Chicago, IL -Chicago is preparing for May Day, which is again a national day of protest against Trump’s racist agenda. A broad coalition of immigrant rights, Black liberation, workers, youth and student organizations are preparing to rally and march on May 1, International Workers Day.

Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) is going all out to build for May Day. One part of FRSO’s contribution is our annual Working Class Awards Dinner. Again, this year, it was held in the hall of the Chicago Teachers Union on Saturday, April 18.

The purpose of the event is to recognize individuals and organizations that have made contributions to the struggle of workers and the oppressed over the past year, celebrate some victories, and recognize the people who made them possible. It is also FRSO Chicago’s main annual fundraiser.

The event was very successful, with almost 300 people in the hall and over $20,000 raised.

A year of resistance to ICE: Four awards presented

Chicago was one of the first targets of ICE occupation, beginning in September 2025. ICE and Customs and Border Patrol officers terrorized immigrant communities, arresting 3000. They even staged a raid with 300 agents at 3 a.m. in the Black community of South Shore, with agents rappelling from helicopters onto an apartment building where Venezuelan refugees lived.

The Rapid Response teams, Migra Watch, and emergency response protests began before Trump surged agents here.

The awards dinner recognized four activists for contributions to resistance to Trump and ICE. Kathryn Zamarrón is an elementary school music teacher at the Walt Disney Magnet School, and a rank-and-file leader in the Chicago Teachers Union. She serves on the CTU Latinx Caucus and Elementary Education Committee. Zamarron played a crucial role in organizing sanctuary teams to protect students not only in her own school, but across the city. She was presented with an award named for Karen Lewis, the legendary president of the Chicago Teachers Union.

Corina Pedraza, a worker at the Chicago public library, played a leading role in helping the community provide services to the tens of thousands of migrant laborers bused here by the governor of Texas starting in 2022. She was also recognized for her leading role as an organizer of both Southwest and Southeast Side rapid response teams in 2025. Her award was in the name of Silverio Villegas González, murdered by ICE in a Chicago suburb at the outset of the ICE/CBP occupation.

Reverend Ciera Bates-Chamberlain received the Angela Davis Award for organizing faith leaders in opposition to ICE. As executive director of Live Free Illinois, when ICE threatened Chicago, she organized a multifaith, multiracial coalition including Black ministers and churches on Chicago’s South and West Sides. The network held a press conference, a protest in the pulpits, and rallied with the immigrant rights movement to defend our communities.

Finally, the Mexican Students de Aztlán (MeSA) at UIC received an award named for Rigo Padilla Pérez. A member of the Immigrant Youth Justice Alliance at UIC, Rigo was a leader in the Dreamers movement, which compelled passage of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals legislation. He died of cancer three years ago.

MeSA was honored because in October, ICE agents arrested two women near campus. Students protested, and ICE released the women, but the UIC administration failed to respond. MeSA then led a mobilization of over 200 students to oppose ICE on campus and demand a sanctuary campus.

Award for Palestine solidarity

Gabriella Martinez is a Special Education Certified Assistant in the Chicago Public Schools and a rank-and-file leader in SEIU Local 73. She organized coworkers to file ethics complaints against Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs for the purchase of Israel Bonds. Frerichs even purchased more bonds during the ongoing genocide in Gaza. For her work, Martinez received the Assata Shakur award. Together with several members and retirees from SEIU Local 73, Gabi’s family joined her for the event.

Lifetime Achievement Awards: Pete Camarata Award to Jim Fennerty for movement legal defense

Jim Fennerty has been a fixture at protests in Chicago for decades, wearing the lime green cap of the National Lawyers Guild. Jim is a people’s lawyer who has consistently defended our movement from attacks by the ruling class. Jim and his wife, Janet have been politically active in the movement for over 50 years. Jim represented Rasmea Odeh and the Anti-War 23, and he helped win a historic civil settlement representing 800 protesters arrested at the start of the Iraq War.

Fennerty’s award was named after the late Pete Camarata. Pete was a founder of the Teamsters for a Democratic Union (TDU). In his fight against the criminals that took control of the union, Pete was one of the first to combine rank and file power with legal action.

Fennerty was introduced by family friend Hatem Abudayyeh of the Arab American Action Network and US Palestinian Community Network. Many tables were filled with Jim and Janet’s friends and family, including son Nate, daughter Dina, her husband Daniel Contreras, and grandson Quinn Contreras.

In addition, the family of Pete Camarata was there with the Fennertys, including his wife, Robin Potter, stepson Jackson and his wife, Joan; stepdaughter Aimee, and granddaughter Phoebe.

William L. Patterson Award to Frank Chapman

The night’s biggest moment was the lifetime achievement award for Frank Chapman. It came with recorded greetings from CTU President Stacy Davis Gates and Vice President Jackson Potter.

The William L. Patterson Award was introduced by Anthony Quesada, 35th Ward alderman:

“Through his leadership with the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, Frank has helped lead campaigns that have shaped Chicago. He has been central to the fight for justice for the wrongfully convicted and for community control of the police. His work helped push forward the movement that won elected police district councils, giving people a real voice in public safety. And today, Frank continues to advance this struggle through our fight for the Community Power Over Policing referendum.

