St. Paul, MN – On Saturday, September 12, the annual Justice for Stolen Lives March took place. The march is organized annually by Toshira Garraway and Families Supporting Families Against Police Violence (FSFAPV) to honor and demand justice for all lives stolen by police. Garraway’s fiancé, Justin Teigen, was brutally murdered and had his body dumped into a recycling bin in 2009 by the Saint Paul Police Department.

The three-mile march started at the Saint Paul Police Department on Hamline Avenue and ended in front of the Minnesota State Capitol, where impacted families spoke powerfully about their loved ones and their fights for justice.

The chanters of the march included Mississippi organizer Marquell Bridges of the Building Bridges Coalition, who travelled to Minnesota with Daveon Williams, the father of Kohen Wiley, a one-year-old baby who was shot and killed in the arms of his mother earlier this year by a Senatobia, Mississippi police officer.

Bridges spoke to the shared struggle between organizers in Minnesota and Mississippi. Bridges stated, “It's important for us to build this network. It’s important for us to build community and share this space together. Continue to lead the world. We need you to come to Mississippi and show us how you got ICE out. Show us how you created the 2020 movement.”

There was no shortage of stories from impacted families to be shared at the Justice for Stolen Lives March. The family of David Storbakken, an unhoused Native man whose disappearance has not been investigated by SPPD; Ebony Dobbins, a mother who had her home broken into unlawfully by Minneapolis police; Amity Dimock, the mother of Kobe Heisler, an autistic Black man shot during a mental health crisis, and others, all spoke passionately about the painful impacts of experiencing police violence, only to face the indifference of government and the public.

Karen Wells, the mother of Amir Locke, who was murdered in 2022 by Minneapolis Police Department officer Mark Hanneman, spoke candidly about Mayor Jacob Frey’s role in protecting MPD from consequences. Wells called out Frey for dancing in the streets with Black folks while failing to protect communities from MPD’s well-documented racism and violence.

“I have a problem with that, because you’re still trying to cover up my son's murder,” said Wells. “After you shoot our loved ones, you tie their hands behind their backs? There is going to come a time today when [Frey] is going to meet me in person and you are going to have to deal with Amir Ricardo Locke’s mother.”

Many impacted family members are still finding their voices while going through the pain of losing their loved ones and the fear of reprisals from police criminals. That is why organizations like FSFAPV, the Building Bridges Coalition and the Wrongfully Incarcerated & Over-sentenced Families Council are so important. Impacted families need the support of the people’s movements, because the onslaught from the enemy does not cease after the police kill a community member. Those who speak up and fight for justice, like Garraway is currently doing for her fiancé Justin Teigen, often face retaliation and threats from police or their sycophants.

The Twin Cities Coalition for Justice, a branch organization of the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, played key roles in helping organize and execute the march by volunteering as marshals, emcees, chanters and speakers. Members also petitioned and spoke about their ongoing campaign to win community control of Minneapolis police.

Jae Yates, a TCC4J organizer, told the crowd, “Someone in the crowd reminded me that disabled people are twice as likely to be killed by police, and it’s important that we uplift that. So many of the families we advocate for had their loved ones murdered because of mental health or mobility problems that made police perceive them as uncooperative or dangerous. We have to commit to protecting all marginalized people, because if the person next to you can’t live in safety and peace, neither can you. We are being kept down by the exact same people, and we only win by fighting together.”

On Friday, September 11, at the Capri Theater in north Minneapolis, community members and organizers gathered for a screening of the 2024 documentary The People’s Way.

The documentary, created by two Black filmmakers, Ashley and William Tyner, follows three Black women leaders in Minneapolis: George Floyd Square caretaker Janelle Austin, City Council member Robin Wonsley and Toshira Garraway, founder of Families Supporting Families Against Police Violence. The film was a powerful reminder of the strength of the movement for Black liberation here in Minneapolis.

#StPaulMN #MN #InJusticeSystem #OppressedNationalities #AfricanAmerican #TCC4J #FSFAPV

Jacksonville, FL– As summer comes to a close, the Jacksonville Community Action Committee (JCAC) has completed a second year of their Popular Education in the Park series.

Each summer, the committee chooses a series of public parks in primarily Black neighborhoods to host a teach-in and barbecue. The heart of the series is the outreach. Leading up to each event, the group contacts neighborhood associations, businesses and churches. Most importantly, they knock on doors to invite residents into the space to discuss the needs in the neighborhood. This season, the Jacksonville Community Action Committee knocked on over 600 doors to listen to the concerns of Jacksonville residents who often go unheard.

“The strength of this series is really just meeting people where they're at,” said Ash Chatmon, a community organizer with the Jacksonville Community Action Committee. “I think our city intentionally sets so many important conversations during work hours. They don't want to give us a chance to really speak out. Popular Education in the Park proves people have a lot to say about what's happening in this city and a lot of needs that aren't being met.”

This year's series focused on neighborhoods around Riverview Park, Panama Park and Marion Park. Primary concerns of residents were around infrastructure, such as damaged roads, rising utility costs, mental health resources, and concerns that, as Jacksonville rapidly develops, some parts of town will be left behind in budget priorities.

The series concluded with a special commemoration of Black August. Black August is a month-long observance to honor Black political prisoners and fallen freedom fighters around the world. The Jacksonville Community Action Committee recognized this history by presenting a plaque to honor A Mother's Cry, a coalition of local mothers and siblings who have lost their loved ones to the excessive force of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.

The event also included educational sessions on self-determination through voting rights, political prisoners in the Black Belt South, and a dive into JCAC’s joint campaign with A Mothers Cry to establish a Mental Health Emergency Response Team that responds to vulnerable individuals with trained mental health professionals instead of inept and dangerous officers.

The event was uplifted with performances by local poets and onsite childcare.

The Jacksonville Community Action Committee encouraged all attendees to learn more about their campaigns and stay updated on their upcoming events.

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #InJusticeSystem #OppressedNationalities #AfricanAmerican #JCAC

Los Angeles, CA – On September 15, over 50 residents of Los Angeles attended a board of supervisors meeting to demand the BOS take action to ban deputy gangs in the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department. African American and Chicano families impacted by deputy gangs mobilized to speak in favor of the motion.

Supervisor Holly J. Mitchel of District 2 authored the motion that attempted to hold the Los Angeles County Sheriffs accountable for their deputy gang problem. The motion called for “Identifying Deputy Gangs within the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to Ensure Accountability and Risk Mitigation.” The motion would require the sheriff’s department to create a comprehensive framework for identifying and naming deputy gangs.

