Fight Back! News

News and Views from the People's Struggle

MI

By Cole Hamilton

Day of the Dead event in Detroit.

Detroit, MI — On the evening of November 1, Comité de Acción Comunitaria – Detroit, Detroit Anti-War Committee, Engineers Against Apartheid, and several other organizations came together in Southwest Detroit to build an ofrenda (traditional altar) that contained candles, portraits of those who have been lost, as well as the flags of Palestine and Venezuela.

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By Emerson Wolfe

Khalid Jamal.

Portage, MI – More than 50 people converged on the Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport this past Sunday to greet the arrival of Sumud Flotilla activist Khalid Jamal after his detention in the notorious Ktzi'ot Prison.

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Massive anti-Trump in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Grand Rapids, MI – On Saturday, October 18, approximately 10,000 protesters convened in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids. This “No Kings” protest was held at Rosa Parks Circle in response to the nationwide call for people to stand up against the Trump administration, joining the dozens of demonstrations across West Michigan and the more than 2500 across the country.

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By Michael Muczynski

Thousands march against Trump in Detroit.

Detroit, MI – On October 18, more than 8000 protesters gathered for a major No Kings protest starting at Roosevelt Park in Detroit to demand Detroit declare itself a sanctuary city, that troops be ousted from our cities, and the city divest from war profiteers.

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By staff

Protest against Michigan arms maker that's complicit with the genocide in Gaza.

Zeeland, MI – For the second year in a row, Palestine Solidarity Grand Rapids rallied outside of war profiteer Woodward FST to commemorate the anniversary of the Al Aqsa flood. Over 40 people chanted to the sounds of snares, claves and cymbals as surrounding factories marked their second shift change and employees filtered into the parking lot.

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By Owen Frassetto

Caption can read: Students rally in front of the GVSU sign on Allendale campus.

Allendale, MI – On Tuesday, October 7, the Grand Valley State University Progressive Student Union held a rally on campus to stand with the Palestinian people. After two years of genocide by Israel, and two years of bold resistance by the Palestinian people, students came together to hear speeches and give chants in solidarity with Palestine.

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By Jo Pico

WSU march in solidarity with Palestine.

Detroit, MI – On October 7, around 50 students and community members walked out of class and their jobs in protest of two years of genocide in Gaza. Wayne State Students for Justice in Palestine, Students for a Democratic Society, Detroit Anti-War Committee, and several other organizations gathered on Gullen Mall to show that Detroit continues to stand with Palestine, the right of Palestinians to resist occupation, and to demand an end to Israel’s slaughter.

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By Owen Frassetto

Allendale, Michigan students hold teach-in on queer and trans liberation.

Allendale, MI – The Progressive Student Union at Grand Valley State University held a teach-in event on Queer and Trans liberation on Monday, September 29. Despite attempts by the GVSU administration and the Office of Student Life to prevent the students from gathering by demanding $380 out of the students to use a room on campus, the PSU successfully held the event in the Arboretum outdoor park space on campus without disruption.

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By Anthony O'Hegarty

Pro Palestine protest against Rep. Hillary Scholten.

Grand Rapids, MI – On September 20, pro-Palestine protesters confronted Hillary Scholten outside of the Kent County Democratic Party headquarters during a pro-union fundraising event.

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By Jackson Robak

Detroit protest slams Netanyahu UN visit.

Detroit, MI – On the evening of September 26, the Detroit Anti-War Committee and other organizations gathered at Grand Circus Park to protest Netanyahu’s address at the United Nations and to show Detroit stands with Palestine.

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By staff

Detroit, MI – On September 23, the Detroit Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, together with other community groups in the city, demonstrated outside of a city council community meeting for a city ordinance guaranteeing the release of police body-worn camera footage.

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By Owen Frassetto

GVSU Students hold a moment of silence for Demartravion Reed at a vigil on campus.

