New Orleans, LA – On July 15, at least 13 New Orleanian activists will join thousands to march on the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. This baker’s dozen is a group of leaders and organizers from Black liberation, labor, student and gender liberation movements.

“We are the phantom that haunts them in their sleep”

The coalition is fresh off of protesting Trump’s fundraiser in a New Orleans gated community near Tulane University. They say they’re ready to follow him to Wisconsin.

“I think it’s important to let the Republicans know that even when they leave their strong base in the South, that we’re gonna chase ‘em down and we’re gonna fight them every step of the way,” said Loyola Students for a Democratic Society organizer Jack Saucier. “We are the phantom that haunts them in their sleep. We’re everywhere that they think that we’re not and we’re on ‘em all the time.”

The city’s progressive movements are growing, but facing backlash from a state government dominated by racists and Christian fundamentalists. In June, Louisiana became the first state to require public schools to post the Ten Commandments in all classrooms.

“The attacks we face in Louisiana from the far right are part of the Republicans’ bigoted and undemocratic agenda. It’s important for us to fight those attacks at a local level, but that’s not enough,” said Molly Frayle of the Queer-Trans Community Action Project. “By protesting the RNC, we are sending a message to far-right politicians across the country.”

“It’s important that we keep our foot on these politicians’ necks”

As one of his first decisions in office, Governor Jeff Landry ramped up the Louisiana State Police’s presence in the New Orleans area. Their officers brutalized and arrested student protesters at the Tulane-Loyola Popular University for Gaza encampment in May. The Louisiana State Police can bypass the New Orleans Police Department’s consent decree, reversing decades of progress won by the movement for police accountability.

“It’s important that we keep our foot on these politicians’ necks,” said Kia Thomas of New Orleans for Community Oversight of Police. “They need to know we will not stand down.”

Abbey Lodwig, a barista, who will speak for Starbucks Workers United at the March on the RNC, states, “The Republicans are fighting to strip decades of labor rights the working class has won.”

Lodwig continued, “We’re excited to march on the RNC and we hope to see many union siblings alongside us!”

Palestine solidarity organizations were among the first to sponsor the march. Endorsers include New Orleans Stop Helping Israel’s Ports, NOLA Healthcare Workers for Palestine, and NOLA Artists for Palestine.

#NewOrleansLA #NOLA #FreePalestine #NOCOP #NOSHIP #MarchOnTheRNC #Starbucks #SWU #Loyola #LoyolaSDS #LoyNO #SDS

Grand Rapids, MI – In response to the upcoming Republican National Convention (RNC), a coalition of grassroots organizations is mobilizing Michigan residents for a march in Milwaukee on July 15 to protest the RNC.

“We are going to be in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at 10 a.m. on Monday, July 15, to let the Republicans know that we oppose their racist and reactionary agenda. We oppose Trump and his attack on immigrants, workers, LGBT folks, women, bodily autonomy and reproductive rights. We are going to march with families and with joy for our own agenda, the people’s agenda, in the streets of Milwaukee and let the Republicans know that we are going to resist them every step of the way and we are going to shut them down if Trump is elected,” said Tom Burke from the Coalition to March on the RNC.

The march is organized by the national Coalition to March on the RNC, composed of grassroots groups and unions from across the country united to stop the Republicans’ racist and reactionary agenda, defend reproductive rights, and demand peace, justice and equity. 

Michigan member organizations of this national effort include Palestine Solidarity Grand Rapids, the Grand Rapids Alliance Against Racist & Political Repression, Students for a Democratic Society, and Freedom Road Socialist Organization. 

The groups highlighted the Republicans' long history of threatening civil rights. “Take 2019, for example, when a majority of Republican lawmakers refused to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, legislation aimed at protecting women. We continue to see constant attacks on LGBTQ individuals and reproductive rights by Republicans. That’s why we’re going to Milwaukee, to demand equal treatment for women and LGBTQ rights, and access to reproductive healthcare,” said Jessie Pichta from Students for a Democratic Society.

The groups also addressed the threat Republicans pose to democracy and voting rights. A member of the Grand Rapids Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression stated, “one of the Republicans' key strategies is voter suppression. After the past election, several states passed legislation that made it more difficult to vote. For example, Georgia now has stricter voter laws, which disproportionately affect communities at the margins. We have also seen an increase in crackdowns on protests and political dissent. In Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis signed HB 1 into law in 2021, which aims to suppress protests while granting civil immunity to drivers who run over protesters.”