Impacted families, Centro CSO and Justice LA organized for weeks prior to pressure the LA Board of Supervisors to approve this motion that included language that bans racist deputy gang logos, such as the Fort Apache logo at the East Los Angeles Sheriff's Department.

Before the hearing, Justice LA organized a press conference where impacted family members spoke out about the abuse and deaths caused by deputy gang members in LA County’s Men’s Central Jail and on the streets by LA County Sheriffs.

Before public comments were heard, Sheriff Robert Luna spoke for over an hour against this motion, and so greatly limited the time the people were given. Over 50 people, largely African American and Chicano, spoke unanimously in favor of the motion.

In the end, the board of supervisors, except for Supervisor Mitchell, voted to bifurcate the motion and postpone a vote on it for a period of 45 days. This is a clear attempt by the board to shield Sheriff Luna against bad publicity.

Cindy Nunez, sister of Francisco Nunez, stated, “Today was deeply disappointing. After asking our county leaders to confront the issue of deputy gangs, I watched the board bifurcate Mitchell’s motion and push this conversation beyond next month’s [sheriff’s] election. For families like mine, this is not a political talking point or an agenda item that can simply be moved down the calendar. We are real families living with the consequences of what happens when accountability is delayed.”

Vanessa Perez, mother of Joseph Perez, stated, “It says a lot when a supervisor can recognize deputy gangs and not just us community members. It’s too bad that the other supervisors wanted to delay it but you know it’s a little rock in the path, you know. It’s an ulterior motive for the election.

Janet Asante, with Dignity & Power Now, said, “This motion wasn’t even that radical. All it asks is that the sheriff department identify deputy gangs within its ranks, not even its members. The fact is that the board would rather wait and strategically push it to after the election. They are playing political games, and meanwhile people are dying.”

This decision by the LA Board of Supervisors shows that the power should not be in the hands of the politicians, it should be in the hands of the people in the form of community control of police, which is a demand Centro CSO upholds. If you want to stay up to date with Centro CSO’s fight for police accountability, follow them on socials @CentroCSO.

#LosAngelesCA #CA #InJusticeSystem #CentroCSO

Colorado Springs, CO – On September 15, the Colorado Springs Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (COSAARPR) gathered outside the municipal courthouse to stand with community activist Brandon Rincon as he faced a trespassing charge and motioned to reschedule arraignment. They were joined by the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO). Supporters gathered outside the courthouse and chanted “Drop the charges now” and “Grieving death is not a crime.”

On May 2, Rincon and other members of the COSAARPR joined the family of Benjamin “Benji” Greenfield for a vigil in the parking lot of the McDonald’s where Benji was shot and killed by the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD). The CSPD attempted to shut down the vigil, arresting COSAARPR members Rincon and Luna Lesterud, as well as a close friend of Benji, Flaca Archulea. All three were charged with trespassing, and Lesterud was additionally charged with interfering with a public official.

Rincon spoke out against the charges, saying, “Standing up against police violence is not violence itself. We did nothing wrong.” Rincon continued, “The only thing that is violent here is police that shoot our community members.”

“Police don’t protect us, they protect themselves, and the capitalist system we live under,” stated FRSO member Jessie Proffitt. Proffitt continued, “When we fight to change this system or change the police, we can expect to be attacked by the police.”

Other COSAARPR members spoke to the need for police accountability. COSAARPR member Cameron Hollins spoke on how too many oppressed communities “know what it feels like to lose someone, ask for answers, and be told that the system has already cleared itself.”

Hollins continued, “When people say, ‘There is no accountability,’ they are not speaking from nowhere. They are speaking from lived experience.” Hollins spoke on how the charges fit into a pattern, saying, “This is about more than one person, one family, or one incident.”

Rincon stated, “We know these charges are meant to instill fear in organizers and activists, but we aren’t afraid.” Rincon promised that he and other members were “going to keep showing up and keep fighting back.”

Rincon’s next court appearance is scheduled for October 15.

#ColoradoSpringsCO #CO #InjusticeSystem #BenjiGreenfield #BrandonRincon

Federal Way, WA – On September 14, community members held a vigil for Leon Davis, a 27-year-old Black man who was killed by Federal Way police in the spring. The vigil was attended by his friends and family, as well as the Seattle and Tacoma chapters of the National Alliance Against Racism and Political Repression (SAARPR and TacAARPR), at West Hylebos Wetlands Park.

Davis was killed by Federal Way police in Saint Francis Hospital on March 12. He had checked into the hospital fearing heart issues, but was then killed while being held down by police and hospital staff for roughly 30 minutes.

“It sounds like Federal Way police have a pattern of concerning and racist behavior,” said Chet Baughman, a Teamster Local 174 member. “This isn't the first time they have done something like this; my co-worker knows someone who was shot by police not too long ago in the area.”

The vigil opened with a member of the Seattle Alliance Against Racism and Political Repression talking about the injustice that had occurred with the murder of Leon Davis. Family members then said words and shared memories of their loved one. More of his family members arrived to support each other in this time of grief. People in the crowd passed a sunflower balloon around, signing it with messages to Davis.

Davis's brothers chanted, “Long live Leon,” and the crowd joined in.

“It’s really emotional seeing him. This shouldn't have happened,” said Aife Pasquale, speaking about his uncle Leon.

Davis's murder by the Federal Way police is one of many instances of police killing of Black people across the Puget Sound. This vigil, and the outpouring from the community, shows the outrage towards racist police conduct happening in our region. SAARPR and TacARRPR advocate for community control of the police, with one speaker identifying targets to continue the fight for justice and real community-led solutions to stop the killing.

“Federal Way, it's just, it's sad because we have family that are police and that's in law enforcement. So, for us to see this and to experience it is even more heartbreaking. And it brings up a lot of distrust for us, and just in Black people in general, and people of color as well,” said Shannice Johnson.

Davis's oldest brother stepped up to the microphone and shared memories, highlighting how Leon was the best of them, and the one that they all loved deeply. The crowd then finished writing messages for Leon on the balloon and then handed it to the family, who had all come together. The family gave the balloon to the children and released it, sending it back to him in the sky. His brothers started to chant “Justice for Leon,” and everyone joined in, calling for the balloon to be received by the clouds. Davis's family continues to fight for justice, to fight for transparency around the circumstances of his killing, and demand accountability.

When asked about how her brother was treated, Shannice Johnson said, “They were very negligent in the way that they handled the situation. And there could have been, anybody could have said something in 25 minutes of them doing what they were doing to him. Anyone could have stood up and, you know, stood up for him, and nobody did.”

