Fight Back! News

News and Views from the People's Struggle

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By Carlos Montes

Strikers and supporters line the streets of LA.

Los Angeles, CA – Citywide, UTLA teachers and parents continue the strong momentum and LAUSD politicians are feeling the pressure. Negotiations have restarted today, January 17. The UTLA strike is getting national attention and the newly elected California Governor Gavin Newsom is calling on LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner and LA Mayor Eric Garcetti to continue with negotiations. Newsom is bringing both politicians in to negotiate at LA City Hall. UTLA has the strength and momentum to win for fully-funded, public, community schools.

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By Carlos Montes

Day 3 of the LA teacher strike

Los Angeles, CA – On day 3 of the UTLA teachers strike, seven regional rallies were held citywide, resulted in major street shutdowns. In East LA, East Area UTLA teachers held a loud enthusiastic rally at Soto Street in front of the LAUSD East Area offices. The rain did not put a damper on the loud, enthusiastic teachers and community supporters numbering in the thousands.

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By Sol Márquez

UTLA strikers rally against school privatization.

Los Angeles, CA – Arriving at 4:30 a.m. to confront scabs, a large crowd of teachers, parents, students and allies showed up for the picket lines at Breed Street Elementary, January 15, day two of the UTLA teachers strike. Rain and wind did not stop the passionate and determined teachers. The day focused on the fight against privatizing education

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By staff

Members of UTLA and supporters march in LA.

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU).

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By Sol Márquez

Striking UTLA members and supporters at City Hall.

Los Angeles, CA – At 6 a.m., January 14, over 50 teachers, students, parents and supporters joined the picket line at Breed Street Elementary. Breed Street Elementary, in the Boyle Heights neighborhood, is under attack by the mega-charter corporation Kipp Charter. Kipp Charter is trying to build a new charter school only one block away from Breed Street.

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By Sol Márquez

LA protest demands justice for Christian Escobedo.

Los Angeles, CA – Chanting, “Say his name! Christian Escobedo!” and “If we don’t get no justice, then they don’t get no peace! No justice! No peace! No trigger-happy police!” on January 12 over 60 neighbors, family members, friends and allies gathered on Galena Street and Amethyst Street – where Escobedo was shot and killed.

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By Sol Márquez

LA protest against Trump's wall.

Los Angeles, CA – With less than a 24-hour notice, about a dozen Chicanos and Latinos gathered in Los Angeles, January 9, against Trump’s proposed wall. Chanting, “Trump! El burro! No! Al muro!” (Trump the jackass! No to the wall!) and “When I say, ‘Trump,’ you say, ‘No wall!’ Trump! No wall!” the angry protesters gathered at the busy intersection of 4th Street and Soto Street in Boyle Heights. As they walked home, Roosevelt High School students and working-class families greeted the protestors.

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By staff

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Los Angeles, CA – Longtime Chicano and immigrant rights leader Carlos Montes condemned President Trump’s January 8 Oval Office speech, stating, “We are opposed to Trump’s attacks on refugees at the border – and his wall. We will continue to oppose his measures, and build the movement to dump Trump.”

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By Carlos Montes

Conferencia de prensa y protesta contra Kipp mega charter en Boyle Heights

Los Angeles, CA – Los residentes del vecindario de Boyle Heights, acompañados por familias de estudiantes de escuelas públicas locales, anunciaron, en una conferencia de prensa el 5 de enero y piquete, la presentación de una demanda en el Tribunal Superior contra la ciudad de Los Ángeles y la escuela “charter”  KIPP Promesa para detener el mega proyecto. KIPP Promesa quiere construir una gran escuela “charter” en el antiguo Hospital Lincoln en Boyle Heights.

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By Carlos Montes

Press conference and picket against Kipp mega charter school in Boyle Heights

Los Angeles, CA – Residents of the Boyle Heights neighborhood, joined by families of students of local public schools, announced, at a January 5 press conference and picket, the filing of a lawsuit in Superior Court against the city of Los Angeles and KIPP Promesa charter school to stop the mega project. KIPP Promesa wants to build a large charter school at the former Lincoln Hospital in Boyle Heights.

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By staff

Los Angeles, CA – The union made up of LA educators, United Teachers of LA (UTLA), is blasting plans by the LA Unified School District (LAUSD) to hire temporary replacement teachers in the event of a strike.

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By Sol Márquez

50,000 people In marched in support of the UTLA December 15 downtown LA.

Los Angeles, CA – This morning, December 19, United Teachers of Los Angeles (UTLA) joined by parents, student and supporters, announced they will strike on Thursday, January 10, 2019. Centro CSO urges parents and students to join the picket line at their local school to stand united with our teachers.

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By staff

LA action in solidarity with refugee caravan.

Los Angeles, CA – Community members and activists of Centro CSO held a rally and donation drive, December 1, in a busy street intersection of Boyle Heights to support of the Central American refugee caravan whose participants are currently seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border in Tijuana, Baja California.

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By Sol Márquez

LA protest demand justice for Jesse Romero.

Los Angeles, CA – In an outrageous decision, the jury sided with two-time killer and Los Angeles Police Department officer Eden Medina. The civil rights violations trial on 14-year-old Jesse Romero's killing started November 13 and lasted only six days. Early in the preceding, a judge ruled to exclude key evidence from the proceedings.

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By Sol Márquez

Chicano youth murdered by LAPD

LA protest demands justice for Jesse Romero.

Los Angeles, CA – The civil trial by Jesse Romero's parents against LAPD officer Eden Medina and the City of Los Angeles started at the U.S. Courthouse on November 13. After five days of dramatic testimony and police video recordings, as of mid-day November 19, the jury has reported they are not agreeing yet on a decision. It appears the jury is split and the judge has asked them to continue deliberating.

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By Sol Márquez

Los Angeles, CA – On October 26, as the caravan of refugees from Central America traveled through Mexico, they were welcomed with food, festivity, aid, and clothing. As Chicanos, we must do the same when the caravan arrives at U.S. border.

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By Sol Márquez

LA teachers fight for decent contract.

Los Angeles, CA – Over 300 militant parents and students, along with teachers who are members of United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), gathered at LA Unified School District (LAUSD) headquarters, October 23, to protest Superintendent Austin Beutner. Near the end of the rally, they all marched into the LAUSD superintendent’s office and staged an occupation, demanding to meet with Beutner.

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By Jared Hamil

CSO members early voting at Boyle Heights City Hall.

Los Angeles, CA – On Nov. 6, millions of Californians will be headed to the polls for the midterm elections. Many contested seats are up for election, including the governor, house, and senate seats. On top of that, are 12 state propositions up for voting. We encourage you to register and vote.

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By Carlos Montes

LA protest demands justice for Anthony Vargas.

Los Angeles, CA – A protest shook the East LA Sheriff's Department station, Sept. 8. Lisa Vargas, the mother of Anthony Vargas, who was murdered by LA sheriffs, told the crowd “We’re here today for Anthony but we also know there are others who lose loved ones and don’t come out to speak. For whatever reason, but we’re for them also. We believe that my son was innocent. And we believe that he did not deserve this.”

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By staff

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Los Angeles, CA – Thousands of enthusiastic union members united for a great march and rally in the heart of the historical Wilmington Chicano community, Sept 3.

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