Burke stated, “Bradley Manning's sentence of 35 years is harsh and unjustified. Manning exposed war crimes committed by U.S. soldiers and covered up by the top ranks of the Pentagon, State Department and White House. There are U.S. war criminals who belong on trial and in prison cells instead of those like Manning who expose the actual crimes. The U.S. government is becoming more and more repressive, spending money on war, prisons and repression, while the rich get away with ruining the lives of working people at home and abroad. “

Burke was one of the anti-war and international solidarity activists targeted in a Department of Justice investigation of “material support for terrorism.”

#GrandRapids #MI #PeoplesStruggles #CivilRights #BradleyManning #TomBurke #CommitteeToStopFBIRepression #PoliticalRepression #CSFR #FreeBradleyManning #Whistleblower

As of Aug. 2, Dream Defenders have held steady in the office of Governor Rick Scott since then with no signs of leaving – even after Governor Scott meets with members of the organization just days after they started their occupation.

“The Governor tried to pacify us within the first week of us being here,” said Florida State University (FSU) Dream Defender President Brian Marshall. “He has shown that, under his reign, he has zero compassion for the lives of Black and Brown youth and has shown zero leadership in response to the Trayvon Martin tragedy. We aren't leaving until he answers for his crimes to the youth of this state.”

Dream Defenders are calling for Governor Scott and the Florida Legislature to pass a bill called Trayvon's Law, which would address factors of racism and national oppression that contribute to a climate that leads to the death of Black and Brown youth every day.

“We are demanding that laws be put in place to stop racial profiling practices by law enforcement officers, that the school-to-prison pipeline that ruins the life of millions of youth nationally be addressed in Florida by the repealing of zero tolerance laws and that the Stand Your Ground Law be repealed,” said Regina Joseph, Vice President of Dream Defenders at FSU. “All these laws create a climate of racial oppression that lead to the death of Trayvon Martin, but will continue to lead to more tragedy of Black and Brown life until we stop it.”

Aug. 2 marked day 17 of the Dream Defenders’ “Dream In” at the Florida capitol, with national support coming from everywhere.

“We have had youth from Philadelphia to the Bronx come out in full force to Tallahassee to support us here,” said Michael Sampson, an organizer with Tallahassee Dream Defenders. “The support is amazing as we understand that this action is an important step to building a real national movement against the racist practices of the school-to-prison pipeline and institutional racism.”

On July 26, civil rights icon Harry Belafonte paid a visit to the capitol to support the youth organization’s goals of Justice for Trayvon Martin. On July 30, another civil rights legend, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, flew into Tallahassee to support the Dream Defenders. Jackson even chanted with Dream Defenders as they yelled, “We believe that we will win!” and slept in the capitol with the activists.

“What's exciting is these students coming alive,” said Jackson. “We are in this sit-in so justice can stand up. This is an emergency. People are crying out and people are hurting,” in reference to the racist laws that plague communities of color in Florida, like voter suppression, the school-to-prison pipeline, the Stand Your Ground law and racial profiling.

One thing that is clear is that the Dream In shows no signs of letting up.

“If we don't stand up now for the injustices that people of color face in this state, and this country, we will never truly be free,” said Dream Defender Issis Alvarez. “The injustices may not be as evident as they were 60 years ago, but because of that it's even more important to bring them to the light and take action.”

For more information on how you can support Dream Defenders, visit dreamdefenders.org.

#TallahasseeFL #InJusticeSystem #AntiRacism #CivilRights #GovernorRickScott #TrayvonMartin #DreamDefenders #TrayvonsLaw

Jacksonville, FL – Even the summer afternoon rain couldn’t stop more than 25 activists from meeting in downtown Jacksonville’s Hemming Plaza, July 22, to begin a five-day walk to Sanford, Florida. Activists took the first steps in the “Walk for Dignity – Enough is Enough” event, demanding justice for Trayvon Martin and the resignation of State Attorney Angela Corey, who prosecuted the George Zimmerman case.

Called by the Southern Movement Assembly, a network of activist groups around the South that met in Jacksonville last April, the walk will end with a large rally in Sanford. Activists from the Jacksonville-based New Jim Crow Movement, Project South, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, the Coalition for Justice for Trayvon, Southerners on New Ground and other organizations are participating in the walk.

“We recognize that people are feeling outrage and heartbreak after hearing a verdict that legitimizes the public lynching of Trayvon Martin and the impunity of his murderers,” said Emery Wright, the co-director of Project South in a statement about the walk. “Our response must not be restrained. Our collective response must be ‘Enough is enough’ – our human dignity is at stake, and we will come together to demand fundamental change.”

