Fight Back! reporter Fernando Figueroa sat down with Michael Sampson, one of the Nashville 5 arrested on July 12, to discuss what happened, how he was released from jail and what's next for the movement. Fight Back!: Can you tell us what happened?

Michael Sampson: On Saturday, July 12, the Freedom Side collective held an action outside of the National Governor's Association [NGA]. Freedom Side is a network of different Black and Latino organizations addressing immigrant rights, the school to prison pipeline and fighting for fair wages and against voter suppression. I was there representing the Dream Defenders. We had activists from all over the country converge on the NGA meeting, talking about the issues that matter to us the most. Members of organizations like United We Dream, the Ohio Students Association, Baltimore Algebra Project, Fight for 15 and the Nashville Put Peoples First coalition where on hand.

We marched a mile to the Omni hotel in downtown Nashville, site of the NGA, and where greeted by state troopers and hotel security who initially prevented us from walking on the public sidewalk in front of the hotel. However, we told them we have a right to public space and we kept on marching to in front of the hotel.

Our plan was to enter the hotel and demand a meeting with a representative of the NGA to talk to us about our issues. However, we were met with even more security and police who formed a half circle, around the hotel, blocking us from entering. We proceeded to rally outside the hotel, hearing passionate speeches from those in the crowd.

A delegation from members of the Ohio Student Association and Dream Defenders were told from a hotel representative that they would talk to the NGA about them sending someone out to talk to us. However, we knew it was lies on their part and we told them we were staying until we met with someone.

Their plan was to wait us out however and we decided collectively as a group that we would drop our banner in front of us and in front of the state troopers. However, the Tennessee Highway Patrol immediately approached those trying to drop the banner. They grabbed them and started turning them around attempting to cuff them. Malayla Lynch from the Ohio Students Association was the first to get taken by the troopers. Marshawn and Aaron from OSA were next with James Hayes being arrested after. It all happened fast. When I saw this I went forward to ascertain what was happening and I was arrested as well.

Fight Back!: What role did racism and national oppression play in getting arrested and put in jail?

Sampson: Our arrests were a direct result of police and state troopers who were on edge because Black and Latino youth, wearing mostly black, were protesting. Our chants were militant. We were chanting and speaking about racism in our own states and how the NGA should stop being scared of activists and meet with us. We told the police that we weren’t leaving until we got a meeting. It was just another example of the police abusing Black and Latino youth, just like they do across the country, especially in the South for Black youth and in the Southwest for Chicano youth.

Fight Back!: Do you think public pressure played a role in getting free?

Sampson: Definitely. Public pressure always makes the difference. People’s support and knowing we had our comrades on the outside fighting to get us out kept our spirits high when we were detained and knowing how quickly our folks organized an outside campaign for us is powerful. Many thanks go out to all those who called in or took action to defend the Nashville 5, including myself.

Fight Back!: Were the charges dropped? What's next for you and the Nashville 5?

Sampson: The charges were dropped. The judges threw them out saying the state troopers were too overzealous in arresting us. They didn't give ample enough warning and we weren't even mirandized by our arresting officers.

What's next is simple – keep taking action and organizing. It's important for us to unite around fighting against racism and national oppression while building organization necessary to challenge the system. We have to build power to take power for Black and Brown communities. Freedom Side Collective is about action and challenging those like the NGA who continuously support oppressive policies in their states as well as my organization Dream Defenders. There is a lot in store planned for us. The struggle continues!

Michael Sampson is an organizer with Dream Defenders, a organization of black and brown youth in Florida confronting racism and fighting for the liberation of all oppressed peoples. For more information visit dreamdefenders.org You can find Michael on twitter @brotherflourish

#NashvilleTN #NashevilleTN #InJusticeSystem #DreamDefenders #MichaelSampson #FreedomSide #NationalGovernorsAssociation

Chicago, IL – Despite being the target of a major political attack by the U.S. government, Rasmea Odeh continues to work for the Palestinian people. This is why the 22nd Annual People’s Thanksgiving Dinner, held in Chicago Dec. 8, honored her with the “Nelson Mandela Award: Opposing Israeli Apartheid is not a Crime.”

70 people gathered to recognize her and a number of other important activists. They met at the Trinity Episcopal Church in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood, despite an early blizzard that made getting to the church hazardous.

In presenting the award, Muhammad Sunkari of the U.S. Palestinian Community Network referred to the late leader of the national liberation movement in South Africa. “When Ted Koppel interviewed him after his release from prison, Mandela defended the ANC’s [African National Congress] ties to the Palestine Liberation Organization. He called the Palestinians, ‘comrades in arms.’ I would say that a great example of a comrade of Mandela is Rasmea Odeh.” In accepting the award, Odeh was in good spirits. She thanked everyone, saying, “I need your support, and we all need each other’s support to stand strong and continue.”

The event is held annually by Fight Back! news and Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO). The dinner raised over $3000 for Odeh’s defense campaign, as well as $1000 to help continue the work of Fight Back! news.

Another emotional moment in the dinner was an award presented to Pete Camarata. Camarata was a co-founder of the Teamsters for a Democratic Union (TDU). His award, entitled the “Big Bill Haywood: Class Struggle Award” was presented to him by Richard Berg. Berg, a long time reformer in the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), has known Camarata for 25 years.

The framed award, reading, “For his lifelong dedication to the liberation of the working class,” was accepted by Camarata’s stepson, Jackson Potter. Potter is the staff coordinator of the Chicago Teachers Union. He explained that Camarata couldn’t attend the dinner because he is fighting cancer. A statement from Camarata read in part, “I thank FRSO for the award, and I accept it with the knowledge that my activism belongs to the movement and the brave people who built TDU, the movement in this country and around the world.” Awards were also presented to Sarah Simmons and Newland Smith, both activists in the Anti-War Committee-Chicago and to Michael Sampson, a Dream Defender from Tallahassee, Florida.

Joe Iosbaker of FRSO spoke to the crowd. He noted that last year’s event celebrated the successful defense of Carlos Montes. “Next year, we plan to be back here to celebrate with Rasmea for a victory over this new attack!” Iosbaker put the defense of Odeh in a broader context, including the ongoing investigation of 23 anti-war and international solidarity activists by the U.S. attorney. “Our advances can be quickly taken from us by the likes of Mayor Emmanuel or President Obama or Assistant U.S. Attorney Barry Jonas.”

Citing the many crimes of the U.S. empire at home and abroad Iosbaker continued, “We in FRSO have come to the conclusion that the existing order of things is unacceptable. For that reason we have decided to build a revolutionary organization.” Summing up, Iosbaker said, “Whenever we celebrate the advances made in the struggles we are part of, FRSO always names the way of life that is better than capitalism – that way of life is called socialism. We know a big change will take a lot of work, but we do think it will happen.”

#ChicagoIL #InJusticeSystem #Palestine #PeoplesThanksgiving #thanksgiving #PoliticalRepression #JoeIsobaker #Tallahassee #RasmeaOdeh #MichaelSampson