggressive, illegal and large-scale attack on Venezuela. During the attack, 83 people were killed and more than 112 were injured. The U.S. forces then kidnapped the president and his wife.”

Mead contined, “Since the abduction, the United States has been controlling the Venezuelan people’s oil, stealing 50 million barrels for themselves, and shipping more to Israel to continue their genocide of the Palestinian people. Cuba – who heavily relied on Venezuelan oil – has been affected greatly by Maduro’s abduction.”

Born and raised in Cuba, Dailyn Briñas with Cuba Sí Colorado said, “Most of my family in Cuba is living without power for 12-plus hours, with rotting food, little to no medicine and are missing basic supplies.”

Briñas continued, “The oil siege that has been employed recently has made transportation in the country virtually impossible.” This has resulted in produce that is still being farmed spoiling prior to distribution. Soon, Briñas will be traveling with a convoy to bring humanitarian aid to Cuba in an attempt to break the siege.

The energy stayed high in the crowd as the emcee raised chants such as “No boots on the ground, no bombs in the air! U.S. out of everywhere!” DAWA has always spoken out against U.S. aggression and intervention, and the grassroots group is taking to the streets to lead emergency actions to raise awareness about the current military madness

As cars drove past the action, the streets were filled with car horns honking in support. Motorists waved and raised fists and peace signs in solidarity with the community members.

While the president has made promises of no new wars, he has escalated military might in many countries this year alone and the people have had enough. The propaganda that Trump and the billionaire war profiteers are trying to sell the people is not working. The people are ready to take a stand against war and the criminal actions of the Trump administration.

#DenverCO #CO #AntiWarMovement #Cuba #Venezuela

Colorado Springs, CO – On February 23, the Colorado Springs Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (COSAARPR) gathered at Colorado Springs Police Department headquarters to demand justice for Michael Foster, a 35-year old Black man who was shot by CSPD officers Daniel Mork and Steven Mibert on February 2.

Joined by Foster’s family, a crowd of about two dozen protesters gathered chanting “Justice for Michael” and “Cut the pork and fire Mork.”

On February 2, the Colorado Springs Police Department executed a warrant for a suspect who was already in custody. During this operation, they identified 35-year old Black male Michael Foster as a “suspicious person” but confirmed he was not the person they were looking for. Foster was approached and chased by CSPD officer Daniel Mork, who Foster had previously sued for excessive use of force in 2023.

Michael Foster allegedly fired one round before being shot. After Foster was initially shot, he got up and tried to walk away from the threat. A second officer, Steven Mibert, began a physical altercation with Foster, pressing his pistol into Michael’s back multiple times. Foster, trying to remove the threat posed by the firearm, swatted at Mibert’s hand and was subsequently shot again – five more times while lying on the ground. Foster has luckily survived but is being held on a $1 million cash bond for defending himself against Daniel Mork, who previously cracked Michael’s skull open.

This has outraged the family, who spoke out at the rally on February 23. Loretta Foster, Michael Fosters’s mother, called for public officials, “Mayor Mobalade, take off your sheet and take off your mask, and represent your people.” She followed with “The attorney general of Colorado, you need to reach out to me! That’s my son, no one has reached out to me.”

The Colorado Springs Alliance states that they stand in solidarity with Michael Foster and his family and demand his immediate release from police custody.

#ColoradoSpringsCO #CO #PoliceCrimes #InjusticeSystem #KillerCop #MichaelFoster #COSAARPR

Colorado Springs, CO – On March 2, members of the Colorado Springs Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (COSAARPR) gathered in front of City Hall to release a press statement on the investigation of Richard Arford and call out the CSPD for inaction in the six months since his death.

Banners calling for independent oversight of Richard Arford’s investigation billowed in the wind as members chanted “CSPD, we want transparency” and “Detective Crofoot we see you, racist, homophobic, sexist too” while raising signs demanding the CSPD detective Edward Crofoot met with the family now.