The walk began with an energetic assembly, in which each of the walkers spoke about their reasons for participating. Activists from as far as San Antonio, Texas spoke, as did walkers from Jacksonville, all uniting around the demand for justice for Trayvon Martin and other African-American youth victimized by the racist criminal injustice system.

“We walk for dignity,” said Synobia Williams, an organizer with Project South from Jacksonville. “We walk to lift our voices and be heard, demand the rights of all people and stand our ground.”

Organizers worked to mobilize community support in Jacksonville for the walk. Several labor unions, including AFSCME and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, along with some local businesses donated water, food, coolers and other supplies.

On the first day, the protesters walked to Saint Augustine and stayed at the Saint Mary’s Missionary Baptist Church, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. rallied with civil rights protesters in 1964. During the Civil Rights Movement, Saint Augustine became the center of the battle against segregation.

Throughout the walk, activists hope to engage the communities in the movement for justice for Trayvon Martin and build towards the final rally in Sanford. “We are all committed to walk while we engage and empower the communities that we stop in by listening to their stories,” said Tefa Galvis, an organizer with the Coalition for Justice for Trayvon. “We’re all learning about the history of the land and the freedom movement in Florida and we’re assembling every night to figure out the next steps for our movement.”

Caravans of activists from Jacksonville will leave every day to join the walk in-progress.

The walkers plan to stop in Flagler Beach and Daytona Beach before reaching Sanford for the final rally on July 27.

“We started together and we are going to finish together,” added Galvis.

#JacksonvilleFL #OppressedNationalities #AntiRacism #CivilRights #TrayvonMartin #GeorgeZimmerman #InjusticeSystem #WalkForDignity

Jacksonville, FL – When the nearly all white jury returned with a not guilty verdict in the George Zimmerman trial, people all around the U.S. were outraged. Outside the courtroom in Sanford, Florida some 200 protesters gathered up and issued a united call for nationwide protests, which was answered in the coming days by activists across the country.

One of these protesters in Sanford was Jared Hamil, a union member of Teamsters Local 79 out of Tampa. Holding a sign that read “Justice 4 Trayvon,” Hamil stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the other protesters, proudly wearing a Teamster pin on his shirt.

“Seeing racist discrimination at work and knowing that Trayvon was racially profiled, I saw a big connection,” said Hamil. He continued, “It goes further than just laws. Trayvon’s case shows a system of oppression that targets different nationalities in their communities and at their workplaces.”

Hamil was one of thousands of union workers around the country who joined the protests against Zimmerman’s acquittal in the streets. Two days after the verdict, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) called for “the Justice Department to immediately conduct an investigation into the civil rights violations committed against Trayvon Martin,” adding that it will take a “massive grassroots movement” to win justice.

Reverend Terry Melvin, President of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU), issued an even stronger statement, saying that the verdict “sends an ominous message to the Black community – that is, white fear still trumps the value of Black life in America today – whether you wear a suit or a hoodie; whether you live in a struggling neighborhood or a gated community; whether you are minding your own business or being stalked by a stranger armed with a gun and hostility toward folks who fit a negative racial profile. This is reality, not a reality show.”

Union members have a direct connection to the struggle for justice for Trayvon Martin. Sybrina Fulton, the mother of Trayvon Martin, is an active member of Office & Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 100 and has worked at the Miami-Dade County Housing Authority for over 23 years. In a powerful showing of union solidarity after her son was murdered, 192 of Fulton’s co-workers donated $40,825 hours’ worth of vacation time to assist the grieving family.

Many unions and labor organizations supported the outpouring of protesters demanding the arrest of Zimmerman. In Tallahassee, the Big Bend Labor Chapter passed a strongly worded resolution condemning the shooting of Trayvon Martin and “[supporting] coalition partners in their actions to demand justice.” On a national level, the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists had Trayvon Martin’s parents speak to the delegates, who received them with roaring applause and calls for justice.

For many union members, the struggle for justice for Trayvon Martin and civil rights goes hand-in-hand with the struggle in the workplace. Warren Smith, a member of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Local 1408 in Jacksonville and an active leader in the local CBTU chapter, said, “Union members have learned through the years that the right to organize is directly tied to one’s civil rights. What human can work and call themselves truly free in a place where they can’t even walk home safely from the corner store?” Smith continued, “Seeing this, we feel compelled to take arms and ensure justice for Trayvon and by doing so, we ensure a measure of justice for ourselves.”

On July 22, Smith and other union members in Jacksonville did just that. Members from the Longshoremen, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the International Association of Machinists, and AFSCME provided water, food, coolers and supplies to protesters marching from Jacksonville to Sanford to demand justice for Trayvon Martin. The five-day march, called “Walk for Dignity – Enough is Enough”, will span the nearly 120 miles between the two Florida cities. Jacksonville unions took up the call to feed and support the protesters.