#FederalWayWA #WA #SeattleWA #TacomaWA #InjusticeSystem #LeonDavis #KillerCop #OppressedNationalities

Chicago, IL – 50 community members, elected officials and rapid responders gathered in the Albany Park neighborhood on Saturday, September 12 to call for an investigation into what appeared to be collaboration between CPD and ICE observed by a rapid response volunteer at the beginning of the month.

The rapid responder observed multiple unmarked ICE vehicles operating out of the 17th Police District parking lot and began filming when the vehicles drove aggressively straight at her before exiting the lot. ICE presence in a Police District parking lot is a clear violation of the ICE-Free Zone executive order signed by Mayor Brandon Johnson in October 2025, which prohibits ICE from using city parking lots, vacant lots and garages as civil immigration enforcement staging areas, processing locations or operations bases.

Omar Flores, an organizer with the Immigrant Rights Working Committee of the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, stated, “They should be willing to uphold the mayor’s executive order. They are beholden to the community!”

Rebecca Rios is a mother in the 17th District who has helped organize volunteers to accompany students on their walk to school to protect them from the gangs of ICE agents that have targeted her community. CPD’s “role is to protect and serve and what we’ve seen is quite the opposite,” Rios said at the press conference. “What we’ve also seen is our community come together to protect our children.”

Rios described how local immigrant rights organizations and community members have supported the family of a five-year-old schoolgirl whose father was abducted by ICE on Halloween last year. She said the father has been released due to pressure from the community. “It has been devastatingly beautiful,” she said.

State Senator Graciela Guzman cited the Illinois Trust Act, which prohibits state and local law enforcement from participating in federal immigration enforcement. In any case of potential collaboration, “we need to know why they were there, what they were doing, who knew that they were there and whether any personnel, resources, information, or facilities were used to assist them,” Guzman said.

The press conference took place outside of the 17th District Council monthly public meeting, at which attendees planned to give public comment asking the District Councilors to demand information from CPD about the potential collaboration, and report it to Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA), a city-wide body with policymaking power over the police.

Chicagoans have been consistently demanding action from the CCPSA on CPD-ICE collaboration, with a January meeting bringing out over 1600 community members testifying about examples of what Flores described as CPD rolling “out the red carpet for ICE to continue their reign of terror in Chicago.”

The CCPSA also plays a central role in selecting candidates for police superintendent, a process that is currently underway to replace former Superintendent Larry Snelling. Snelling had outright denied the existence of any collaboration between CPD and ICE, Flores said.

“As we go into the search for the next superintendent, we demand the next superintendent take CPD-ICE collaboration seriously,” Flores said. “CAARPR fought to create the District Councils and the CCPSA to create transparency and accountability. We’re fighting for even more power now through the Community Power Over Policing referendum that will help us be able to actually hold these officers accountable and take on CPD-ICE collaboration.”

#ChicagoIL #IL #ImmigrantRights #InjusticeSystem #ChicagoPD #ICE

Colorado Springs, CO – On September 7, the Colorado Springs Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (COSAARPR) rallied with community members outside of the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office to demand equal protection for Black ranchers in the county.

They were joined by the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO), which also endorsed the action. Attendees waved signs reading, “Black lives matter” and “Justice for Freedom Acres” and chanted “Sheriff Roybal, stop the repression, we demand equal protection!”

In 2020, Courtney “C.W.” Mallery and Nicole Mallery moved from Houston, Texas to the countryside east of Colorado Springs to escape the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. Both Black veterans, the Mallerys founded Freedom Acres Ranch, with a mission to fight food insecurity and bring food to families in need, something they wish they had had access to.

Shortly after moving to the 1000-acre property, the Mallerys came under attack by neighbors. “For years, the Mallerys have been subjected to endless threats, violence towards them and their livestock, and an exhausting legal battle,” said COSAARPR member Memphis Curry.

Instead of doing something about the neighbors responsible for the harassment, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office charged C.W. and Nicole Mallery multiple times over the years. In 2023, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office arrested C.W. and Nicole Mallery and charged them with felony stalking, misdemeanor tampering, and petty theft. During the arrest, El Paso County Sheriff’s Deputy Emery Gerhart removed three of the Mallerys’ security cameras. The charges were quickly dismissed, and, in response, the Mallerys created a petition to fire Deputy Gerhart, which received over 12,600 signatures. The Mallerys allege Deputy Gerhart used the police department to instigate “racism, discrimination, terrorism, [and] denial of police service.”

At the action outside the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, Curry stated, “I am tired of the narrative that any reasonable reaction to racism is an overreaction. The excusing of the targeted harassment that the Mallerys have been experiencing for years is simply exhausting.”

Curry further questioned the motives of the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, saying, “Despite the Sheriff's department’s ‘reassurance’ that they would never stand for racist treatment of community members and [that they] have thoroughly investigated every report, this is the same institution that colludes with ICE and excuses every use of force case as reasonable and necessary.”

FRSO member Brandon Rincon spoke to systemic issues, saying,“Our local law enforcement agencies only protect and serve the interests of the billionaires who exploit Black and brown bodies for profit and terrorize us to keep us down.”

As the sun set on the office, members closed out the action by chanting “No justice, no peace, no racist police!”

#ColoradoSpringsCO #CO #InJusticeSystem #OppressedNationalities #AfricanAmerican #Ranchers #Farmers #COSAARPR #Featured

New York City, NY – On the evening of September 9, organizers from the New York Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression organized a speakout at city hall to protest a spike in killings by the NYPD. In less than a week, officers gunned Pamela Cisneros in Times Square and Chaun Bottom on the Brooklyn Bridge. The NYPD has shot and killed eight people so far in 2026, after a record high of 13 shot and killed in 2025.

The speakout began with chants of “Justice for Chaun Bottom” and “When Black lives are under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back!”

Almost immediately, two officers from the NYPD Community Affairs Bureau ordered organizers to stop using amplified sound, threatening to confiscate equipment and issue summons. Along with a beat cop and two plainclothes officers, police remained nearby, blocking access to a Citi Bike station. The New York Alliance continued to chant and speak out, drawing a crowd at City Hall Park.

The speakout identified a pattern of justification for unilateral violence by police; for both Cisneros and Bottom, the NYPD described them posthumously as mentally unwell.

Ruby Doswell, speaking for the New York Alliance, said that the NYPD pushes forward the narrative that officers had no choice but to use deadly force, but then “delays or refuses to release body cam footage and keeps the investigation internal.”

In many cases, the family and loved ones of those shot by police dispute the NYPD narrative. The Daily News reported that Chaun Bottom’s mother was shocked to hear the NYPD’s description of her son, given he had no history of mental health struggles.

The NYPD has been consistent in its approach to control the narrative around people they shoot and kill. They refuse to identify the deceased or release body camera footage. The Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Public Information (DCPI) stages a press conference with a prepared statement that blames the deceased and uses consistent language to paint them as dangerous. When police are found later to have lied, there are rarely consequences.