On September 2, Richard Arford, a gay Chicano man, was found naked, bruised and unconscious inside a burning abandoned building off a major roadway. His mother, Olivia Diez, was initially told by Detective Crofoot it was being investigated as a suicide. Diez disagreed and tried repeatedly to call Detective Crofoot but was met with complete silence for two months until COSAARPR released a statement on October 31 calling attention to the suspicious circumstances of Richard’s death.

“Richard’s mother, Olivia, has been treated by Detective Crofoot in a way that can only be described as gaslighting” said Jessie Proffitt, secretary for COSAARPR.

Proffitt stated that Diez “knew that she saw injuries all over Richard’s body when he was in the hospital, but Detective Crofoot claimed that he didn’t have any notable injuries like that, and any he had were likely from firefighters dragging him out of the building.” The autopsy showed abrasions and lacerations all over Richard’s body, “injuries that absolutely would not be possible from being dragged out of the building.”

Proffitt continued, “In the face of devastating loss, CSPD should not be creating more trauma, pain and confusion, but they have; with lies, minimization, and gross negligence of this investigation.” Proffitt concluded by raising demands of COSAARPR and the family, stating, “We join them in demanding answers, transparency, and honesty; a thorough investigation of this case as a potential homicide; support from a victim’s advocate; and a face-to-face meeting with Detective Edward Crofoot.”

COSAARPR has since called on community members to call Detective Crofoot’s office number at 719-444-7786 and demand that Detective Crofoot meet with the family face to face.

#ColoradoSpringsCO #CO #InjusticeSystem #LGBTQ #OppressedNationalities

Englewood, CO – On Saturday, February 21, about 50 community members joined Aurora Unidos Community Service Organization (AUCSO) at Centennial Airport for a car protest with one clear message: no more deportation flights taking off from our backyard.

The action called on Key Lime Air and JetCenters of Colorado to end their roles in supporting ICE transfers and deportation flights. When it comes to family separation, AUCSO says “business as usual” just doesn’t fly.

Before the car rally began, Alfredo Carbajal, an organizer with AUCSO stated, “These companies want you to think they are just local businesses. They want to blend into the scenery. But we know the truth – while we stand here, planes are being fueled and prepared to tear families apart.”

The car caravan consisted of about 25 vehicles, windows adorned with neon paint. Some cars carried oversized signs jutting from their windows with a direct demand, “JetCenters of Colorado: Cancel your contract with Key Lime Air now!”

The caravan slowly looped the small, unassuming terminal for over an hour, horns sounding in unison. Megaphones carried chants of: “Shame on you, Key Lime Air. We’re not going anywhere!” and “No to ICE! No more deportation flights!”

Some bystanders waved and cars honked in support; several even joined the caravan.

This action came after several recent organizing efforts challenging deportation infrastructure across Colorado. Earlier in the week, organizers called for a full day of call-ins to disrupt JetCenters’ operations and demand they end their sublease agreement. Offices in Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and the Denver metro area felt the pressure, but the focus remained on Centennial Airport, which is home base for Key Lime Air’s deportation operations.

At its core, the rally centered on the idea that neutrality is a choice.

As Carbajal points out, “You can say ‘we just provide the service,’ but silence is complicity. When Key Lime Air fires up those engines, they aren't just burning fuel. They are burning through the moral fabric of our community.”

AUCSO and partner organizations have pledged to sustain pressure on local entities and officials until deportation profiteering is ended.

#DenverCO #CO #ImmigrantRights

Denver, CO – On a sunny afternoon on Saturday, February 28, the Denver Coalition Against Trump, the Colorado Palestine Coalition, and more than 100 people mobilized in front of the Colorado State Capitol to demand “Hands off Iran,” and to say no to the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.

“It's clear that the people are ready, at the drop of a hat, to come out and stand boldly against Trump's egregious attacks whenever and wherever they bear their ugly heads!” said Eliot Howe of Denver Anti-War Action (DAWA).