“He has also mentored generations of organizers, many of whom are in the room tonight. Across Chicago and beyond, people have learned from him how to stay grounded, how to build collective power, and how to keep going through every phase of struggle. His impact lives in the people he has shaped and the movements that continue to grow.”

There were other elected officials present, including 33rd Ward Alderwoman Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez, 35th Ward Democratic Committeeperson Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, 25th Ward Alderman Byron Sigcho Lopez, and State Senator Graciela Guzman.

The award is named after William L. Patterson, the Communist Party USA attorney who led the International Labor Defense (ILD), and who organized the mass defense of the Scottsboro Boys in the 1930s. Later he headed up the Civil Rights Congress, and together with Paul Robeson took the We Charge Genocide petition to the United Nations. The formation of the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression was based on the model of the ILD.

Chapman: “We’re part of a better world in birth”

Chapman is the executive director of the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression; field organizer and education director of the Chicago Alliance; and a Central Committee member of FRSO. In his remarks, he shared some perspective on the Trump regime and on change in this country from his vantage point having been born in 1942.

Referring to people who see Trumpism as an aberration when they say, “That’s not us,” meaning not what the U.S. stands for, Chapman responded, “The hell it ain’t. What they’re doing to the immigrants happened to me and my people…6200 children have been held in detention since Trump came in,” adding, “And shooting people on the streets execution style.”

“But we’ve seen this: we saw Laquan McDonald shot 16 times. And a few days ago, the state police shot a man 15 times, not far from my house,” and “Quit telling me this is something you haven’t seen before.”

“We’re demanding an end to Trumpism, but we’re going further than that. We’re part of a better world in birth!” Going on with the lyrics of The International, Chapman said, “Arise you prisoners of starvation. Arise you wretched of the earth. For justice thunders condemnation. A better world’s in birth.”

“Are you ready to get this done? Are you ready for the revolution?” he asked, to thunderous applause.

#ChicagoIL #IL #ImmigrantRights #OppressedNationalities #AfricanAmerican #FRSO #NAARPR #FrankChapman #Trump #PeoplesStruggles

New York, NY – Organizers from the New York Alliance Against Racist and Political Oppression held a speakout outside New York City Hall on Friday, April 18, to protest the dramatic rise in police violence against Black men across the city since the beginning of April.

New York Alliance Chair Shivani Ishwar noted that, in April alone, the NYPD has shot three Black men – Lucien Colon, Carlos Santiago and Anthony Griffin – and maimed another, Timothy Brown, in a racist attack in downtown Brooklyn.

The speakout began on the corner of Center and Chamber Streets, where members of the New York Alliance handed out flyers, gave fiery speeches, and connected New Yorkers to their campaign for community control of the police.

Organizers staged their protest near a busy subway station, where they were able to take advantage of rush-hour traffic to educate the community about police violence and the struggle for community control.

“We are here today because we demand justice for Lucien Colon, Carlos Santiago and Anthony Griffin,” NYAARPR organizer Quinn Hughes. “We are here to say that we refuse these conditions. Our demands are clear. We call on Mayor Zohran Mamdani to fire and arrest these officers, justice for all victims of police violence, and community control now.”

In her speech, NYAARPR organizer Ruby Doswell said there are “no excuses for the police to kill a man.”

“Police should not feel comfortable enough to kill a person in any circumstance,” Doswell said. “It’s no coincidence that Black and brown men are consistently met with violence and force instead of de-escalation, care, or support.”

Organizers likewise observed this isn't a new phenomenon. They noted that the case of Eudes Pierre, another Black man shot and killed by the police in December of 2021, follows the exact same pattern of racist violence. As organizers wrapped up the action, they affirmed their commitment to continue the struggle for community control of the police, a fight which takes on renewed urgency under the recent wave of NYPD violence.

#NewYorkNY #NY #NYC #NYAARPR #NAARPR #InJusticeSystem #OppressedNationalities #KillerCop #EudesPierre

Washington, DC – On Monday, April 13, a man was found hanging from a tree behind the 4th District Police Station in Washington, DC. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers unceremoniously cut him down from the tree and carted him away.

Despite the alarming and suspicious nature of the case, no news station reported on it, and the police made no public statement. The only sources of information were videos posted to social media by community members showing the man's body hanging from a tree as officers scrambled to stop people from filming or taking pictures.

As alarm grew in the Black community in response to the videos of a possible lynching victim, concerned individuals began visiting and calling the police station looking for answers, including a journalist from the Washington Informer, the Neighborhood Commissioner, and the Councilwoman of Ward 4, Janeese Lewis George. The police refused to provide answers, saying only that they deemed it a suicide, without explaining why.

For three days, the police ignored the community and remained silent. On Thursday, April 16, the DC Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (DCAARPR) was notified about what appeared to be a police lynching of a Black man, though details were limited due to MPD stonewalling.

Within a few hours, DCAARPR took to social media and announced an emergency rally outside of 4th Disctict Police Station to demand answers. The post immediately went viral, given the horrific nature of the case and people's desire to fight back. Within an hour of the social media post, MPD finally was forced to make a public statement.

