Minneapolis, MN – Twin Cites supporters of Palestinian American leader Rasmea Odeh scored a major success here, July 29, collecting well over $1000 to help her defense effort. About 50 people came together for a “Happy Hour for Rasmea” organized by the Minnesota Committee to Stop FBI Repression. The funds will be used to help get people to Cincinnati, Ohio, where it is expected that the oral arguments on Odeh’s appeal will be heard in federal court this fall.

Minneapolis, MN – More than 40 people protested outside the office of Senator Amy Klobuchar on July 24, demanding the closing of ‘family detention centers’ housing thousands of immigrant mothers and children near the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas. The largest family detention center in Dilley, Texas houses around 2000 immigrant mothers and children, the vast majority of whom fled rampant violence and economic deterioration in the Central American countries of Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. After a harrowing and dangerous journey across several borders, these mothers and children are suffering yet another nightmare of being jailed indefinitely by the U.S. government under terrible conditions. The Dilley prison is a private prison operated for profit by the Corrections Corporation of America (CCA).

Minneapolis, MN – About 200 people gathered in the Warehouse District here, July 18, to install a plaque commemorating the 1934 Teamsters strike. The epic strike was one of the pivotal events of the 1930s that ushered in a huge upsurge in the labor movement.

Boycott of Mall of America in solidarity with Black Lives Matter Minneapolis

Minneapolis, MN – Hundreds of members of the Somali community will boycott the Mall of America on July 18, by moving their Eid Celebration. This Eid Celebration comes at the end of the religious holy month of Ramadan for the Muslim community.

Minneapolis, MN – On July 8, Palestine solidarity protesters will gather in Loring Park, at 4:30 p.m., and march through Uptown Minneapolis to mark the one-year anniversary of Israel’s 51-day bombing campaign against Gaza. They will demand an end to U.S. aid to Israel.

Minneapolis, MN – The Supreme Court agreed today, June 30, to hear Friederichs vs. California Teachers Association, which aims to gut public sector unions and would make the public sector ‘right to work’ nationwide. The court will determine whether public sector unions can continue to collect so-called ‘fair share’ or ‘agency fees’ from non-members who benefit from the collective bargaining agreement negotiated by unions, and could overturn the landmark case Abood vs. Detroit Board of Education.

Minneapolis, MN – University of Minnesota campus union workers, holding signs demanding “raises and respect“ held a press conference regarding the U of M proposed budget before testifying at the board of regents public budget hearing.

Minneapolis, MN –Black Lives Matters Minneapolis issued a statement, June 7, in response to police abuse at a pool party of Black youth in McKinney, TX. Videos of the incident are receiving wide circulation on social media.

Minneapolis, MN – Twin Cities activists will host a live stream event with long time Palestinian American leader Rasmea Odeh and her defense attorney Michael Deutsch, Thursday, June 11

Minneapolis, MN – After months of organizing and community pressure, the Minneapolis city council voted 12-1 to repeal laws against lurking and spitting, June 5. These laws, disproportionately enforced against African Americans and other oppressed nationalities, had been criticized as “Minneapolis Black Codes.”

Minneapolis, MN – Over 50 protesters picketed in front of Senator Amy Klobuchar’s office, May 15, and then marched across 35W to the Minneapolis West Bank neighborhood to commemorate Al-Nakba, which means the catastrophe in Arabic.

Minneapolis, MN – Over 150 University of Minnesota frontline workers, faculty and students rallied for raises and respect outside the Board of Regents meeting, on the McNamara Plaza here May 8. University Unions united – which is made up of AFSCME Locals 3800, 3937,3260 and 380 – and Teamster Local 320 organized the rally as kickoff for contract negotiations.

Minneapolis, MN – On May 1, the annual International Workers Day march for immigrant and workers rights merged in the streets with a Black Lives Matter march. During rush hour the combined march took over all lanes in both directions of major arterial streets as they marched downtown to the Hennepin County Government Center. Chants and songs alternated between the themes of immigrant rights, workers’ rights and Black Lives Matter.

Minneapolis, MN – About 2500 people are marching through the streets here, on the evening of April 29, sending a powerful message of solidarity with the struggle against police terror in Baltimore.

Minneapolis, MN – About 90 workers, community members and students came together here, April 26, for an enthusiastic celebration of International Workers’ Day. The May Day event was organized by Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO).

Minneapolis, MN – Minnesotans will be celebrating International Workers’ Day early this year. Labor and community leaders will speak out at an event organized by Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO), Sunday, April 26, 2:30 p.m., at 4200 Cedar Ave S, Minneapolis.

Minneapolis, MN -Students gathered in the middle of the University of Minnesota (UMN) campus in solidarity with Venezuela's Bolivarian Revolution. Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) waved the Venezuelan flag and distributed fliers condemning U.S. government-backed efforts to overthrow Venezuela’s President Maduro. In its latest move, the White House imposed newly heightened sanctions against officials of the Venezuelan government.

Minneapolis, MN – People gathered at the May Day Bookstore here in Minneapolis, April 18, for a forum titled “U.S. Meddling Escalates: Venezuela: A New Crisis?”

Minneapolis, MN – 30 people gathered here for an April 19 forum announcing the first Coke Free Zone in Minneapolis. Last fall, the campaign to #BoycottCoke was launched by the U.S. Palestinian Communities Network (USPCN), targeting Coca-Cola for its operations in illegal settlements on Palestinian land, and its support for the Zionist regime.

Bloomington City Attorney still pursuing restitution claim for ‘Police overtime’

Minneapolis, MN – According to a letter from their lawyer, the Mall of America (MOA) is no longer pursuing restitution from Black Lives Matter activists for lost revenue after they made the decision to shut down their stores during a Dec. 20, 2014 protest at the Mall of America. This news comes after a massive and sustained public pressure campaign urging the MOA to call on City Attorney Sandra Johnson to drop the charges. The campaign includes a boycott and takeover of the mall’s #ItsMyMall Twitter campaign.