The New York Alliance was joined by organizers from We The People NYC, a mutual aid collective based in Harlem and Bed-Stuy. Relly Rebel, speaking on behalf of We the People, called out city hall’s meek response to police misconduct, saying, “They are playing in our faces.”

No matter the party affiliation of the mayor or city council members, the police have remained one of the most powerful political forces in the city. The NYPD has brutalized and murdered Black and brown New Yorkers under every administration since its founding.

Daniel Koh of the New York Alliance described the NYPD as “a powerful enemy, one that we have seen city hall and the mayor’s office hesitate to stand up to. But the people will hold Mayor Mamdani accountable to his campaign promises about public safety!”

The New York Alliance will continue to fight for community control of the police, which would elect a community board with full authority to determine rules, budget, and discipline of corrupt and killer cops.

#NewYorkNY #NY #InjusticeSystem #KillerCop #NYPD #NYAARPR #ChaunBottom

Los Angeles, CA – On Monday, September 7, Los Angeles Police Department officers shot a 44-year-old Chicano man named Zimran Canas in Boyle Heights. LAPD claimed Zimran was holding a tree trimming tool and walked towards the police officers. LAPD, like most police departments, is known to lie and try to villainize who they kill in an attempt to cover up their murders.

Centro CSO members mobilized to the area after the shooting in an attempt to talk to family members and neighbors. Some neighbors directly contradict the claims made by LAPD; a witness said they did not see LAPD officers offer any medical attention to Zimran Canas.

This makes it at least 21 Chicanos shot in Boyle Heights by LAPD Hollenbeck Division since 2015, with many of those shot being killed. Centro CSO has been on the ground in Boyle Heights fighting back against police killings, alongside the impacted families.

Derek Mejia, chair of Centro CSO’s Police Accountability Committee, was on the ground, “It’s important for us to be out here connecting with impacted families. We see time and time again that LAPD responds to mental health crises with excessive force, and they immediately get to work creating a narrative that works for them and not the victims or their families. We will continue to demand answers on what happened to Zimran Canas, and we will demand justice alongside the family.”

#LosAngelesCA #CA #InjusticeSystem #OppressedNationalities #KillerCop #Police #CentroCSO #Chicano #ZimranCanas #BoyleHeights #EastLA

Minneapolis, MN – On August 30, T-Mobile and AT&T disclosed that they had sent the phone records of several Twin Cities activists to ICE and Homeland Security Investigations agents after receiving a summons filed by Homeland Security on April 12, 2026. These included the telecommunications data of Jess Sundin, Steff Yorek and other anti-ICE and anti-war activists, such records for the phone line for Minnesota Council for American-Islamic Relations.

T-Mobile and AT&T complied with the summons even though none of the three were charged with any criminal charges, nor were they notified or asked to consent to such disclosures. Given the fraudulent nature of the summons, other companies, such as Google, declined to disclose any data.

These summons came as part of an ongoing federal investigation of the activists who protested on January 18 in Saint Paul against the preacher in Cities Church, David Easterwood, who is the acting field office director for Enforcement and Removal Operations, known as ERO St. Paul. 39 Minnesota activists, including Black community activists Monique Cullars-Doty and Nekima Levy Armstrong, were arrested in connection to this action, along with the high-profile journalists Georgia Fort and Don Lemon.

Sundin and Yorek are anti-war activists whose record of international solidarity activism goes back decades. They were included in FBI raids in 2010 and subsequent subpoenas to a grand jury, with which they refused to comply. They were not present at nor involved with the planning of the Cities Church protest. The Minnesota Council for American-Islamic Relations phone line also lacks any discernible connection to the Cities Church action.

One important aspect of the summons is that they are not court-issued search warrants. Listed on the summons as one of the recipients of the data is HSI Special Agent Timothy Gerber, who worked for the IRS before moving over to ICE in 2026. He attempted, first in February 2026 and then again in March 2026, to secure search warrants to seize electronic data for five defendants in the Cities Church case but was struck down by Judge John Docherty for failure to establish probable cause. Twice.

Since then, Gerber, Grayson Cooper and Special Agent Steven Schrank have resorted to ICE summons to retrieve this data. The summons cites a law that mandates the disclosure of data related to fees paid to customs and other customs business. The City Church investigation is not related to this at all. The ICE summons has received widespread disdain from lawyers and civil liberties organizations.

These summons come as the next step in the saga of political repression launched against anti-ICE activists in the Twin Cities. Apart from the Cities Church protest, 15 anti-ICE protesters, known now as the Minnesota 15, have been indicted on bogus federal charges and face up to over a decade in prison for their activism at the federal Whipple Building in Minneapolis. The charges include felony conspiracy to impede a federal officer, assault of a federal officer, interstate stalking, interstate threats, and more.

In spite of protests involving over 100,000 people over the course of subzero winter months, Jonathan Ross, the ICE agent who killed Renee Good, and Jesus Ochoa and Raymundo Gutierrez, the ICE agents who killed Alex Pretti, are walking free and have not been charged for any crimes.

“Many of the Righteous 39 Cities Church protesters are my friends and movement colleagues,” said Jess Sundin, one of the Anti-War 23 and one of the Twin Cities activists whose phone records were seized. “They are being prosecuted for doing the right thing – standing against ICE's brutal attacks on immigrants. The idea that the government would use a bogus summons to get records of their communications with me is a desperate attempt to make a case out of nothing. Instead of dividing us, or silencing us, the government's actions are only strengthening our solidarity and commitment to keep fighting for justice.”

#MinneapolisMN #MN #ImmigrantRights #PoliticalRepression #ICE #DHS #InjusticeSystem #Feature

Santa Ana, CA – On August 21, members of Community Service Organization, Orange County (CSO OC) joined families whose loved ones were killed by police to demand justice for Victor Lopez. 16 people marched from El Centro Cultural de Mexico carrying signs that demanded, “Justice for Victor Lopez” and “Release all unedited footage.” As marchers passed a soccer game, they drowned out the U.S. national anthem with cries of “What do we want? Justice! And when do we want it? Now!”

Arriving in front of the police department, Emily Lopez, sister of Victor Lopez, said, “He was killed in the parking lot of his home. He was shot three times in front of his one-year-old son and partner. They both watched my brother die and take his last breath. We’re here today to demand the unedited footage, the officer’s name, and we want accountability. We want to prevent this from happening to another family.”