DAWA recently led a coalition that helped to drive AI surveillance and weapons firm Palantir out of Denver. DAWA members wore unmistakable black shirts bearing the symbol of a fist breaking a nuclear missile and passed out signs reading, “No war with Iran! Stop the military madness!” A couple of members stood at the table discussing their recent campaign victory with participants.

“If you’re here and you’re not affiliated with an organization, that’s your homework,” said Nels Pine, a cadre of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization. “Find an organization that you can seriously get involved with and do some of the difficult work that will push this movement forward to a higher level, to get this where it needs to go, to get Donald Trump where he needs to go— to a goddamn prison! To go on trial for his war crimes!”

Flags for the Islamic Republic of Iran and Palestine dotted the crowd, flying above banners that read, “Hands off Iran” and “No war with Iran! U.S. intervention benefits no one!”

The people took to the streets in a march seizing Colfax Avenue, the busiest transit strip in the Denver metro area. The march and action gained momentum as people took the struggle to the streets, proceeding from the Colorado State Capitol around the Denver County Jail and back to the capitol.

The event concluded with a speech by Omar French of the United States Palestinian Community Network, who addressed the academics who came to rally, saying, “I call on all students and professors to use your leverage in the capacities that you have, to pressure your universities to get them to divest from the occupation.”

#DenverCO #CO #AntiWarMovement #Iran #DAWA

The attack took place on the morning of February 25, against a surface unit of the Border Guard Troops of the Ministry of the Interior, in the northeast area of the El Pino canal, in Cayo Falcones, Corralillo municipality, Villa Clara province.

According to preliminary statements by those detained by the Cuban government, they had intentions to carry out an infiltration for terrorist purposes.

Aboard the speedboat the men had in their possession assault rifles, handguns, Molotov cocktails, bulletproof vests, telescopic devices and camouflage uniforms.

The Cuban Ministry of the Interior released a statement identifying the individuals as Amijail Sánchez González, Leordan Enrique Cruz Gómez, Conrado Galindo Sariol, José Manuel Rodríguez Castelló, Cristian Ernesto Acosta Guevara, and Roberto Azcorra Consuegra. Among the deceased was Michel Ortega Casanova. Work is being done to identify the other three.

Those identified so far are Cubans living in the United States, most of them with a known history of criminal and violent activity, including Amijail Sánchez González and Leordan Enrique Cruz Gómez. Both men appear on the national list of persons and entities that, by virtue of Resolution 1373 of the United Nations Security Council, international law and Cuban legal system, have been subjected to criminal investigations and are sought by the Cuban authorities, based on their involvement in the promotion, planning, organization, financing, support or commission of actions materialized in the national territory or in other countries, based on acts of terrorism.

Duniel Hernández Santos has been identified by Cuban authorities as an on-island accomplice. Authorities report that he has confessed to being sent from the United States to guarantee the reception of the armed infiltration.

First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez said in a public statement, “We have stated this on repeated occasions and we reaffirm it today: Cuba will defend itself with determination and firmness against any terrorist and mercenary aggression that seeks to affect its sovereignty and national stability.”

Attacks like this have occurred before. The United States government has used attacks like these in the past in an attempt to destabilize and overthrow the popular and democratically determined Cuban government.

After 1959 the CIA recruited and trained thousands of Cuban exiles in Miami to infiltrate or invade Cuba. This preparation was for the operation which would take place in the Bay of Pigs in April 1961, when Brigade 2506 landed by sea in a failed U.S.-organized invasion.

After the Bay of Pigs, Kennedy authorized Operation Mongoose, a secret government program that included plans for speedboat raids, sabotage and assassination, using Cuban exile groups as proxies. CIA Director Allen Dulles oversaw U.S. financial support to give to exile political groups, which it was subsidizing at a level of $90,000 per month ($999,067.58 in 2026 dollars).