Allendale, MI – The Sultry Xi Nu chapter of the Sigma Gamma Rho sorority organized a vigil on the evening of Monday, September 22, at Grand Valley State University to honor the life of Demartravion “Trey” Reed, a young Black man who was found deceased on the campus of Delta State University in Mississippi last Monday. The rally was organized in partnership with the GVSU Pan-Hellenic Council and the Progressive Student Union.

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By Owen Frassetto

GVSU Progressive Student Union leads a march demanding a sanctuary campus policy from university administration.

Allendale, MI – The Progressive Student Union at Grand Valley State University (GVSU) led a march on Monday, September 22, demanding that the GVSU board of trustees pass a sanctuary campus policy to protect international and immigrant students from deportations.

GVSU has a large population of international students. In April, four international students had their visas revoked by the federal government, before being reinstated in August.

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By Cole Hamilton

Detroit, MI – On September 21, demonstrators met at Theodore Levin Courthouse to protest the recent Supreme Court ruling that allows ICE and police to profile people based on their race and the language they speak. Protesters also rallied against the racist killing of Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez by ICE in Chicago and in support of making Detroit a sanctuary city for immigrants.

The protest was organized by the Detroit Community Action Committee, a group fighting for the rights of immigrants and the democratic rights of Chicano’s based in Southwest Detroit.

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By Alan Mitchell

Protesters marching with flags and a banner.

Grand Rapids, MI – The Grand Rapids Coalition to Oppose Trump called a protest in coordination with the National Day of Action to honor the late civil rights leader John Lewis. The coalition formed a week before, with a dozen community organizations and leaders united to oppose the Trump agenda. The entire event was planned and executed in less than a week after the coalition was founded.

Starting at Ah-Nab-Awen Park, the crowd of over 300 community members overlooked the concrete stage at the bank of the Grand River. Several speakers honored John Lewis and spoke of his important contributions to the civil rights movement and voting rights.

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By staff

A group of people walking alongside a country road holding signs.

Grand Rapids, MI – On June 26, more than 40 activists and organizers, led by Palestine Solidarity Grand Rapids (PSGR), embarked on a spirited march of 75 miles. Over five days of walking from Grand Rapids to Lansing they successfully raised funds for Palestinian children.

Traversing narrow shoulders on busy highways and dusty country roads, through 90-degree weather and heavy rain, the group set out to raise $5000. However, by the time they reached their destination at the Michigan State Capitol on June 30, they smashed through their initial goal and raised more than $21,000.

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By Tom O'Hegarty

A group of people standing in front of a church.

Grand Rapids, MI – Spirits were high on the morning of June 26, as 42 people embarked from Fountain Street Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, beginning the first leg of their five-day trek to Lansing, the state capital. The March Against Genocide, organized by Palestine Solidarity Grand Rapids, is a fundraising effort for the nonprofits HEAL Palestine and Playgrounds for Palestine.

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By staff

A marching group of protesters holding signs, flags and banners.

Grand Rapids, MI – While the Grand Rapids Pride committee was pausing festivities for the afternoon due to nearly triple-digit temperatures on Sunday, June 22, over 100 community members marched with cold compresses and face misting water bottles through the Festival to nearby Rosa Parks Circle, demanding “No war with Iran.”

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By Jo Pico

Detroit protest against the Trump agenda.

Detroit, MI – Over 5000 people rallied in Clark Park, June 14, for the national No Kings day of action to declare a “Day Without Immigrants.” Clark Park resides in the historic Southwest area of Detroit, which is known for its strong Mexican-American community.

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By staff

Detroit protest in solidarity with Los Angeles against  ICE raids, National Guard.

Detroit, MI – On June 8, around 80 Detroiters and several community organizations protested Trump’s deployment of the National Guard on the Los Angeles community. Outside of the downtown ICE and Police Department Headquarters, Detroit stood in solidarity with those fighting back against ICE and the National Guard in LA.

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