In their statement, they went out of their way to point out that the victim was a 19-year-old Latino man, not a Black man, in hopes of dulling people's anger and undercutting DCAARPR's planned rally. Despite their attempt to divide the community, a massive crowd of Black, brown and white people showed up at the police station the next day to give them hell.

During the rally, Kristen Bonner of DCAARPR spoke, stating, “MPD is telling us this is a suicide. We have reason not to believe them. We have reason not to trust them. They have not done anything for our communities that says they are protecting us – that says they are keeping us safe. If anything, they are the purveyors of violence and terror and racism in our communities, and to that we say shame!”

Tamira Benitez, 4B-05 Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner also spoke, “Three days have passed and we have no information. No email, no text, no phone call [from MPD]. When you go in person to get information, it’s like a burden to them.”

Benitez continued, “So we don’t need people like these, getting a shit ton of money out of our $22-plus billion budget to treat us like we’re nothing. As an ANC Commissioner, I don’t need to be friends with MPD to get the information I need to get.”

Merawi Gerima of DCAARPR stated, “If they say it's a suicide, we say show us the evidence. If their policies prohibit that, we say their policies are not good enough and that's why we're out here, because their policies allow them to kill us with impunity. Our policy is community control of the police so that we can hold them accountable in situations like this.”

When protesters realized that the Fourth District was also the precinct home of officer Jason Bagshaw, a known killer cop, they confronted him, chanting “It is right to rebel, Jason Bagshaw burn in hell!”

The demonstrators eventually took Georgia Avenue, one of the busiest streets in DC, in the middle of the city's notorious rush hour and marched for nearly a mile, attracting Black and brown people from the neighborhood to join them in chanting “Indict, convict, send these killer cops to jail, the whole damn system is guilty as hell!” and demanding community control of the police.

At the close of the rally, community members committed themselves to the struggle for community control of the police – on the journey towards transforming DC into a city where everyone can get their needs met.

#WashingtonDC #DC #InJusticeSystem #DCAARPR #NAARPR

Lakeland, FL – On March 19, Kieanna Garrett was found guilty on the bogus charge of resisting arrest without violence and was immediately taken into custody. This charge is tied to the day that Kienna was stopped by a group of plain-clothed cops who threw themselves in front of her vehicle, guns drawn, yelling to, “get out of the fucking car.” This is the same day that Kieanna was brutalized by Dillon Cornn, a Lakeland Police Department Officer that has a recorded history of stalking, harassing, and terrorizing Lakeland community members and who is currently under a gag order for perjury in court.

This verdict was delivered by a six-person jury – majority of which were white – with over half of the jury having a connection to a law enforcement officer by familial or friendly association. This was not a jury of her peers, but rather, this was one moving part in this sham trial. Kieanna’s public defender failed her as does the U.S. justice system does for many oppressed nationalities and did not present a robust legal argument despite Kieanna’s attempts to get her public defender to fight for her. Although Kieanna was detailed, consistent, and accurate in detailing what happened on the day she was wrongfully arrested and horribly brutalized by Lakeland PD, it fell on deaf ears. This was intensified by the state’s shoddy legal argument and officer Thompson’s inconsistent narrative, lies, and deflection. It should also be said that even if Kieanna was found not guilty on the count of this charge, the state was intent on trying Kieanna on another charge after this split court proceeding; this is a blatant sign that the state didn’t care about “truth” or “justice.” They wanted Kieanna to receive a jail sentence one way or another.

As Tampa Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, we have worked closely alongside Kieanna throughout her fight to get her unjust charges dropped and hold Lakeland PD accountable for their heinous actions. Several months prior, we celebrated a major victory when Kieanna’s false felony charges were acquitted after a number of Lakeland PD officers were found to be committing perjury in a court of law. To say that we are shocked at this verdict and sentencing of this court proceeding would be a blatant understatement.

We also vehemently condemn Judge Dick Prince’s lack of care in regard to jury selection, cognizant compliance with the state’s sentencing known to be financially and personally detrimental to Kieanna, and willingness to impose harsh punishment on top of false charges that have been materially consequential to Kieanna and her family’s livelihood. Regardless, we see all this as a sign of weakness and cowardice on the part of Lakeland PD, the city of Lakeland, and the state as a whole; this is an attempt to silence Kieanna and TAARPR who have been working to expose the corrupt and rotted policing system that has historically worked to harm and disenfranchise Black communities in Lakeland and beyond. However, we are not deterred. We will continue to fight for Kieanna as we have all these years, and we refuse to back down!

#LakelandFL #FL #InJusticeSystem #NAARPR #TAARPR

Atlanta, GA – On Sunday, March 15 the family of Deacon Johnny Holloman and supporters packed the room in Little Five Points Community Center for a documentary screening and celebration of Deacon Holloman’s life. The family restated their demands for accountability from Atlanta police for the murder of Deacon Holloman.

