Fight Back! News

News and Views from the People's Struggle

Minnesota

By Meredith Aby

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Minneapolis, MN – A group calling itself Patriots United put out a racist, anti-Muslim call for Minnesotans to come out on February 17 to protest U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar at her office near Target Field in Minneapolis. Jewish Voice for Peace-Twin Cities called for a counter-protest and over 80 people came out strong with signs like “Jews for Ilhan” and “Minnesotans against Islamophobia” against Patriots United’s contingent of six people, holding three signs and two American flags.

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By Meredith Aby

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Minneapolis, MN – President Trump refused to honor the budget agreement made by Democrats and Republicans, demanding funding of his border wall as a part of the Continuing Resolution to fund the federal government. Senator Amy Klobuchar, a potential candidate for president in 2020, had suggested that she is willing to negotiate a deal with Trump to provide funds for a border wall. Fifty people rallied against any deal for funding a border wall at Senator Klobuchar's office on December 20. The protest was co-initiated by Minnesota Caravan Solidarity and the Anti-War Committee.

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By staff

Minneapolis, MN – With national attention focused on the recent death of a seven-year-old girl in Customs and Border Control custody, Senator Amy Klobuchar, a potential candidate for president in 2020, has suggested that she is willing to negotiate a deal with Trump to provide funds for a border wall. Minnesotans, immigrants and allies, will rally against any deal for funding a border wall at Senator Klobuchar's office (1200 Washington Avenue S, Minneapolis) on Thursday, December 20, at 5 p.m.

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By staff

Minneapolis, MN – As national attention has focused on the caravan of Central American refugees winding its way through Mexico towards the U.S.-Mexico border, immigrants and their allies in Minnesota will rally in support of the caravan on Friday, November 30.

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By Brad Sigal

Saint Paul, MN – On November 6, Minnesotans will head to the polls along with the rest of the country for the midterm elections. With copycats and enablers of Trump’s bigoted and reactionary agenda up and down the ballot, there’s a lot riding on the outcome for working and oppressed people in Minnesota.

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By staff

Minneapolis, MN – A coalition of Twin-Cities peace, anti-war and other organizations will hold a protest on Sunday, Oct. 21 as part of a nationally coordinated weekend of anti-war events in cities across the United States.

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By staff

Minneapolis, MN – Educational Support Professionals (ESPs) rallied at the Minneapolis Schools District Headquarters to demand decent wages for over 1500 ESPs, October 9.

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By Sam Martinez

Family members of Hardel Sherrell at Sept. 6 protest.

St. Paul, MN – On Sept. 6, an ad hoc coalition of Black Lives Matter and anti-police crimes organizations held a protest vigil of almost 75 people at the Minnesota governor's mansion to speak out against the death of Hardel Sherrell. On Sept. 2, Hardel Sherrell died of an ‘unknown medical condition’ at the Beltrami County jail, after being held since August 24.

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By staff

Minneapolis, MN – More than 100 Hennepin County AFSCME workers packed the Hennepin County commissioners board meeting, August 14, to protest two issues currently being negotiated in their union contract. The county is proposing to eliminate step pay increases that benefit workers. As well, commissioners are being stubborn on the issue of pay equity.

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By Meredith Aby

Jennie Eisert speaking on the role of the U.S. in Colombia.

Minneapolis, MN – On August 7, international solidarity and immigrant rights activists protested during rush hour in front of the Federal Building in downtown Minneapolis as a part of an international day of protest to draw attention to the escalating violations of the Colombian peace accords. The peace accords, signed in 2016, are an attempt to end a 52-year civil war in Colombia. The MN protest was one of 83 solidarity protests in 17 countries.

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By staff

Minneapolis protest against separation of immigrant families.

Minneapolis, MN – More than 100 people came to a noon rally, June 1, to protest the Trump administration’s policy of separating immigrant children from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border. The protest at the U.S. Courthouse downtown was called on very short notice.

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By staff

Minneapolis, MN – The Anti-War Committee is organizing a bannering to show solidarity with Palestinians facing repression from the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in Gaza. It will take place on May 23 at 7:30 p.m. at the intersection of Central Avenue and 43rd Avenue NE.

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By staff

Jess Sundin, Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

Minneapolis, MN – Over 125 people gathered together for the Twin Cities Freedom Road Socialist Organization’s annual International Worker’s Day program, April 28. The night started with dinner and conversation. Childcare was provided.

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By staff

Twin Cites vigil against U.S. intervention in Syria.

St. Paul, MN – About 25 people joined a peace vigil on Wednesday, April 18 in the Twin Cities to speak out against the U.S. attacks on Syria carried out last Friday evening.

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By staff

St. Paul, MN — The Minnesota Anti-War Committee and Women Against Military Madness will hold a protest on March 30, 5 p.m., at the Summit and Snelling Avenues, in Saint Paul to mark Palestinian Land Day. Palestinians around the world will commemorate Land Day, a day in 1976 when Israeli military forces shot and killed six young Palestinians who were among thousands protesting the Israeli government’s expropriation of Palestinian land.

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By staff

Minneapolis, MN – The Minnesota Anti-War Committee issued the following action alert to its supporters on March 15 after the Trump administration announced the nomination of CIA Director Mike Pompeo for Secretary of State and the nomination of Deputy Director Gina Haspel for CIA director. Fight Back! is circulating the call for constituents to contact their senators.

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By staff

St. Paul, MN — By an overwhelming majority, members of the Saint Paul Federation of Teachers (SPFT) voted to authorize a strike Jan. 31. Approximately two-thirds of members voted at the InterContinental Hotel in downtown Saint Paul. Of the votes, 82.0% of school and community service professionals, 89.5% of educational assistants, and 85.1% of teachers and licensed staff voted yes to authorize a strike.

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By staff

Locked out Mayo workers stand up to corporate greed.

Albert Lea, MN — On Dec. 20, Mayo Albert Lea Hospital blocked 79 SEIU Healthcare MN hospital workers from returning to work after they went out on a one-day strike the day before. The members went on strike because they have been without a contract for over a year.

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By staff

Teamsters, AFSCME demand raises and respect

![Teamsters, AFSCME members at Oct. 31protest demand raises and respect.](https://i.snap.as/MleGUIrF.jpg “Teamsters, AFSCME members at Oct. 31protest demand raises and respect. Teamsters, AFSCME members at Oct. 31protest demand raises and respect.

(Fight Back! News / Staff)”)

Minneapolis, MN — About 40 members of AFSCME Local 3800, Teamsters Local 320, and their supporters rallied in front of the admiration building, Morril Hall, Oct. 31 and then marched into the office of University of Minnesota’s President Kahler. Protesting workers then delivered petitions signed by thousands of employees and supporters that read in part, “The university is a wealthy institution with plenty of money, that is in the midst of a $4 billion fundraising campaign. We reject the notion of two universities, one for the haves and the other for the have-nots. We want raises and respect for all university workers.”

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By staff

Minnesota union leader  Brad Sigal in San Juan brings money and medicine.

San Juan, Puerto Rico — On Oct. 20, one month after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, the secretary of AFSCME Local 3800, Brad Sigal, was in San Juan to bring a donation of money and medicines to the Puerto Rican Teachers Federation (FMPR, the union's initials in Spanish).

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