Progressive labor unions are part of the African American freedom struggle in the South. The Congress of Industrial Organizations rose to prominence by organizing African American workers in the Black Belt South, in defiance of Jim Crow repression. Civil rights leaders like A. Philip Randolph worked heavily in the unions to fight against job discrimination and unequal pay. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was brutally assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee just a day after supporting the striking African American sanitation workers of AFSCME Local 1733 as a part of his Poor People’s Campaign.

In the struggle for justice for Trayvon Martin in 2013, the history of unions fighting against racism and national oppression remains alive and well. Speaking to his experience on the shop floor, Hamil said, “Where I work, African Americans are constantly harassed and disciplined by managers. I went to Sanford to fight for justice for Trayvon and all other oppressed nationalities who live under this oppressive system. More than just showing solidarity, this was about getting up to the gates of the courthouse to struggle alongside everyone else fighting for freedom in this country.”

#JacksonvilleFL #Labor #OppressedNationalities #AntiRacism #unions #Teamsters #CivilRights #TrayvonMartin #GeorgeZimmerman #InjusticeSystem

Salt Lake City, UT – Over 30 protesters gathered here, July 20, to answer Reverend Al Sharpton's call for 100 protests in 100 cities. They protested the not guilty verdict in the trial of George Zimmerman as he was acquitted of murdering Trayvon Martin.

Rally organizer Ian De Olivera led the protesters in chants demanding justice for Trayvon Martin, demanding the imprisonment of Zimmerman and condemning the judicial system. Speaking of his motivations, De Olivera said, “I'm not here just because I'm outraged. I'm not here to feel good about myself for doing something. I'm here to get justice for Trayvon.” He then announced the number for the Department of Justice and encouraged the crowd to call and demand a full civil rights investigation.

Local activist Victor Puertes related, “I support Trayvon Martin's family and at the same time the uprising for justice all across the country.” He continued, “It's not an individual problem, it's the whole system that needs to change, the system which kills Black, Brown and indigenous people.”

The protesters and organizers have vowed to keep fighting and demanding justice for Trayvon. Local organizer Gregory Lucero said, “What this verdict shows us is that it's OK to lynch a Black man in America. That's not an America that we want to live in and we'll keep fighting until it changes and we have justice for Trayvon.”

#SaltLakeCityUT #OppressedNationalities #AntiRacism #CivilRights #TrayvonMartin #GeorgeZimmerman #InjusticeSystem

Gainesville, FL – On July 20, 50 activists, faith leader, and community members held a noon vigil outside the Alachua County Courthouse. They gathered to demand the U.S. Department of Justice file charges against George Zimmerman for violating the civil rights of Trayvon Martin. The action was part of the #100citytrayvon initiative by the Reverend Al Sharpton.

Both young and old held signs reading “Justice for Trayvon” and “Praying for a New America.” People gathered together for a prayer and listened to a round of speeches from student organizers and community leaders. Lead organizer Eric Brown of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) said, “The issue in the tragedy with Trayvon, as with so many other Black men and women, is not ‘stand your ground’ but anti-Blackness that pervades our society at every level. It's a fact that Black men are seen automatically as fifth columns and enemy combatants in their own native country. Everyday simple actions, such as walking down the street at night with a hoodie, take on malice.”

Chrisley Carpio, one of the organizers for the event said, “Zimmerman was not the only one on trial last Saturday. The American justice system was as well. It has clearly failed the test. It is our job to seek justice, as the people, when the system has so grossly failed us.” Other speeches reiterated that both the murder of Trayvon Martin and the not guilty verdict for George Zimmerman are part of a larger systemic problem.

The event ended with a call to action to continue building up resistance to racism in the state. Leaders called on people to remember the fight of others like Marissa Alexander, imprisoned for defending herself and her children, and Jordan Davis, slain by a white man upset by loud music. After the 100-city event, activists and community members attended a rally at the Martin Luther King center not far away.

#GainesvilleFL #OppressedNationalities #AntiRacism #CivilRights #TrayvonMartin #GeorgeZimmerman #InjusticeSystem

San José, CA – A week after the acquittal of George Zimmerman, another rally and march drew more than 250 people, three times the size of the week before. The protest continued to be majority African American with a large number of Chicanos, Mexicanos and Latinos. Many of the protest signs were in Spanish. There were also more middle-aged and older people and a sprinkling of families with children at the rally. At the top of the demand list was that the Department of Justice file civil rights violation charges against George Zimmerman.