Earlier this year Santa Ana PD released a so-called “Community Briefing” that included partial bodycam footage of the officer who killed Victor Lopez. Police have claimed that Lopez was reaching for a gun that was recovered at the scene, but that is not visible in the footage. Instead, we can see the officer immediately drawing his gun on Lopez, who approached the officer with his hands up before turning around to lie on the ground. Seconds later the officer claimed Lopez was reaching for a gun and shot him to death.

The public has a right to be skeptical of these claims, since Santa Ana PD has a history of lying to justify their brutality and killings. For example, in 2024 officers Luis Casillas and Isaac Ibarra lied about Noe Rodriguez waving around and pointing a shotgun at them to justify shooting almost 30 bullets at an unarmed man holding a toy.

Emily Lopez continued, “My brother was an 18-year-old young man who strived to do better for his family. He was a hard worker who always helped others and put others before himself. He was a funny, outgoing, loving young man who loved making others laugh, and always made sure everyone around him was okay. My brother did not deserve to die the way he did. I demand justice for my brother, Victor Lopez!”

Protesters chanted, “We demand justice! We demand answers! A badge is not a license to kill!”

Pearl Arzola, sister of 19-year-old Chicano Albert Arzola, spoke next, “I lost my brother a month before Victor Lopez passed away, so when I heard about his tragic passing, it really hit home. It’s not fair for us to be grieving. It’s not fair for the Lopez family to be grieving as well. I feel like these cops need to get held accountable and to see what we are going through, and to put them in jail!”

Albert Arzola was killed by Anaheim PD officer Nathan Garcia. Garcia was documented harassing Arzola from a patrol car weeks before December 6, when he chased Arzola towards his home and shot him in the back and neck. Garcia also was involved in the brutal arrest of an unarmed 14-year-old Chicano in 2024.

As protesters demanded justice near the entrance of the department, two officers in a Gang Unit car – vehicle number 920 – slowed down to mock their chants, exposing the cruelty of the police. Protesters followed the vehicle with signs and banners, shouting at the officers until they drove away.

CSO OC member David Pulido spoke last, saying “This is a pattern of racist violence! We saw police steal the lives of teenage Chicanos this year. We saw the killing of 15-year-old Jaden Michaca while he was suffering a mental health crisis. We saw the killing of Victor Lopez, a young, 18-year-old father. We have work to do! We have to get organized, and we are the ones responsible for bringing these officers to justice. That is why we fight for community control of the police. We have a basic, democratic right to decide on all police matters.”

If you are interested in fighting back against police crimes and working alongside families impacted by police violence, reach out to CSO OC on Instagram, Facebook, or email at orangecountycso@gmail.com

#SantaAnaCA #CA #OrangeCounty #InjusticeSystem #KillerCop #VictorLopez #AlbertArzola #OppressedNationalities #Chicano

Jacksonville, FL – On the evening of September 3, at Memorial Park, dozens gathered for Asia Bennett’s vigil.

The gathering was held in memory of Asia Bennett, 22, who was fatally shot by Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Deputies (JSO) on August 11, 2026. Bennett was a victim of domestic violence, and she needed help. JSO instead shot her twice.

Body-worn camera footage was released to the family weeks later. Relatives have since stated that the recording contradicts the official account provided by JSO officials in the days after the incident.

Those close to Bennett describe her as a gentle and kind individual. The vigil drew many families who have experienced similar losses due to police encounters. Representatives from A Mother's Cry, a support organization for mothers who have lost children to police violence, addressed the crowd. Each speaker shared a personal account of loss, and each echoed a consistent sentiment: Bennett posed no threat and should have survived the encounter.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump also attended, offering praise to the ongoing work of the Jacksonville Community Action Committee (JCAC). He pledged to continue pursuing accountability in Bennett's case and emphasized that they would be “focused like a laser until they get justice for Asia.”

Speakers pointed to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office’s growing budget, which has increased in recent cycles despite repeated incidents involving the use of deadly force. The agency has the largest portion of the city’s budget, yet questions persist regarding its ability to respond appropriately to domestic violence calls without resorting to lethal action.

Community advocates have issued a series of demands, including: criminal convictions for the officers involved, rather than administrative reassignment or paid leave; establishment of a civilian-led Public Safety Committee to provide independent oversight of police conduct; creation of a Mental Health Emergency Response Team staffed by professionals trained in de-escalation techniques, and, an end to police violence in Jacksonville, with advocates citing the need to prevent further loss of life.

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #InJusticeSystem #JCAC #KillerCops #Feature

Seattle, WA – On August 19, members of the Seattle Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (SAARPR) walked into the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to demand answers from the top cop lawyer, Leesa Manion.

For months, SAARPR has been asking first the county sheriff and then the county prosecutor for transparency and accountability regarding the Seattle Police Department (SPD) shooting and killing of two Black men, Jack Palelei and Christian Nelson, in the last months of 2025.

In both instances, the men were suffering mental health crises. In both instances, the police escalated the situation, whether by shouting commands, driving onto the sidewalk in their police vehicles to give chase, or pulling out assault-style weapons.

The police in Christian Nelson’s case are responsible for shooting Nelson multiple times, as well as shooting into an apartment building and injuring a bystander. Nelson did not hurt anyone; SPD did. Palelei did not hurt anyone; SPD did.

When municipal police kill someone in King County, the King County Sheriff’s Office is supposed to investigate. Local police cannot be trusted to investigate their own officers. The sheriff’s office then sends the investigation files to the King County prosecutor, who decides whether to charge the officers involved.

Jack Palelei met his death at the hands of the Seattle Police Department in November 2025. According to the King County Sheriff’s Office, they forwarded the investigative file on Jack Palelei’s death to the prosecutor’s office in February. The prosecutor’s office claims to have only just received it. If SAARPR had not inquired into the status of Jack’s case, it remains unclear if the prosecutor’s office would even be aware that it had the file at all.

As is typical of high-powered elected officials, King County Prosecutor Leesa Manion was not in her office or available to meet with her constituents. The office staff did not know how to engage with SAARPR members who came to the office. It quickly became clear that it was uncommon to receive visitors from the public asking about investigations into officer-involved shootings. SAARPR members were determined to wait until someone could give concrete information about what the prosecutor’s office is doing with Jack’s case.

Eventually, a prosecutor came into the lobby to speak with SAARPR. Dan Clark. Mr. Clark admitted that he did not know exactly what was being done with Jack Palelei’s case, although he confirmed that the office did have the investigation on file. The prosecutor’s office, including the specific team that reviews police killings, had a backlog of cases. And something that took place at the end of 2025 was not likely to be next in line.

He also admitted that the prosecutor’s office treats cases of police killing people as more “cut and dry.” Those cases are unlikely to result in charges or discipline for the officers because when police claim to fear for their lives, they seem to be able to justify their actions.