Deacon Johnny Holloman Sr, 62, was murdered by 23-year-old Atlanta PD officer Kiran Kimborough in 2023. After getting in a minor accident, Deacon Holloman called the police to file a report. He also called his daughter and kept her on the line. When killer cop Kimborough showed up, he was already acting rude and short-tempered. The cop proceeded to issue a ticket to Deacon Holloman and tried to tell him he had to sign it. That was a lie. Deacon Holloman asked for his supervisor, but Kimborough became more aggressive. He tased Deacon Holloman and suffocated him with the help of a tow truck driver. The Deacon’s daughter, Arnitra Holloman, had to listen to the whole thing with no power to stop it.

The killer cop was fired but a grand jury failed to indict him in August of 2025. The family is seeking a retrial in the coming months.

The documentary screening is part of a campaign to bring publicity to the case before the new grand jury begins. What About The Deacon? is a short documentary made by JustEldredge Media with the permission of the family. The documentary shows body-cam footage of the murder of Jonny Holloman Sr and interviews with his family, legal team and those whose lives he impacted.

The screening was followed by a discussion with three of Deacon Holloman’s daughters, facilitated by Kiran Desai from the Atlanta Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression. The family shared their struggles adjusting to life after the murder of their father, while having to fight for justice at the same time. Arnitra Holloman emphasized that their fight for justice is tied to others who are fighting against police crimes.

After the discussion, community members joined the family to commemorate what would have been Deacon Johnny Holloman Sr’s 65th birthday.

The event ended with a balloon release and a speech by Arnitra Holloman, vowing to keep her father’s name alive and continue the fight for justice.

#AtlantaGA #GA #InJusticeSystem #KillerCops #NAARPR #AAARPR

New Orleans, LA – On March 5, activists disrupted the New Orleans Criminal Justice Committee meeting to demand New Orleans Police Officer Victor Gant be fired and charged for his role in the coverup of Jace Lee Scott’s murder. Scott was shot and killed by Gant's son, Andrew Gant, in 2019.

Before the meeting, Jace’s mother Shanta Scott and activists from the New Orleans Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression and other organizations rallied outside of city hall. Signs read “Justice for Jace Lee Scott,” “Fire NOPD Officer Victor Gant” and “Federal charges for killer Andrew Gant.”

“We are out here today to pack the CJC meeting to demand justice for Jace and justice for all victims of NOPD violence and negligence,” said activist Toni Jones of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

Jace Lee Scott was killed on November 24, 2019 by Andrew Gant, who was convicted of “negligent homicide,” thus avoiding a murder charge and prison time. Judge Nandi Campbell awarded Gant with a five-year deferred sentence after his defense argued that Jace was killed while the two were “play fighting.” No physical evidence supported this claim. Shanta Scott has said that Victor Gant's son only avoided prison time due to the actions of his father, who behaved outside of NOPD protocol when he found out about the killing.

Danyelle Christmas, representing the New Orleans Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, spoke to the double standards afforded to NOPD officers stating, “Laws were broken, yet somehow this officer is still allowed to work in city hall and his son is walking free.”

Shanta Scott also made her feelings clear, stating, “I have no trust in the New Orleans Police Department. I have no trust in the system. The whole system is guilty as hell.”

The protest then moved inside to public comment, where Shanta Scott spoke defiantly about Gant's crimes and her demands for justice. In response, city council members complained that Scott spoke longer than the allowed two-minute public comment window and stopped the meeting. The committee members then left the city council chambers and had New Orleans Police Department officers forcibly remove Scott and supporting activists from the chambers.

As Shanta Scott was forced out of the chambers, she continued speaking out against Officer Victor Gant. “He's covering up for murder!” Scott declared. Outside the chambers, she demanded action from the council shouting, “We want an independent investigation! We want CPAC! No more police policing police!”

Shanta and New Orleans Alliance members have stated that they plan to come back into the council chambers to demand justice for Jace on March 30 at 9 a.m.

#NewOrleansLA #LA #InJusticeSystem #NAARPR #NOAARPR

Brooklyn, NY – Organizers from the New York Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression held a speakout in Sunset Park on Saturday, March 14, just blocks away from the Metropolitan Detention Center, where up to 200 immigrants are being held by federal agents. The event was part of the group’s recently-launched “ICE Out” campaign, continuing the momentum established at mass rallies earlier in the year.

The speak-out began on the corner of 36th Street and 4th Avenue, where members of the New York Alliance handed out hundreds of flyers, delivered fiery speeches, and spoke to passersby about the campaign to kick ICE and federal agents out of the five boroughs.

A nearby subway station meant there was a steady stream of residents and families to engage with, the vast majority of whom reacted positively to the campaign. Some chose to stay and help hand out flyers, while others gathered on the sidewalk to take up chants and listen to speeches about the deplorable conditions at the MDC, the relationship between immigration enforcement and imperialism, and federal police oppression.

For many passing by it was their first time learning about the federal detention complex.

“I lived here for years at this point, I had no idea that prison was right here in my backyard,” Raqael Vasquez, a resident of Sunset Park, told one organizer. “That’s actually crazy. Seriously.”

After spending some time by the subway station, organizers moved to Industry City, a shopping complex on the same avenue as the MDC. Though the crowd here was composed mostly of young professionals and tourists as opposed to residents of Sunset Park, many onlookers took flyers and raised fists in solidarity. Drivers passing from the Gowanus Expressway underpass likewise honked in unity with the organizers’ message, which was audible from two blocks away.