Michigan Republicans were also specifically called out. “In 2008, it was the Republican Michigan attorney general who issued the memo that terminated access to driver’s licenses for all Michiganders, regardless of their citizenship status. Since then – for over 15 years – tens of thousands of Michigan families and workers have been unjustly excluded from access to driver’s licenses and live in fear of having their families separated anytime the police perform a traffic stop.” said Danny Celaya from Palestine Solidarity Grand Rapids. 

Celaya continued, “Then of course, we cannot forget about how Republicans such as Nikki Haley and Donald Trump have been candid over their support of the genocide happening in Palestine. We need to oppose their violent remarks and continue to stand with Palestine.” In May, Nikki Haley made news after she was photographed signing an Israeli artillery shell with the words “Finish them.” Then during the June 27 presidential debates, Donald Trump voiced his support for Israel to “finish the job.”

The march has faced pushback by Milwaukee city officials and the Secret Service. Burke explained, “We are demanding our permits from the city of Milwaukee and the Secret Service who don’t want us to express our free speech rights. They don’t want us to march to the doors of the Fiserv auditorium where the Republicans will be meeting. That is exactly our plan. We’re going to have all sorts of people, from all walks of life together, thousands of us raising our voices against the Republicans and their backwards agenda.”

#GrandRapidsMI #MarchOnTheRNC #FreePalestine #PalestineSolidarity #SDS #GRAARPR

Tallahassee, FL – On June 30, two days after the 55th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, students and community members gathered at Tallahassee Students for a Democratic Society’s annual pride talent show, one of the longest-running non-corporate pride events in the city. 

SDS organized the talent show to celebrate the historic victories that queer people have won through mass struggle, keeping the spirit of Stonewall alive while resisting rainbow capitalism.

Students enjoyed a wide range of performances from their queer classmates, centering the focus on the real heart of Pride - popular struggle, by and for the queer community, against oppression at the hands of the capitalist system. There are no Chase logos or Raytheon employees here – the students are standing up to corporate co-opting and carrying Stonewall’s torch of liberation.

The event was hosted by local drag queen Hahina Hollywood,who recounted their experiences as an organizer with SDS through the years from the fight against Florida’s anti-queer legislation to the movement for divestment from Israel. Their introduction was followed by music, poetry, comedy and dance.

The SDS pride talent show is one of Tallahassee’s largest Pride Month events, as the city government’s pride events are held in the spring academic semester to maximize profits and disconnect Tallahassee from the global queer movement. SDS presents an alternative for Tallahassee, a beacon of authentic queer culture and resistance. As SDS organizer Joelle Nunez said before her performance, “It is our duty as queer and trans people to know our roots and resist oppression everywhere.”

In July, Tallahassee SDS will be sending a contingent to the March on the RNC in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. For more information on the march, go to marchonrnc2024.org. To join or support the Tallahassee contingent, reach out to @tallysds on Instagram.

#TallahasseeFL #TallySDS #Pride #TakeBackPride #SDS #MarchOnTheRNC #Stonewall #LGBTQLiberation

Fight Back! is circulating the following statement by the Legalization for All Network (L4A).

Legalization for All Network Statement on Biden Executive Order

The June 17 Biden Administration Executive Order to facilitate the legalization of spouses of U.S. citizens affects up to 500,000 undocumented people. The Legalization for All (L4A) network considers the order a positive step towards the goal of legalization for all of the undocumented.

At the same time, this positive action does not absolve the Biden administration of adopting a Trump-like policy on the U.S.-Mexico border. On June 4, 2024, Biden issued an effective ban on those seeking asylum. The ban goes into effect when the daily average of border arrests tops 2,500.

This spring, the average daily number of border arrests was 4,300. In other words, as many as 1,800 people a day attempting to cross the U.S./Mexico border now face quick deportation or being turned back to Mexico without starting an asylum claim.

Shortly following the ban, immigrant rights groups took to the streets around the country and in Washington D.C. demanding that Biden remove the ban and expand Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

Undocumented immigrants need much more concrete and secure immigration policies that are not at the mercy of an upcoming election. The newly announced executive order does the following:

• Allows undocumented people married to US citizen for ten years to legalize their status while remaining in the United States. This would benefit about 500,000 undocumented.
• Gives temporary status to undocumented children of US citizen parents, aiding about 50,000.

While L4A views this as a victory for our movement, Biden’s executive order applies to less than 5% of the undocumented.