During the rally, Ross Pusey told the crowd how he had been made a suspect because he was a young Black man. “I could have been Trayvon,” he said. “It is happening right here [in San José]. Another speaker said in Spanish “¡Este sistema judicial es basura!” (This justice system is garbage), referring to the outcome of the case. Akabandu of the All-African People’s Revolutionary Party (A-APRP) said, “This is not a one person task – we need to organize!”

The protest then marched down Santa Clara through the heart of downtown San José to the Federal Building. After briefly blocking a streetcar line, the rally continued. One of the speakers was Masao Suzuki from Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) who asked: “Did the police arrest Zimmerman after he killed Trayvon? No! Did the prosecutors file charges against Zimmerman? No! He was only arrested and charged after the youth of Florida protested, including sitting in at the Sanford Police station. If we want the Department of Justice to file charges, we need to continue to protest, we need to continue to organize!”

#SanJoséCA #OppressedNationalities #AntiRacism #CivilRights #TrayvonMartin #GeorgeZimmerman #InjusticeSystem

Tampa, FL – Two protests demanding justice for Trayvon Martin and that the Department of Justice (DOJ) charge George Zimmerman with violating Martin’s civil rights occurred here July 19 and 20.

On July 19, 30 people joined the Justice for Trayvon Coalition of Tampa in protesting outside of the Tampa Middle District Office of the U.S. Attorney. The Middle District Office would be in charge for the DOJ if a federal civil rights violation were brought against Zimmerman. A contingent of the Coalition attempted to walk inside to present their demands directly to the Middle District Office, but was immediately denied entry by armed security guards and then Tampa police. The Coalition was not deterred and continued to protest outside the downtown office during rush hour for three more hours. The group chanted, “Civil rights, aren’t just for whites!” and “Charge Zimmerman now!” drawing support from community members who honked and some who came up to the participants of the demonstration to thank them for pursuing justice.

On July 20, over 400 people rallied outside the Federal Courthouse for Tampa’s National Day of Action for Justice for Trayvon Martin, which saw rallies in over 100 cities. The Tampa NAACP, Democratic Black Caucus, Tampa Dream Defenders and the Justice for Trayvon Coalition of Tampa spoke along with a multitude of community members. Speakers demanded charges be brought against Zimmerman by the DOJ. Life Malcolm, with the Justice for Trayvon Coalition of Tampa, referenced the case of Jennifer Porter who ran over two African-American children in Tampa and served no time in jail. “You can kill an African and go home, but you kill a dog, you go to prison!”

Tampa has seen a high level of organizing around demanding justice for Trayvon, with over 50 people representing community and activist groups attending the initial meeting of the Justice for Trayvon Coalition of Tampa. Plans have already been made for nationwide call-in days to Eric Holder and President Obama demanding justice, as well as local plans to protest outside a local Tampa police station involved in the murder of Javon Neal.

#TampaFL #OppressedNationalities #AntiRacism #CivilRights #TrayvonMartin #GeorgeZimmerman #InjusticeSystem #DepartmentOfJustice

Milwaukee, WI – On May 30, activists from Youth Empowered in the Struggle (YES) and Voces de la Frontera organized a rally of 200-plus outside the Federal Court House in downtown Milwaukee. Inside, Senator Ron Johnson met with delegates from Milwaukee’s Mexican and Latino community to discuss his position on immigration reform.

An immigration reform bill is making its way through Congress, recently approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee. In response, immigrant rights groups across the country are making sure that the voices of those directly affected by the unjust immigration system are being heard. Johnson repeatedly says that the Senate bill does not put enough emphasis on border enforcement, despite the fact that the bill calls for a total militarization of the U.S.-Mexico border.

As the delegation negotiated with Johnson, the rally outside gained momentum, with speakers energizing the crowd under the slogan, “Family unity – citizenship now.” When the delegation came out of the meeting, after being unable to sway Johnson from his reactionary, far-right position, 18 trained activists took the streets and performed civil disobedience. The protesters linked arms and chanted, “Immigration is not a crime, family unity – now is the time!”

Francisca Meráz, an organizer with YES, was the spokesperson for the civil disobedience. She stated, “I am so tired of seeing my cousins cry when they get married because their mother or father could not be there, or when they see their mom or dad for the first time in years via Skype. Even worse, when I see their eyes light up with joy at the news of immigration reform, I am angry at the possibility that it will not provide a meaningful path to citizenship for 11 million undocumented people in this country. I need a path to citizenship for my family, and that is why I am calling on the president to end the record number of deportations happening under his administration, and calling on Senator Johnson to help keep our families together by supporting legalization that is not contingent on enforcement.”

The rally and action were part of the week of action called by the Legalization for All Network.

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