Both Jack Palelei and Christian Nelson were armed. Does that mean that their lives are forfeit? Of course, not. If police escalate a situation, should they be able to claim that they had to kill to save their own lives? No. The fight for police accountability cannot be for “perfect victims” alone, especially when the police use racism to justify their actions. The police should not be able to summarily execute anyone.

Sonya Herrera, the chair of the Seattle Alliance, said, “I went to Leesa Manion and the King County Prosecutor’s office to demand transparency in the case of Jack Palelei. This case has been lost and re-found on a number of occasions, and that’s unacceptable. This person was murdered by SPD and did not deserve to die. He was afraid, suffering through a mental health crisis, and SPD chased him in a vehicle on a sidewalk. I would be scared and try to defend myself too. Things are not cut and dry, as prosecutors make it seem. We need to demand more.”

SAARPR will continue to demand three things of the prosecutor: Release the names of the officers involved in these deaths; release unedited bodycam footage so that SPD’s edited footage is not the only public record, and prosecute the officers and get these killer cops off Seattle’s streets.

#SeattleWA #WA #InjusticeSystem #KillerCop #OppressedNationalities #JackPalelei #ChristianNelson #SAARPR

Abraham Flores-Tercero was brought into the federal courtroom wearing shackles, dehumanizing him from the second he walked in the door. Abraham, who doesn't speak much English, had to make his plea in Spanish to a translator, who repeatedly interrupted him.

Flores-Tercero gave an emotional speech, begging to be deported, as he had plans to move his family to Nicaragua. Judge Winsor showed no humanity. Winsor simply ignored Abraham's plea and aimed to “make an example” out of him. Winsor sentenced Abraham to two years in federal prison before his deportation, so it would act as a “deterrent” to others.

Since August 21, Tallahassee Immigrant Rights Alliance (TIRA) began circulating a petition to build publicity around Abraham's mistreatment by Judge Winsor leading up to his hearing in the appeals court.

The petition reads: “Trump appointed Judge Alan Winsor sentenced Abraham Flores twice the precedented time for entering into the U.S. undocumented. He ignored Flores' plea to be deported and instead stated the sentence needed to be increased, because he would want to visit his family and should serve as an example to others. Additionally, his ruling is very likely an example of double jeopardy, since he considered a 20-year-old previous charge when justifying his decision. Judge Winsor should face disciplinary action for his mismanagement of the case of Abraham Flores for his bias. In this time of increased prejudice, we must hold our officials accountable. The US judicial system must treat all people under trial impartially. Help Abraham Flores receive a fair trial with a fair outcome.”

Take part in the Tallahassee Immigrant Rights Alliance's stand against judicial repression of immigrants and get justice for Abraham Flores: sign the petition.

Judge Winsor has an extensive history of attacking people’s rights. Winsor defends bans on same sex marriages and attacks women's reproductive rights.

#TallahasseeFL #FL #ImmigrantRights #InjusticeSystem #ICE #Deportations #AbrahamFloresTercero

Tacoma, WA – The Tacoma Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (TACAARPR) held a film screening of The Alabama Solution on August 29, as a part of the fight for justice for Ronald Amir Harris.

Ronald Harris, a 23-year-old Black man, was found dead in his cell in Pierce County Jail before his trial in 2022. The county ruled it a suicide but refused to provide any evidence or do an investigation, leading many to conclude he was murdered by prison guards.

“May 2, 2022 changed my life. This was the day that I found out my son was murdered. Even though the judicial system claims that my son committed suicide, there was no evidence to support that,” explained Ray Charles Harris. “In fact, there's more evidence to support that my son was murdered.”

The Alabama Solution is a documentary that exposes what many Black Americans are already well aware of: prison guards murder and politically repress prisoners all over this country. These killer prison guards are protected by the judicial system and typically get away with excessive force and murder.

“Ronald Amir was never convicted of a crime; he was killed before he ever got to court. An unconvicted individual who died in custody under suspicious circumstances,” stated Tanderlon Carter, longtime friend to Ray Harris and beloved community member. “This statement is to be used towards the focus on the denial of due process, and the fight for truth. Let us plan to use a special approach by protesting with signs and social media for the lack of accountability, and fight for the structure of truth.”

The Tacoma Alliance has launched a petition demanding an investigation into Ronald Harris’s death by the Washington Office of Independent Investigation. They are demanding the evidence in Ronald Harris’s death be released to his father, something Pierce County has refused to do. Many Freedom of Information Act requests have been denied, some remaining in a “pending” status for over nine months.

“If they have nothing to hide, why won’t they release the photos or location of his death to his father?” asked Moon Gosserand. “If anyone else died under these circumstances there would be an investigation, but, because it’s likely that a prison guard or officer committed the crime, the county is covering it up.”

Gosserand’s claim is well supported by national trends exposed in the film. Similar deaths were covered up in Alabama. Often these deaths are politically motivated.

“Pierce County prosecutors, in order to frame me for a crime that I did not do, they impersonated themselves as a doctor and a nurse and got on the stand and committed perjury in order to get a false conviction on me,” Ray Harris explained, “Four years later, Ronald decided to file a complaint on the station.”

Ray Harris and TACAARPR believe that the open legal case against Pierce County prosecutors was a political motivator in the murder of Ronald Harris.

“Ronald Amir was never given his day in court. However, the system became his judge, jury, and the executioner of an unconvicted human being. Ronald Amir left silenced. We demand the truth. They called it suicide to close the case. Although a life stolen and a trial denied, therefore innocent until proven guilty, unless he dies behind closed doors,” spoke long-time friend Carter.

Ronald Harris’s death is sadly not the only one of its kind in Pierce County. Innocent people are killed by police or prison guards at an alarming frequency, like Manny Ellis or Rhoda Butler. TACAARPR is continuing to fight for full community control of the police to prevent more cases like this, and to ensure greater justice for those already impacted.

“They want us to believe that he gave up on life before he was to ever give himself a chance to fight for his innocence. We refuse to accept the depth of this narrative written by the very walls that failed to protect him. This system has committed an unforgivable injustice that fails the law of the constitution for Ronald Amir Harris,” Carter concluded.

Ray Harris was clear that TACAARPR would not rest until they have won justice, “We have to find out what happened to my son, and we have to stop anybody else from dying under his circumstances.”

#TacomaWA #WA #InjusticeSystem #RonaldAmirHarris #TACAARPR #TheAlabamaSolution

Brooklyn, NY — On Thursday, August 27, activists led a protest in front of the 71st Precinct of the NYPD to demand, “Justice for Eudes Pierre!” Undeterred by rain, community members stood outside the precinct responsible for Pierre’s murder and chanted, “NYPD kills on patrol! How do we stop them? Community control!”