President Biden and the Democrats have lost a considerable amount of voter and public support due to their role in the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people. At the same time, the Republican Party has made it clear that anti-immigrant measures are a centerpiece of their political agenda. Trump continues calling for mass deportations, more detention centers, and for other bigots, like Texas Governor Greg Abbott, to buildemergency facilities to further militarize the Rio Grande.

Rather than fall for the Biden administration's cynical political moves, L4A has endorsed both the march against the Republican National Convention and the Democratic National Convention. We ask all people and organizations who are part of our network or follow our work, to do the same and march with us in our immigrant rights contingents.

Send us a message now to notify us about your attendance at either the march on the RNC or DNC: Legalization for All on X, Instagram, Facebook or https://legalizationforall.wordpress.com/

#LegalizationForAll #Legalization4All #MarchOnTheRNC #MarchOnTheDNC #Biden #ExecutiveOrder #ImmigrantRights #Immigration #UndocumentedRights

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following July 1 statement from Students for a Democratic Society.

In late April 2016, the remaining candidates for the 2016 Republican nominee, Ted Cruz and John Kasich, dropped out of the presidential race. This leaves Donald Trump as the presumptive nominee, without any opposing Republican candidate with support from Congress. Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) chapters, along with numerous progressive, anti-war, anti-racist organizations in the Coalition to Stop Trump and March on the RNC, are thus preparing to March on the RNC in Cleveland, Ohio, on July 18th, and to call on people everywhere to “Dump Trump!”

Since early 2016, SDS chapters have been hosting protests to Dump Trump all around the country. Trump has inflamed xenophobic sentiment against Central American immigrants and Middle Eastern refugees, using slogans like “Build the Wall” and “Make America Great Again.” He has popularized white supremacist groups such as the Ku Klux Klan, who encourage racist attacks on African-Americans. He has emboldened sexist attacks on women and members of gender minorities, and he also denounced progressive protesters and called for measures to repress them more brutally and more swiftly, many of whom include SDS members.

SDS also condemns the attempts of the City of Cleveland and the FBI to curtail the right to protest. The City attempted to limit the protest to designated parade routes, away from the site of the convention. These restrictions were overturned as unconstitutional in a hearing last Thursday, but the city has still refused to issue permits to march on the RNC.

SDS demands that Cleveland immediately issue permits to protests at the RNC. If the City of Cleveland refuses, SDS and dozens of other organizations are prepared to go forward without a permit, and march right up to the site of the convention.

SDS also condemns the FBI for their attempts to interrogate and intimidate activists in Cleveland. Their effort to create a climate of fear and stop the protests will not succeed. SDS demands the FBI immediately cease their repressive actions and encourages all activists to reject FBI questioning.

Most of all, SDS chapters calls upon progressive students everywhere to Dump Trump and attend the March on the RNC!

#UnitedStates #StudentMovement #StudentsForADemocraticSociety #SDS #US #marchOnTheRNC #Elections #Cleveland #RNC2016

St. Paul, MN – Standing in front to the Xcel Center, Sept. 1, the site of next year’s Republican National Convention, organizers of the massive protest planned against the war on Iraq pressed their demand for permits. The city of Saint Paul has refused to issue permits and is having subcommittees of the city’s so-called Free Speech Committee meeting in secret. Speakers – including members of Women Against Military Madness, the Welfare Rights Committee and the Anti-War Committee – made it clear that would fight any attempt to restrict their right to protest against the Iraq war at the Republican National Convention.

Anh Pham, of the Anti-War Committee stated, “The Republicans cannot expect to come to St. Paul, to the Twin Cities, which had some of the largest and most consistent anti-war demonstrations in the country, to stay silent and let this happen in our backyards. The anti-war voices of Minnesota will not be silenced, the anti-war voices in the U.S. will not be silenced and the voices of the peoples of the world will not be silenced.”

Marie Bram of the Women Against Military Madness condemned the war on Iraq as a crime against humanity, and urged the city to grant the march permits.

“We are outraged that this government spends trillions to carry out occupations and war abroad, while they slash spending for basic human needs at home. We are also outraged that it is us, poor and working folks that are being sent to kill and be killed in this rich man’s war,” said Angel Buechner of the Welfare Rights Committee.

Following the Xcel Center press conference, the Anti-War Committee is hosted a ‘pre-versary’ picnic and rally at nearby Mears Park. The event included politically themed games for children and adults, music, poetry and speeches. Local organizations involved in anti-RNC planning also tabled with information for how attendees can get involved in building for next year’s protests.