The Trump administration has continued this legacy of aggression toward Cuba. On January 29, Trump signed Executive Order 14380, declaring a national emergency “with respect to Cuba” and placing tariffs on imports from any country that sells or provides oil to the Cuban state. This is on top of the U.S, blockade to stop almost all trade, banking and investment between U.S. entities and Cuba, and to coerce other countries and companies away from trading with Cuba.

People from all over the world have long opposed the blockade on Cuba, from the streets of Chicago to Havana and echoed in the halls of the UN by the world majority, against the stranglehold that the United States imposes on the world. Voices from all around the globe cry out for an end to the blockade.

#DenverCO #CO #International #Cuba #Featured

Denver, CO – On February 21, Starbucks Workers United (SBWU) organized a Strike Day of Action at the unionized Starbucks store on 16th Street in Denver, Colorado, to rally workers and supporters to demand the company stop stonewalling contract negotiations and bargain a decent contract with their unionized workers.

“I got this job for the benefits, which are being eroded away. I love this job enough to want to make it better for myself and all my coworkers,” said a striking Starbucks barista.

SBWU and Starbucks have been in negotiations for the first Starbucks contract since 2021, with Starbucks CEO Bryan Nichols facing mounting pressure from the striking workers. Starbucks workers started the Red Cup Rebellion strike on November 13, 2025, demanding livable wages, full staffing with reasonable hours, and transgender inclusive healthcare. The strike has expanded to over 190 stores across over 130 cities, making it the largest and longest work stoppage in Starbucks history.

“We want to make it clear to Starbucks and their customers that we want the company to come back to the bargaining table and negotiate a fair contract that works for both parties,” said Lucille Wayne, Starbucks barista and SBWU strike captain. “We've been unionized for four years. Starbucks has been stonewalling us this entire time. Workers are living paycheck to paycheck, we're getting scheduled less hours and losing our healthcare.”

Since unionization efforts began in December 2021 Starbucks has failed to meet workers' demands and has amassed over 1000 Unfair Labor Practice charges for union-busting, retaliatory firings, surveillance, and failure to bargain in good faith.

“There's been no progress in bargaining since late 2024. Starbucks doesn't want to give in to our very reasonable demands,” said Naomi Wilson, Starbucks barista and event organizer.

Supporters from the community, along with organizers from Teamsters for a Democratic Union and Democratic Socialists of America came to support the picket line. SBWU organizers and event attendees chanted “What's disgusting? Union busting! What's outrageous, Starbucks wages” and “No contract, no coffee” to dozens of community members in attendance and hundreds of passersby, most of whom did not cross the picket line.

The strike is set to end on February 24, with workers scheduled to return to work the next day. Despite the end of the strike, workers expressed that they will continue organizing, canvassing other Starbucks stores to gain more support for the union, and to sign up additional workers to join SBWU.

“I hope to see more stores get organized. We've been canvassing to help other stores unionize. If you're interested in unionizing go to SBWorkersUnited.org”, said Naomi Wilson as the event came to a close.

#DenverCO #CO #Labor #Starbucks #SBWU #Strike

Colorado Springs, CO – On February 3, the Colorado Springs Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (COSAARPR) gathered at the corner of Delaware and Marion Drives to protest a police-involved shooting they said involved a domestic violence victim fleeing an abuser. Several members assembled at the scene to call for oversight and an independent investigation.

On January 31, the Colorado Springs Police Department received a report of a man, allegedly armed with a rifle, chasing a woman near Marion Drive. The woman, identified later as 30-year-old Micaela Pasillas, was allegedly armed with a knife, presumably to protect herself against her pursuer. Family members said on social media that Pasillas had been fleeing an abusive partner, adding that she experienced recurring mental health episodes and that police were aware of her condition due to prior interactions.

Instead of pursuing the armed man, officers contacted Pasillas, who fled from them and crawled into a police cruiser, seeking shelter and safety. Officers then shot her, later claiming she was reaching for a shotgun inside the vehicle. Pasillas suffered at least one gunshot wound, and was transported to a hospital; she is expected to survive.