Though the MDC is situated in an inaccessible and industrial corner of Brooklyn, the speakout drew attendees from all over the city, some of whom had learned of the New York Alliance from previous ICE Out campaign events. People from as far away as Staten Island and Bay Ridge gave up their Saturday afternoons to take part in the speakout, indicating the popularity of the campaign, and the frustration from New Yorkers that such a place is, indeed, operating in their backyard.

#BrooklynNY #NY #InJusticeSystem #NAARPR #NYAARPR #Prison

Philadelphia, PA – On Friday February 27, the Philadelphia Alliance against Racist and Political Repression held a movie showing to commemorate Black History Month. The movie, Judas and the Black Messiah, is about the iconic Black Panther leader Fred Hampton and William O’Neal, who the FBI used to infiltrate the Black Panther’s and helped the Chicago Police department kill Fred Hampton.

The event was held at the LavaSpace in West Philadelphia and was attended by dozens of people from the neighborhood who were interested not only in learning more about Fred Hampton and the Black Panther Party, but in getting to know all about the Philadelphia Alliance against Racist and Political Repression (PAARPR), its campaigns and its mission.

PAARPR chair Musa Bey had conversations with many of the attendees about the work PAARPR is doing in Philadelphia and the families it is working with, including the families of Robert Jones, Aaron Rainey and Amanda Cahill.

The movie event began at 5 p.m. with a short speech made by PAARPR Co-Chair Olujimi Alade which delved into Fred Hampton as a revolutionary and his impact on the Black Panther Party and the struggle for socialism and liberation.

PAARPR was able to establish a connection with the neighborhood residents, which is a foundation in building a presence in the West Philadelphia area, an important section of the city where many people have either experienced police brutality or know a loved one who did. By holding similar events, PAARPR aims to advance its aim of fighting for the community control of the police.

#PhiladelphiaPA #PA #InJusticeSystem #OppressedNationalities #AfricanAmerican #BlackHistoryMonth #NAARPR #PAARPR

Atlanta, GA – On February 28, community members stood alongside the family of Linton Blackwell to demand accountability from the Atlanta Police Department – that killer cop Gerald Walker be fired and jailed.

On October 11, near a bar in Buckhead, 44-year-old Linton Blackwell was murdered by APD officer Gerald Walker. Linton Blackwell was facing away when he was shot 17 times in the back by off-duty cop Gerald Walker. Walker was reportedly working as security for a bar nearby. Since then, the officer has continued to be on the force and has faced no disciplinary action.

Linton Blackwell was a musical artist and the father of two teenage girls. He was also the cousin of Jimmy Hill, a long-time fighter against police violence in the community. Jimmy Hill’s son, Jimmy Atchison, was chased down and murdered by APD officer Sung Kim in 2019. Hill is still demanding justice for his son.

At the protest in front of the APD headquarters, members of the family shared their grief and anger at the lack of accountability. Don Evans, Linton Blackwell’s brother, spoke to the crowd saying “Linton was not only my brother, he was my friend. I’m going to stand for him. I'm going to keep on fighting, making noise, whatever it takes for me to get my peace. When this man [Gerald Walker] is off the streets, I’ll be at peace.” Evans ended the speech leading the crowd in a chant “No justice, no peace!”

The family of Deacon Johnny Hollman, a 62-year-old man killed by APD officer Kiran Kimborough in 2023, was also there to support the family of Linton Blackwell. Arnitra Hollman, Deacon Hollman’s daughter, addressed the crowd and gave her condolences to the family of Linton Blackwell. She added, “We cannot give up this fight for justice. We have to continue to knock on those doors, get into these rooms, and lift up our loved ones’ names until we get justice. You don’t have to do exactly what I've done, but you have to do something. Say his name!” with the crowd responding “Linton Blackwell!”

Supporters from the Atlanta Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression and Freedom Road Socialist Organization spoke in support of the family, vowing to continue the fight for Linton Blackwell and all victims of police terror.

#AtlantaGA #GA #InJusticeSystem #KillerCops #PoliceCrimes #AAARPR #NAARPR

Chicago, IL – El sábado, 31 de enero, acompañado por activistas comunitarios que han estado en las calles defendiendo a los inmigrantes contra la ocupación de ICE, el alcalde Brandon Johnson firmó una orden ejecutiva histórica.

La orden ejecutiva hace Chicago la primera ciudad que requiere a la policía investigar y referir agentes federales para procesamiento penal por delitos graves.

“Nadie está sobre la ley. No hay ninguna cosa como la ‘inmunidad absoluta’ en Estados Unidos,” dijo el alcalde Brandon Johnson. “La ilegalidad de los agentes de inmigración militarizados de Trump pone en peligro inmediato las vidas y el bienestar de los residentes de Chicago. Con la orden de hoy, le estamos advirtiendo a ICE en nuestra ciudad. Chicago no se sentará mientras Trump inunda nuestras comunidades con agentes federales y aterroriza a nuestros residentes.”

