Lufkin, TX – Students for a Democratic Society at Angelina College held an anti-Trump rally on Nov. 15. Chants of “Racist, sexist, anti-gay, President Trump cannot stay!” rang out, catching the attention of other students and school administrators.

“Trump represents nothing but hate, bigotry, fear. With that in mind, we are here today to stand against the rapist Donald Trump and all the anti-people policies he brings with him,” said Katlynn Oleinik, a member of Students for a Democratic Society, who opened the event.

Angelica Hernandez, also of SDS, said “Donald Trump ran his campaign by spreading hatred and fear of the Chicano people, by scapegoating all Muslims as terrorists and by supporting imperialist interests in the Middle East and around the globe.”

After the rally the students marched through campus chanting, “No Trump, no KKK, no racist USA!” and “Hey Trump! You liar! We’re here to say you’re fired!”

The march caused a ruckus on campus as students and professors came out of classes to see what was going on. The march ended with a student speakout.

#LufkinTX #StudentMovement #SDS #DumpTrump #AngelinaCollege

As the students marched through the campus they chanted “Black lives matter,” and “No justice, no peace, no racist police.” The Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) action drew the attention of local news stations and newspapers.

“The brutality of the police comes from generations of systematic and institutionalized racism that dates back to a time when African Americans were in chains and enslaved,” said Katlynn Oleinik of SDS.

Angelica Hernandez stated, “SDS demands that the police be put under the control of the communities in which they operate, for only when communities have control of the police will progress be made.”

#LufkinTX #InJusticeSystem #PoliceBrutality #PeoplesStruggles #Texas

Lufkin, TX – On Sept. 14, students at Angelina College painted a banner for a Black Lives Matter rally being organized by Students for a Democratic Society (SDS).

While the students were painting, a police officer from the Angelina County Sherriff’s Department approached and questioned the students about their actions. The police officer then harassed two women activists about the banner. He then forcefully took a flyer from the other SDS activist who was leafleting students on campus.

Angelica Hernandez of SDS said, “He was very overpowering in his tone of voice and was obviously trying to get us to respond to his questions. The police officer stated he was going to request more security on the day of the rally. It is clear they are trying to intimidate us to keep up from having our rally.”

“No matter the police presence, SDS will hold its Black Lives Matter rally at Angelina College. No racist police officer will stop the people’s voice from being heard!” Hernandez said.

The SDS rally will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 5 at 10:55 a.m. outside of the Angelina College Student Center.

#LufkinTX #InJusticeSystem #PeoplesStruggles #PoliceBrutality #Antiracism #Texas #Antifascism #BlackLivesMatter #PoliceHarassment

Lufkin, TX – Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) in Lufkin organized a forum, April 20, to inform the community about the case of Palestinian activist, Rasmea Odeh. Odeh is a 69-year-old Palestinian American activist who was brutalized and tortured by the Israeli government and is now being targeted by the U.S. because of her activism.

They opened the event with some background on the Israeli occupation of Palestine, and then discussed Rasmea Odeh's activism, as well as the U.S. government's attempts to silence her with a trumped-up immigration charge. Many people in the crowd were hearing about Odeh’s case for the first time. At the same time they were learning about the crimes committed by the U.S.-sponsored state of Israel and the struggle of the Palestinian people.

Afterwards there was a lively discussion that lasted for nearly 45 minutes, in which the students and professors in the audience expressed anger and outrage at the government's attempts to jail and deport her.

Angelica Hernandez, a member of SDS in Lufkin, said, “It is very clear that Rasmea Odeh is innocent of the crime she is accused and it is up to people around the U.S. and the world to defend her and help her receive the justice she so deserves. Long live Rasmea Odeh!”

#LufkinTX #StudentsForADemocraticSociety #Palestine #MiddleEast #Texas #RasmeaOdeh #Justice4Rasmea #PoliticalRepression

Lufkin, Texas – Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) at Angelina College held a rally and march as part of a national day of action. They marched demanding “Education for all!” on April 13.

“We need college to be publicly funded. The U.S. government should cut money spent on the military budget, especially the military aid given to Israel,” said Ian Cox of SDS, “No one should be indebted for receiving an education. It should be considered a right.”

The students marched across campus chanting, “Drop tuition, not bombs!” and “What do we want? Free tuition! When do we want it? Now!” By the time they arrived at the final rallying point, a crowd of students had gathered.

“We need publicly-funded colleges. We must demand an end to imperialist wars and we must fight for the emancipation of all oppressed nationalities. Only a socialist revolution can ensure free education for all, an end to imperialist wars, and the liberation of all oppressed people,” said the final speaker, Angelica Hernandez of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

SDS members stayed after the rally to answer questions from the crowd of students and distribute flyers.

#LufkinTX #AngelinaSDS

The forum discussed the rise of the popularity of the term socialism – and some socialist ideas like universal healthcare and publicly funded education, which have been brought up with the rise of the Bernie Sanders campaign. The main part of the forum consisted of an introduction to the Marxist understanding of class, the national liberation movements in the U.S. and how to build the strategic alliance of the working class and oppressed nations.

After the main presentation ended, there was a discussion in which members of the audience could ask any questions about socialism or FRSO and its line. That part of the event lasted for about 45 minutes after the main presentation and created a vibrant discussion on the Bernie Sanders campaign, solidarity issues in relation to the Rasmea Odeh case, and some of the contradictions within capitalism and how socialism would end those contradictions.

Angelica Hernandez, who is a member of the local Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) chapter at Angelina College, said that the forum was “inspiring, educating and well done.”

#LufkinTX #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganization #frso #Socialism

Lufkin, TX – Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) at Angelina College held a banner making party on March 29. The local SDS chapter is preparing for a march on April 13 as part of a nationwide action. The Million Student March is demanding college tuition be free, all student debts be canceled, and that campus employees be paid a living wage of $15 an hour.

As they made the banner, SDS activists held conversations with other students about their issues. The banner reads, “Drop tuition, not bombs!” adding an anti-war message to the national call for student protests.

The march starts at Angelina College, in Lufkin, Texas at 12:30pm, and is organized by the Lufkin branch of Students for a Democratic Society.

https://www.facebook.com/events/479222372281986/

#LufkinTX #SDS #MillionStudentMarch