Speakers from the New York Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (NYAARPR) explained the details of Pierre’s death and the suffering that has continued to this day. In December of 2021, Eudes Pierre experienced a mental health crisis and called 911. The NYPD officers who responded to his call from the 71st Precinct brutally murdered him. Since then, no action has been taken against the police. New York’s Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) found that the officers acted within NYPD guidelines, and the state Attorney General Letitia James declined to pursue any charges against the officers.

NYAARPR spokesperson Daniel Koh shared details, “134 cops work at this precinct. 79 of them have allegations of misconduct and brutality. That means three of every five cops have abused their authority and hurt the people in this neighborhood. That means if anyone dials 911 in this neighborhood, they’re likely to get a crooked cop.”

This includes Officer Conrado Abreu-Gerez, one of Eudes Pierre’s killers, who has multiple allegations from before and after Pierre’s murder.

The New York Alliance also fights for community control of the police, a system that would give people the democratic power to determine how their communities are policed. Jamie Kowalski of the NYAARPR said, “We know that if our communities come together and we combine our power, we are stronger than the billionaires and their racist attack dogs in the NYPD! Compared to the power of the people, the pigs are nothing!”

Together with the family of Eudes Pierre, the New York Alliance will continue holding monthly protests at the 71st Precinct on the last Thursday of each month. The next protest will be Thursday, September 24.

#BrooklynNY #NY #InJusticeSystem #OppressedNationalities #AfricanAmerican #KillerCops #EudesPierre #NYAARPR #NAARPR

Chicago, IL – Kenneth Boudreau was nervous. The retired Chicago Police Department (CPD) detective talks like a tough guy, but his voice sped up and got louder under questioning by Russell Ainsworth, attorney for Johnny Plummer.

Fortunately for Boudreau, he has attorneys funded by Cook County taxpayers who were ready to jump in to help him clarify his answers.

Boudreau was on the stand in a third stage hearing at the Cook County courthouse on August 26. Recently, new evidence emerged in Plummer’s 35-year-old case of wrongful conviction.

Plummer had always maintained that he was beaten into a confession the night he was picked up at age 15. He reported that beating to the first adult who wasn’t a police officer, a doctor who did an intake interview when Plummer was handed over to the Audi Home. That doctor wrote Plummer’s statement in his notes.

In all of his trials, CPD denied that such a medical record existed. After 35 years, it suddenly appeared in a standard search of Plummer’s files.

Back in 1991, the Area 3 police station where Boudreau was assigned was also where Detective Jon Burge worked. Everyone knows Burge’s name – the leader of the Midnight Crew of brutal detectives. Because of Burge and those other dirty cops, Illinois is the only state that has a Torture Commission in the legislature. At least 223 cases have been exonerated in court because they proved that the men involved had been subject to physical abuse. Boudreau was involved in the interrogation of 28 of those men – the largest number of any cop besides Burge.

Three months after Boudreau arrived there, Burge was suspended because an investigation by the Office of Professional Standards (OPS) found evidence he tortured a suspect, Andrew Wilson.

What can a timeline tell us?

Detective Kenneth Boudreau had much to tell the court about his transition from being a part of the military to serving as a police officer back in 1991. From Boudreau’s claim, there was little probability that he could have met or tortured Johnny Plummer.

Plummer, now 50 years old, has been sitting in prison since being tortured into a confession back in 1991 at age 15. That was one of the last years that the “Midnight Crew,” run by the now-deceased Jon Burge, was in full effect. Since then, the Chicago City Council voted for reparations to the survivors of Burge and the officers he commanded.

It stands to reason, then, that Boudreau would feel it necessary to distance himself from Burge. According to Boudreau, his time as a detective began in August 1991, and he had rotating partners. The detective denied having worked with or even seen Burge at Area 3. Plummer’s defense, Russell Ainsworth, highlighted that this may have been an under-exaggeration. The two had time to cross paths, as Burge’s suspension occurred in November 1991.

Furthermore, this was at the height of Burge’s legal issues. Ainsworth asked Boudreau, “You helped fundraise for Burge,” to which the detective’s defense objected. A new detective such as Boudreau would have likely reported to Jon Burge between August and November 1991, especially because Burge was the overseer of the torture that occurred in the Southside from 1972 to 1991.

Plummer has always said that Boudreau and Michael Kill were the two detectives that tortured him. Although the official police report excludes Boudreau, the detective admitted in court that it was common practice to change reports to include detectives with supporting evidence. Close followers of the torture scandals in Chicago know it was also common practice among cops to leave out of the report the name of the cop that inflicted most of the torture.

Legal fight continues for justice for Johnny Plummer

The next step in this case will be on October 29, when Joey Mogul, one of Johnny Plummer’s previous attorneys, will take the stand. Mogul says she requested his medical records during that trial some years ago. Plummer’s medical records show he reported being tortured. The judge in Plummer’s case, Tyria B. Walton, recognized that the medical records were significant, and that their exclusion from his original trial would be integral in defining how to move forward with this case.

In a June hearing, Judge Walton explained, “The Brady language is unyielding: whether the withholding was intentional or not, there was definite cause for a Brady Violation.”

Johnny’s family is hoping that proving there was a Brady Violation will lead to him being released while he continues to fight for justice.

#ChicagoIL #IL #InJusticeSystem #PoliceTorture #JohnnyPlummer #CPD #OppressedNationalities

On Tuesday, August 25th, the racist Oak Lawn Police Department (OLPD) arrested Kobi Guillory, a Black teacher and leader in the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (CAARPR), after he left the Oak Lawn Village Board of Trustees meeting. For over four years, the community has been protesting both the racist patterns and practices of OLPD and the village that refuses to hold criminal cops accountable.

The protest was organized by the AAAN, U.S. Palestinian Community Network, CAARPR, Southsiders for Peace, and others. Almost 20 people testified in public comment to the Oak Lawn mayor and trustees, demanding that the mayor clean up his racist police department and village.

When the meeting was over, OLPD then followed Guillory from the village hall in six squad cars, boxed in the vehicle he was traveling in, and threatened to smash the vehicle’s windows before forcing him into custody. Previously, as an attempted tactic of intimidation, OLPD showed up to question him at the school in Chicago where he works.

AAAN, Guillory and CAARPR, and the Palestinian community of Oak Lawn and the southwest suburbs have been protesting the OLPD and the Oak Lawn Fire and Police Commission meetings for years. Protests have called for the firing and charging of the white, racist officers involved in the brutalization and hospitalization of Palestinian teenager Hadi Abuatelah in 2022 (Abuatelah ultimately won over $800,000 in a settlement against the village); as well as accountability for racist decisions that led to Leanne Cusack – a white woman who had been drinking and murdered an Arab man, Murod Kurdi, with her car in 2023 – being allowed to walk away with only a speeding ticket. 