El gobierno federal ha dicho que está planeando otro surgimiento de ICE en el área de Chicago este marzo. El llamado del alcalde Johnson al procesamiento penal es en respuesta a la ausencia de consecuencias legales tras el tiroteo contra Marimar Martínez en Chicago y los asesinatos de Silverio Villegas González en Franklin Park, un suburbio de Chicago, y el de Renee Good y Alex Pretti en Minneapolis.

Frank Chapman de la Alianza de Chicago Contra la Represión Racista y Política dijo, “Estuve orgulloso de acompañar al alcalde Johnson ayer cuando firmó una orden ejecutiva histórica que ordena al Departamento de Policía de Chicago involucrarse activamente en hacer que los agentes de ICE rindan cuentas, presentando denuncias hacia la oficina del fiscal de estado.”

La fiscal estatal, Eileen Burke, es bien conocida por fallar en luchar contra ICE. Ha evadido demandas para investigar y cerrar la instalación de ICE en Broadview, con reportes de tratamiento inhumano hacia detenidos. Burke también ha rechazado la prosecución del agente de ICE quien asesinó a Silverio Villegas González, un trabajador inmigrante baleado por ICE después de dejar a su niño en la escuela en Franklin Park en septiembre.

#ChicagoIL #IL #ImmigrantRights #ICE #CAARPR #NAARPR #BrandonJohnson

New Orleans, LA – On Thursday morning, February 19, members of the New Orleans Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (NOAARPR), alongside other supporters, held a rally outside of city hall to demand accountability from city officials and the New Orleans Police Department.

The rally was originally planned to target the Criminal Justice Committee meeting, where all the city’s policing agencies meet to give reports to the council. But for the second month in a row, city officials have delayed that meeting.

Those present held signs demanding “Community control of the police,” “Justice for Jace,” and “Fire NOPD officer Victor Gant!”

“For the second time in a row, the city has cancelled on us. But we are not going anywhere until justice is done for Jace. Until officer Victor Gant is fired,” said Shanta Scott, mother of Jace Lee Scoot. In front of local news coverage at city hall, she explained the details of her case. Her son Jace was murdered in cold blood by Andrew Gant, the son of NOPD officer Victor Gant Jr., in 2019. Sister Shanta Scott exposed a well-established history of lying, fraud, brutality, corruption and murder by NOPD officers, and collaboration with the district attorney and judges complicit in the coverup of her son’s murder.

Scott and NOAARPR activists demanded the firing of NOPD officer Victor Gant Jr. and homicide detective Rob Barrere. They also demanded federal charges be pressed against Victor Gant Jr. and his son Andrew Gant.

“Andrew Gant needs to be charged with a felony murder charge, not negligent homicide. Not obstruction of justice. This was not an accident!” said Scott.

“We want community control of police, so that this corruption can come to an end,” stated NOAARPR Chair Toni Jones. Jones called out city council for their failure to address the occupation of New Orleans by federal forces waging siege on the city since the anti-immigrant operation Swamp Sweep. Jones also called out New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno for capitulating to the Trump administration’s immigration laws, as a new NOPD policy change will let officers detain people in collaboration with ICE. Officer Victor Gant Jr. has received a promotion, and is now employed by Mayor Moreno.

Anthony Franklin, member of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, expressed unwavering support for Scott’s demands, stating, “We stand in solidarity with Sister Shanta,” he said. “Fighting for justice for Jace is part of that struggle, and we will continue to be a thorn in [the city’s] side until we get our demands.”

Scott and NOAARPR plan to rally and submit public comment at the Criminal Justice Meeting rescheduled for March 5, to hold city council accountable, to demand they fire and press federal charges for the officers involved, and to demand a Civilian Police Accountability Council.

#NewOrleansLA #LA #InJusticeSystem #NOAARPR #NAARPR

New Orleans, LA — On February 7, one month after the murder of Renée Nicole Good by ICE, the New Orleans Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression and the No Trump No Troops Coalition mobilized for a rally at Armstrong Park to continue to stand up against ICE and CBP’s reign of terror.

The rally was called in response to the Legalization for All Network’s Day of Action, demanding justice for all killed by ICE and prosecution of killer cops like Johnathan Ross. The rally also uplifted the demand of legalization for all immigrants.

A crowd of about 40 people rallied around as chants for “No more deportations!” and “¡Chinga la migra!” rang through the park. Consistent protests and noise demonstrations are appearing to be effective – on January 26, Gregory Bovino, the so-called “Commander-at-Large” of the United States Border Patrol was relieved of his Minnesota command by President Trump.

Chris Maldonado of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) spoke out about Bovino’s demotion, exclaiming, “People like Bovino shouldn’t just be allowed to step down; they should be thrown under the jail!”

The Trump administration has wielded ICE terror as a means to silence dissent and instill fear under the guise of law and order. Maldonado continued, “This violence and terror is fundamental to how the billionaire ruling class maintains its order and grows its profits.”

Palestine solidarity activist Sruly Heller of New Orleans Stop Helping Israel’s Ports (NOSHIP) said, “The only law and order that exists in America is the reality of what happens between you and a police officer.”