Leah Entenmann of the Anti-War Committee explains, “The vast majority of Minnesotans oppose the war on Iraq and many are looking for ways to make themselves heard. We see the RNC as a huge opportunity for Minnesotans to join their voices with forces nationally against the war and the Republican agenda. The Saint Paul City Council’s 'Free Speech Committee' sub-committees have been meeting in secret and are seeking to control our organizing efforts. We are using Sept. 1 to launch a year’s worth of organizing against the Republican National Convention, to raise public support for the forthcoming demonstrations and to announce our intention to march on the RNC – with or without the approval of the St. Paul City Council.”

The planned protests at the RNC have the backing of a broad spectrum of peace and justice organizations. Further information can be found at ProtestRNC2008.org

#StPaulMN #SaintPaulMN #News #RepublicanNationalConvention2008 #marchOnTheRNC #XcelCenter

The march was supposed to go to the Xcel Center, to show dissent while McCain was speaking. Instead, riot police declared the march an 'unlawful assembly' and blocked every road leading toward the Xcel Center. This is despite repeated pre-RNC assurances that there would be a 'public viewing area' right outside the Xcel Center where anyone could observe or express themselves during the RNC, which they claimed would be open to anyone until 11:00 pm daily.

Despite repeated police provocations and attempts to disperse the protest, the marchers stayed together and stayed in the streets for over three hours until McCain was speaking after 9:00 pm. The march ended in teargassing and the mass arrest of 396 people, while McCain was speaking inside the Xcel Center. The following video captures much of the spirit of the march, which was the final protest during the RNC.

#StPaulMN #AntiwarMovement #Iraq #RepublicanNationalConvention2008 #AntiWarCommittee #marchOnTheRNC #noPeaceForTheWarmakers

Saint Paul, MN – Local leaders of the Twin Cites peace and justice movement announced their planned march route here at a June 7 press conference. The massive demonstration on Sept. 1, 2008 will coincide with the Republican National Convention. A large map of the march route was displayed.

“We are here today to make a formal and public announcement of our plans for a massive rally and march against the war in Iraq,” said Jess Sundin of the twin cities-based Anti-wWr Committee and the Coalition to March on the RNC and Stop the War.

“On that day, tens of thousands, possibly hundreds of thousands, from many different organizations and communities, will join together under the banner of the Coalition to March on the RNC and Stop the War. We will demand: U.S. Out of Iraq now; money for human needs, not for war. We will say no to the Republican agenda and demand peace, justice and equality,” Sundin continued.

Anti-war leaders have put in applications for permits but city officials are dragging their feet. When pressed, a Saint Paul police official said groups like the Saint Paul Winter Carnival announce their parade routes long before they have permits. Local activists have decided to do the same. The route of the march has been set. And tens of thousands will follow it to the Xcel Center, the site of the Republican National Convention.

“We have a plan. It is a good plan. And we expect the city of St Paul to issue the requested permits,” said Marie Braun of the Twin Cites Peace Campaign-Focus on Iraq and Women Against Military Madness.

Sundin stressed that the groundswell of interest in the protest made it necessary to announce concrete plans, stating, “We can not wait any longer. Groups from New York to North Carolina to Los Angeles are contacting us. They want to know what is planned and how they can get involved. Permits or not, we are organizing and mobilizing now, for a huge anti-war march on the Xcel Center on the first day of the Republican Convention.”

Angel Buechner of the Welfare Rights Committee announced that a poor people’s contingent would participate in the march: “On Sept. 1, 2008, low income people from all over the state and all over the country will be coming to protest the Republican National Convention in St. Paul. As low income people, we have serious needs in this country and we are outraged that this government spends billions to carry out occupations and war abroad, while they slash spending for basic human needs at home. We are also outraged that is us, poor and working folks, who are being sent to kill and be killed in this rich man’s war.”

Local anti-war organizations are at the forefront of this effort, including the Anti-War Committee, Twin Cities Peace Campaign-Focus on Iraq and Women Against Military Madness. Anh Pham of the Anti-War Committee states, “We have already established our capacity to mobilize thousands here in Minnesota. Now we are being joined by groups around the country, including some of the main organizers of the May 1 immigrant rights demonstrations, national anti-war coalitions and students from colleges near and far. There is no doubt that tens of thousands will fill the streets of Saint Paul to protest at the RNC.”

