Chicago, IL – El 5 de Junio, 400 trabajadores, miembros del local 73 del Sindicato Internacional de Trabajadores de Servicios (SEIU), protestaron en el lado oeste de Chicago. Han estado luchando para conseguir un contrato nuevo con la Universidad de Illinois dsde el primer de Octubre.

Voices from the protest

These are statements from some of the many people who will protest against the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, MN on September 1-4, 2008.

Cientos de miles de trabajadores inmigrantes y sus aliados marcharon en ciudades alrededor de los Estados Unidos el 1ro de mayo, el día internacional de los trabajadores. Las demandas principales de las protestas fueron legalización inmediata para todos los inmigrantes indocumentados y un fín inmediato a la ola de redadas y deportaciones que sufren los mexicanos, latinoamericanos y todos los trabajadores inmigrantes.

En la primavera del 2006 millones de latinos y otros inmigrantes se manifestaron en contra de la propuesta de ley Sensenbrenner, HR4437, la cual hubiera criminalizado a los indocumentados. El movimiento pidió la residencia legal para los indocumentados y se opuso a la propuesta de la administración Bush para un programa de trabajadores huéspedes.

En estos momentos cuando las fuerzas del racismo y la reacción se empeñan en avanzar su programa anti-inmigrante, pareciera que hubieran levantado una roca, y que al dejarla caer, ésta les hubiera caído en sus propios pies. Dicho de otro modo, parece que “les salió el tiro por la culata”.

¡Lucha y Resiste! se encontro con Jose Artemio Arreola despues de la marcha. El nos explico como la Coalicion contra HR 4437 construyo la unidad necessaria para que atiendan gente de gran proporcion.

Chicago, IL – Más que 200.000 personas marcharon hoy, el 10 de Marzo, por el centro de Chicago. Gritaban, “Sí, se puede!” significando que sí podemos derrotar la legislación migratoria de Sensenbrenner.

Chicago, IL – 200 activistas contra la brutalidad policial llevaron su mensaje a la vecindad de Dick Devine el Sábado 2 de Junio del 2001. El Sr. Devine es el Abogado del Estado del condado de Cook. Este es el funcionario responsable de procesar a oficiales de la policía corruptos o involucrados en brutalidad policial. Los protestantes marcharon a través de la vecindad de Devine, empujando más allá la policía en los caballos que intentaron evitar que la marcha pasara por la calle donde este vive. “Devine ha rechazado constantemente satisfacernos con respecto de abrir a una investigación en la área 5 de la policía,” dijo Blanca González del Comité Exigimos Justicia (CEJ).“Ahora nos tiene que escuchar, ya que estamos en frente de su puerta!”

María Martinez es una heroína de la clase trabajadora. Emergió de una huelga de 5 semanas de duración en contra de la empresa Iowa Beef Processing (IBP) como la clara lideresa de las bases del local 556 del Sindicato de Camioneros (Teamsters) en el este del estado de Washington. Esto sucedio principalmente porque luchó no solo en contra de la gerencia sino también en contra de la 'vieja guardia' del liderato de su propio sindicato.

Houston, TX – Requests for American Red Cross assistance surged beyond its capacity to deliver Sunday afternoon at the new St. Agnes Baptist Church for the second day in a row. The make-shift Red Cross center was opened Saturday in the heart of Houston’s African American community, eight miles away from the Astrodome and nearly an hour’s bus ride from downtown. As a red, black, and green Black Liberation flag waved overhead, aid volunteers passed out water and registration forms to those waiting outside.

Houston , TX – Today was one of the hottest, stickiest days in Houston since the evacuees arrived last week. Despite that, thousands converged on a Red Cross Center set up at Saint Agnes Baptist church, in far southeast Houston. Many exhausted families came in cars, the parking lot was filled up early, and vehicles with Louisiana plates were parked on the streets as far as the eye could see in all directions around the church. Cars were lined up in rows on the grass in the power line right-of-way and along Sims Bayou. The one city bus that runs to the area, the 52, was standing-room only with shell shocked individuals and families.

Newark, NJ – The Aug. 4 killings of three college students in the Vailsburg section of Newark, New Jersey has become national news. Terrance Aeriel, 18, Dashon Harvey, 20, and Iofemi Hightower, 20, were forced to kneel and were shot in the head. A fourth victim, Natasha Hightower, 19, was also shot but survives.

Houston, TX – The fight for survival goes on in Houston. Families spent all day traveling miles back and forth across the city, looking for opportunities to register for aid that may or may not be there. Many picked up food, water, clothes and toys for their children; walking with awkward loads to wherever they are stuck sleeping for the night.

Two months after Katrina hit the Gulf coast, the disaster is unending for hundreds of thousands of survivors. People are piecing their lives back together, but it is a slow, often frustrating process. The mainstream media is ‘moving on’ and is back to its usual business of ignoring the suffering of poor and working people.

Chicago, IL – Over 200 anti-police brutality activists took their message to the neighborhood of Cook County State's Attorney, Dick Devine, June 2. Devine's responsibilities include prosecuting brutal police officers and investigating police frame-ups. Protesters marched through Devine's neighborhood, pushing past police on horses that tried to prevent them from walking down Devine's street.

Houston, Texas – Hundreds more New Orleaneans came to the Astrodome today seeking help. Yet many were turned away at the security gate and given nothing. The people who left New Orleans before Katrina landed are very aware that without federal government aid, they will not be able to survive much longer.

Chicago, IL – In 1997 Angel Rodriguez was framed for murder by Chicago Area 5 Detectives Jon Woodall and Ernest Halvorsen. He was convicted and sentenced to over 60 years in prison. After almost four years in prison for a crime that he did not commit, Rodriguez’s conviction was reversed on appeal in March of 2000 because of lack of reliable evidence.

The following is a special editorial from Fight Back! that's being distributed as a leaflet among the evacuees in Houston, Texas.

Demand Relief, Action and Justice Now!

Statement by Freedom Road Socialist Organization