“We uplift legalization for all as a demand of our movement because no one should be criminalized for migration. Many of our immigrant brothers and sisters from Latin America and elsewhere are fleeing the consequences of U.S. imperialism: sanctions, unlivable wages and super exploitation, or otherwise. All people deserve to live with dignity and respect regardless of their citizenship or ability to work,” said Toni Mar, another member of FRSO.

These rallies show that despite the Trump administration and the ruling class’s efforts to instill fear, people continue to show up and organize.

#NewOrleansLA #LA #ImmigrantRights #ICE #ReneeGood #FRSO #L4A #NOAARPR #NAARPR

New Orleans, LA – On Monday, February 9, a crowd of supporters gathered for a teach-in at the Gwangi & Hollywood Community Center in Algiers to learn about the Jace Lee Scott case and the campaign for justice.

The teach-in was geared towards educating supporters on exactly how the NOPD mishandled Scott’s murder, so they would be empowered to submit public comments at the upcoming Criminal Justice Committee meeting on February 19, and to rally for justice beforehand at 9 a.m. at City Hall.

Sister Shanta Scott, mother of Jace Lee Scott, recounted the details of the case, beginning with how deeply she loved her son.

“I only had 19 years with Jace. He was a sweet, loving child. A beautiful smile, just an amazing kid,” said Scott. She recalled his passion for music, sports and clothing design.

Scott continued, “They kept Jace’s case quiet because they didn’t want to talk about how it was an NOPD officer’s son who murdered my son. They didn’t want the city to know the corruption in my son’s case.”

Jace Lee Scott was killed on November 24, 2019. The last time Shanta Scott saw her son alive, she said goodbye to him as he went to a recording studio on Southern University’s campus with his so-called friend and soon-to-be killer, Andrew Gant. Hours later, Shanta received a call that Jace had been shot.

“Jace was shot in the neck by Andrew Gant. The police reports say my son and Andrew Gant were ‘horse playing with guns’ but Jace never had a gun. That was the narrative Rob Barrere spun,” said Scott.

Public records requests show that after Jace’s murder, Andrew Gant called his father, NOPD officer Victor Gant. His father instructed Andrew to take off his clothes and put them in a bag, and go home and shower, effectively washing off any evidence. NOPD officer Victor Gant then drove from Covington, Louisiana to meet his son. On the way, he called his longtime friends and fellow detectives in the NOPD.

#NewOrleansLA #LA #InJusticeSystem #KillerCops #PoliceCrimes #NOAARPR #NAARPR #Featured

Saginaw, TX – On February 9, over 200 students and community members from Boswell High in Saginaw, Texas marched in protest over the ongoing violence ICE has used against their community. This march comes after a walkout that the students of Boswell High organized on February 2, which brought threats of suspensions and expulsions upon the student body from Principal Ryan Wilson.

The action was jointly run by the student organizers and National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (NAARPR) Dallas.

Members of the NAARPR-Dallas assisted the march by providing the student organizers with marshals, protest signs, chanters and a “Legalization for all” banner. The march and protest were in conjunction with the Legalization for All Network's National day of action to demand justice for Renee Good, Alex Pretti, Keith Porter and immigrants killed by ICE.

As the students rallied at the Effie Center on school property, they were immediately met by police who demanded the marchers disperse immediately. Nevertheless, students stayed strong and marched despite the threats.

As the students marched along the sidewalk, they chanted, “ICE out of DFW” and “No justice, no peace – ICE out of our streets” as supportive drivers honking their horns in response. The students demanded legalization for all and spoke out against ice repression.

Brody Jones, one of the student organizers, said, “We are here for our families, for our fellow students and our friends, we demand ICE out of everywhere.”

The march passed through major streets, and some counter-protesters threatened one of the students with a gun. NAARPR marshals dealt with the situation while legal observers documented the incident.

The march ended on the outskirts of Boswell High School. Despite all the challenges, the students remained enthusiastic and wanted to continue organizing protests.

Glen Reed, a member of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, said, “It is amazing to see the next generation of freedom fighters take democracy into their own hands and protest against ICE and demand the end of the Trump agenda, as well as legalization for all.”

#SaginawTX #DallasTX #TX #ImmigrantRights #StudentMovement #HighSchool #NAARPR

Dallas, TX – On Friday, January 29, National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression – Dallas organized a rally and march against ICE murders in Minneapolis and across the country. The event drew about 1000 people, protesting the killings of Alex Pretti, Renee Good, Keith Porter as well as immigrants killed by ICE namely Geraldo Campos, Luiz Caceres, Luiz Cruz, Parady La, Victor Diaz and Heber Dominguez.

Community members marched around downtown Dallas calling for the Dallas Police Department to stop working with ICE and to seek justice for those murdered by ICE.

The protest was endorsed and supported by organizations such as the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Vecinos Unidos, El Moviemiento, Palestinian Youth Movement-Dallas, Shias for Justice, DFW Anti-war Committee, Revolutionary Front, Indivisible-Dallas amongst others.

Faye Damara from NAARAPR-Dallas spoke about ICE have extra-judicially murdered people stating, “It’s time to wake up and fight back, not to reclaim values that were never there in the first place, but to actualize those values for the first time on your own terms as a community.”