#SaintPaulMN #StPaulMN #AntiwarMovement #PoorPeoplesMovements #News #RepublicanNationalConvention2008 #marchOnTheRNC #marchRoute #Iraq #permit

Demonstrate at the Republican National Convention

September 1-4, 2008, Saint Paul, MN: 4 days to change the world

• U.S. out of Iraq now!
• Money for human needs, not for war!
• Say no to the Republican agenda!
• Demand peace, justice and equality!

In September 2008, we have a unique opportunity to step onto the stage of history. The whole world will be watching as the Republicans meet to nominate their next candidate for president. We must take to the streets of St. Paul to raise our voices against the war and the occupation of Iraq. The politicians who brought us this war for oil and control of the Middle East represent an elite that will stop at nothing to build up U.S. empire. Theft, torture and murder are part and parcel of the war in Iraq. These politicians do not represent us. They have cut programs that serve our needs at home, and blame the most exploited for our hardships.

The government’s response to hurricane Katrina spoke volumes about its vision and values, its policies and plans. Racism, discrimination, and inequality placed African American families on New Orleans freeway overpasses, surrounded by floodwaters. This is one of many terrible examples of what’s wrong with this country. They attack our democratic rights, our rights to organize and our economic well being – from immigrants and the labor movement, to abortion rights and gay marriage – the Republican agenda is an anti-people agenda.

Too many times, Democratic politicians in Congress have served as accomplices to this reactionary agenda of racism, poverty and war. In 2008, it’s up to us – anyone committed to peace, justice, and equality – to stand up and say no. We are building for a broad nationwide mobilization that will challenge the 2008 Republican Convention and put forward our vision for this country. We are united by a progressive, pro-people agenda, and our insistence that the U.S. leave Iraq now.

During the four-day Republican National Convention, we expect to see every progressive movement raising demands in protests on the streets of St. Paul. Whether you are building the Labor movement in Peoria, Illinois, building solidarity with Palestine, or are speaking out against the many injustices that face people at home and abroad, you should be in St Paul for the RNC in 2008. Permits have been applied for, and groups are starting to organize. Together we can have an incredible impact.

The Republicans picked Minnesota for 2008, betting that activists from around the country would just stay home. Politicians who support the continuing war in Iraq hope that we will stay quiet. Let’s prove them wrong in the streets of St. Paul, Minnesota. Together, we can change the world.

We, the undersigned, endorse the call for protests at the Republican National Convention, in St. Paul, Minnesota, from September 1-4, 2008 We demand that U.S. troops get out of Iraq. We want money for human needs, not for war. We say no to this agenda. We demand peace, justice and equality.

Signers:

Anti-War Committee (MN)

AFSCME Local 3800 (MN)

Al Awda Right to Return Coalition – Chicago Chapter\ \ Al Awda Right to Return Coalition – Omaha chapter

Bolivarian Circle, Cincinnati

Centro CSO (Los Angeles)

Coalition for Palestinian Rights (MN)

Colombia Action Network

Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador

Communities United Against Police Brutality (MN)

Freedom Road Socialist Organization

International Action Center

Iraq Peace Action Coalition (MN)

Latinos Against War(Los Angeles)

Low Income People Organizing for Power (Duluth, MN)

May 1 Movement for Worker and Immigrant Rights

MN Immigrants Rights Action Coalition

National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera

New Jersey Solidarity – Activists for the Liberation of Palestine

Palestine Solidarity Group – Chicago

Students for a Democratic Society – University of Minnesota chapter

Students for a Democratic Society – University of Alabama-Tuscaloosa chapter

Students for a Democratic Society – University of North Carolina-Asheville chapter

Students for Social Justice – Oakton Community College in Des Plaines, IL

Students for Social Justice – University of Illinois Chicago

Socialist Alternative

Teamster 743 New Leadership Slate

Troops Out Now Coalition

Twin Cities Peace Campaign – Focus on Iraq (MN)

Welfare Rights Committee (MN)

Women Against Military Madness (MN)

Youth Against War and Racism

For more information, or to sign on to this call: www.protestrnc2008.org

#SaintPaulMN #StPaulMN #AntiwarMovement #ImmigrantRights #PoorPeoplesMovements #Labor #News #OppressedNationalities #Iraq #RepublicanNationalConvention2008 #marchOnTheRNC #moneyForHumanNeedsNotForWar #USOutOfIraqNow #sayNoToTheRepublicanAgenda