Generally, police shotguns are required to be locked and bolted inside patrol vehicles to prevent public access. If the weapon was not properly secured, it would point to a dangerous lapse in protocol on the part of the officers, and, if it was locked and bolted, then Pasillas reaching for it would not have been a danger. In this case, ignoring these details almost led to lethal consequences. According to available accounts, Pasillas had dropped or thrown the knife before entering the cruiser, raising further questions about the level of threat she posed at the time. At the February 3 action, COSAARPR member Brandon Rincon spoke of this, saying, “She dropped her knife and made a rash decision to seek shelter. What did CSPD do instead of offering shelter? They shot her.”

After the shooting, police statements have omitted any discussion of the man reportedly armed with a rifle. Instead Pasillas’s identity was publicly disclosed and her behavior while fleeing was closely scrutinized. This imbalance has raised questions among community members and advocates, who argue that all inquiry has focused on the victim rather than the circumstances that led her to flee. The alleged abuser, meanwhile, does not appear to have been contacted by police, much less arrested or charged, further intensifying calls for accountability and transparency.

Several activists speaking at the emergency rally delivered remarks criticizing reckless conduct by police. The crowd chanted “Violent cops, off our streets!” A member of COSAARPR said, “We need to be able to investigate these cops in a transparent way, in a way that’s open to the people, in a way that isn’t cops investigating themselves. The system is set up against working people. The system is set up against Chicanos and brown folks.”

Another COSAARPR member, Bug Peterson, told attendees, “People in crisis, whether that’s a mental health crisis, a domestic violence situation, or something else, don’t deserve to be shot by police for the fight-or-flight reactions they are having.”

Peterson continued, “People deserve compassionate support, de-escalation, and actual safety, not trigger-happy police officers pointing a gun at you, ready to shoot you if you don’t immediately comply.”

The incident has renewed debate in Colorado Springs over police responses to domestic violence and mental health crises, with some calling for expanded de-escalation training and alternative emergency response options, as well as real oversight over the police by the community.

#ColoradoSpringsCO #CO #InJusticeSystem #COSAARPR

Denver, CO — On Tuesday, February 10, over 50 Denver community members showed their public support for the Denver Art Museum Workers United (DAMWU) as they prepare for another round of negotiations with the company later this month. Contract negotiations have continued for the past year and a half since the initial vote for union recognition.

Supporting DAMWU were Teamsters for a Democratic Union (TDU), Starbucks Workers United (SBWU), Denver Public Libraries Workers United (DPLWU), and Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO).

DAMWU won their union election in March of 2024 and since then has made great strides in achieving better working conditions for museum employees.

The fight, however, is not over and negotiations surrounding livable wages, health and safety standards, and immigration protection are still ongoing.

Sarah Darlene, an artist and union supporter, spoke at the event about the importance of union presence saying, “When workers are paid well, admissions go up, and the quality of the museum increases.”

Many Denver Art Museum employees hold two or more jobs despite working 40 hours a week providing a valuable public service in spreading awareness and knowledge through access to art.

Health and safety issues are also of critical importance to the union. The museum has refused to allow their gallery attendants to sit without a doctor’s note during their eight-hour shifts. One union member mentioned her father’s lifelong career as a construction worker, saying “One thing management never required of him was standing for the sake of standing.” Along with this basic request are demands for an extension of maternity leave and additional annual sick time.

Denver citizens showed their support through chants like, “Exploitation ain’t the way, workers gotta get their pay,” and “When livable wage is under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back!” Denver workers and community members feel the cost of living weighing down on them, and they will fight to earn a livable wage.

DAMWU will return to the table on Thursday, February 26 to continue negotiating their first contract. Whether the company will agree to come to a resolution remains to be seen.

#DenverCO #CO #Labor #DAMWU #TDU #Teamsters #DPLWU #FRSO