Guillory’s arrest is the latest in a string of retaliatory arrests and false charges against community members who have spoken out against these abuses. Two weeks ago, OLPD arrested the mother of a 14-year-old who was lifted off his feet, slammed into a counter, and placed in a chokehold by police while giving public comment at the commission meeting on August 5th. Right before the protest August 26 protest, police arrested a AAAN organizer.

“These frameups are a clear attempt by Oak Lawn and OLPD to skirt accountability for their racist abuse against Arab and other Black and brown community members, especially the criminal assault on the 14-year-old earlier this month,” said Nadiah Alyafai, another AAAN organizer. “And then OLPD puts out a statement yesterday attacking the AAAN, CAARPR, and other organizers for upholding our first amendment right to protest their racism. It’s just one Oak Lawn fail after another!”

Guillory and the fifty protesters who waited for him were undeterred following his release late Tuesday night. “We’re going to keep on showing up, we’re going to get this independent investigation of Oak Lawn PD, we’re going to clean this police department out from the top-down,” Guillory said.

AAAN, CAARPR, and their partners in the campaign will continue demanding that Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raul initiate an independent investigation into the Oak Lawn police, and are calling for the community to mobilize for the Fire & Police Commission meeting on September 2nd. Until the false charges are dropped, the community will also be mobilizing to support the three who have been arrested, starting at their court hearing on September 17th in Bridgeview, Illinois.

#OakLawnIL #IL #Chicago #InjusticeSystem #CAARPR #AAAN #OLPD

Baton Rouge, LA – Members of the Baton Rouge community came together at the biweekly Metropolitan Council meeting, August 12, to fight against the approval of the “Police Support Specialist Program,” Baton Rouge Police Department’s (BRPD) dangerous new re-hiring policy. This program allows former law enforcement personnel with a minimum of 20 years of experience to be rehired onto the force to perform ‘non law enforcement duties.’

The BRPD has consistently failed at holding officers accountable, and the conditions for rehiring outlined in the program show an intentional move to put crooked cops back on the force.

“Bringing people back who are trained under [unconstitutional] policies that simply do not operate in today’s world is unfathomable.” said Reverend Alexis Anderson during public comment as she voiced her concerns regarding the proposal.

Reverend Anderson was specifically referencing the 2024 decision by a federal judge that deemed BRPD’s strip search policy unconstitutional. Anderson additionally had concerns that crooked cops could be rehired onto the force, including lying officers on the Brady List, torturers involved in the BRAVE CAVE torture warehouse, criminals involved in narcotics scandals, or other BRPD scandals.

In response to comments from concerned members of the community, BRPD Chief of Police Thomas Morse Jr. weakly stated, “Why would I want to hire somebody like that?” He stated there are no specific provisions to protect against cops involved in these scandals being hired; he only gave empty promises.

The lack of accountability in BRPD policy gives no comfort to frightened community members who have endured decades of abuse by Baton Rouge Police and have witnessed the blatant lack of care that the force has for residents.

Most recently, Stefan Jones, a BRPD officer, resigned after sexual battery charges were filed against him. Jones was not taken off the force despite previous incidents including the falsification of military orders, brandishing a gun at bystanders, and most notably hitting and seriously injuring a bicyclist while on duty. BRPD’s tolerance of Jones’ behavior allowed a dangerous individual to continue working as an armed police officer and put the Baton Rouge community in harm's way.

While the Metropolitan Council voted to enact the new program, community members remain upset with the lack of transparency around the hiring process and will continue to struggle against BRPD’s attacks.

Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO), Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), and the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison Reform Collective (EBRPPRC) all gathered at the meeting to stand up for their community and fight back against this threat from the BRPD.

#BatonRougeLA #LA #InjusticeSystem #BRPD

Minneapolis, MN – On August 22, at 11:30 a.m. the People’s Action Coalition Against Trump (PACAT) organized a counter-protest to the Jake Lang hate rally. More than 100 protesters showed up in opposition to Lang’s white supremacist hate speech, aimed this time at the Black community. Lang has also called for the reinstitution of Jim Crow laws, calls to deport all immigrants from the U.S., and anti-Muslim hate speech.

When counter-protest organizers arrived at city hall, Minneapolis Police Department officers threatened to tow away their sound and medic vehicles. But when Jake Lang and his band of less than ten supporters showed up with two vehicles, MPD allowed them to drive onto the sidewalk. Officers surrounded Lang’s vehicles as they moved forward, effectively providing them with an armed escort.

MPD can be seen on video pushing and hitting protesters, ensuring Lang’s hate speech could continue. Mayor Jacob Frey stated to the press that MPD arrested Lang after he was run off by the crowd. But there was no reason to not arrest Lang for driving on the sidewalk. This unequal treatment of left and right-wing protest is nothing new to PACAT organizers.

MPD also arrested an anti-Lang protester who dressed as Spider-Man and adopted the hero’s persona by facing off with Lang and his ilk directly. MPD threw Minneapolis’ Spider-Man to the ground and stomped on his head before forcing him into a squad vehicle. The protester was released later the same day and received medical care after leaving the jail. PACAT and other community members are organizing a support action around Spider-Man’s September 4 court appearance on bogus assault charges.

A statement from PACAT notes, “If it was not clear before where the priorities of the Minneapolis police, and the mayor with sole authority over them, lie, it should now be clear to every Minneapolis resident who considers themselves anti-fascist and anti-racist that we are not the people they serve or protect. After the complete failure of Mayor Frey and MPD to protect residents from ICE during Metro Surge, and years of violence against Black, native and immigrant communities, we must understand them as ineffective at best and capitulators to the far right at worst.”

The People’s Action Coalition Against Trump and its member organizations are calling for the immediate resignation of Mayor Jacob Frey and interim MPD Chief Bill Peterson, as well as systemic reforms like community control of the police.

The PACAT counter-protest was supported by Black Lives Matter MN, Twin Cities Coalition for Justice, the Wrongfully Incarcerated & Over-sentenced Families Council-MN, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, TC Democratic Socialists of America, Minnesota 50501, and MN Immigrant Rights Action Committee.

#MinneapolisMN #MN #InJusticeSystem #PeoplesStruggles #RightWingers #JakeLang #Fascists #WhiteSupremacists #PACAT #JakeLang #SpiderMan #Feature #OppressedNationalities #AfricanAmerican #ImmigrantRights