Chants rung around the march such as “ICE out of DFW,” “ICE out of Texas!” and “ICE out of everywhere!”

Xavier Velasquez, the chair of NAARPR-Dallas told the crowd, “Your rights don't stop at voting, it's getting involved, getting on the streets, marching, going on barrio walks, and assisting people during court appointments. The people who were killed by ICE did all of these things and more, and we should remember them by getting involved.”

People paid their respects at the altar set up to remember the people murdered by ICE. There was space made for messages for people to write to pay their respects.

Rick Majumdar, a member of the FRSO and Teamsters local 767 spoke at the rally, stating, “ We should mourn the dead but fight like hell for those that are living. People’s power will drive ICE out of our cities. We cannot let ICE scare us into submission. We will fight relentlessly to defeat Trump’s agenda.”

#DallasTX #TX #ImmigrantRights #ICE #AlexPretti #NAARPR

New Orleans, LA – On Sunday, January 25, the New Orleans Alliance Against Racist and Political Oppression along with the No Trump No Troops Coalition held an emergency rally and march for Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse who was executed by ICE in the streets of Minneapolis on Saturday. 300 community members and activists rallied at Lafayette Square demanding an end to ICE brutality and kidnappings, and to show support for Minneapolis.

“ICE and CBP have demonstrated over and over again, and with more and more hostility, that they will not change on their own. It is up to us, together, with our movement and our momentum, to make them change. To stop the killing. To stop the raids. To get the hell out!” said JJ Drummond from the New Orleans Alliance.

Matt Ricciardo from the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) stated, “We are all Alex Pretti. We are all Renee Good. We are all Renee Good's children who now grow up without a mother.” Renee Good was another victim of ICE brutality in Minneapolis, who was shot and killed in her car January 7. Ricciardo continued, “This is why we fight. When we fight for each other, we fight for ourselves. And when we fight together, we win the future.”

The protesters took to the streets of New Orleans, marching down the crowded Canal Street chanting, “New Orleans ain’t licking boots! No Trump! No Troops!” Onlookers from their hotels cheered for the protesters.

The protesters marched back to Lafayette Square to finish off the rally.

Despite the cold weather and bleak skies, from Minneapolis to New Orleans, people are taking to the streets to firmly stand with the victims of ICE brutality and demand an end to injustice.

#NewOrleansLA #LA #ImmigrantRights #NAARPR #NOAARPR #ICE #KillerICE #AlexPretti #FRSO #Feature

Washington, DC – Thousands of community members, activists and organizers flocked to Hancock Park on Saturday evening, January 24, to join the rising tide of people around the country denouncing the Minneapolis killing of Alex Pretti.

Families Not Feds, a campaign and coalition that fights for immigrant rights and against federal collaboration, in DC called the action. Organizers announced the protest and vigil mere hours after footage of the murder went viral on social media, and thousands marched – despite bone-chilling temperatures and an incoming snowstorm – to demand justice and an end to ICE.

The march began with chants from the emcees that targeted ICE, Metropolitan Police (MPD), and Trump, among others; with calls of “Chinga la migra!” “Fuck the police” and “Fuck Donald Trump!”

Protesters also expressed their anger with current Mayor Muriel Bowser, who announced her intent to step down from office after the public exposed her lies around ICE and MPD collaboration in addition to her capitulation to Trump’s occupation of DC. Several times, voices boomed in the crowd as attendees united to shout “Bowser, Bowser, you’re a traitor! This term was your last as mayor!” and “Bowser, Bowser, can’t you see? You no longer rep DC!”

After arriving at ICE headquarters, emcee Merawi Gerima of the DC Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (DCAARPR) opened the protest with a powerful statement on the importance of solidarity with the victims of ICE terror in Minneapolis, and connected it to the ongoing fight for justice for Phillip Brown in DC; the victim of an attempted murder by an HSI agent during a traffic stop that MPD covered up.

“If it wasn’t for luck, this could’ve been the exact same situation as Renee Good,” said Gerima, “Phillip Brown had bullet holes in his collar, that’s how close he was to death!”

Ermiya Fanaeian, a member of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization DC, told the crowd, “They expect all of us to fall for the lie that our neighbors are our enemies, and the billionaire war profiteers are our friends; the biggest problem humanity faces are the politicians of America. And make no mistake, you cannot murder our neighbors in broad daylight and insist we don’t call you what you are: the biggest force of terrorism we have ever seen!”

During the noise demonstration, several police officers and ICE employees gathered at the front of the building and protesters quickly spotted them as they hurled insults of “Shame!” and “Fuck ICE!” from across the double-barricades erected by the agency in advance of the protest.

The rally ended with a vigil and moment of silence for Alex Pretti, Renee Good and all victims of federal and police violence. Gerima invited attendees to call out other names of victims; Justin Robinson (murdered by MPD in 2024), Dalaneo Martin (murdered by DC Park Police in 2023), George Floyd, Trayvon Martin, Breonna Taylor and others.

“The names are too many to count, but what’s also too much to count is our power,” Gerima said to attendees, “While we sit here in silence we can hear all their machines. Their cop cars, their helicopters, all the tools of the state that they use to repress us, to keep us in line, to keep us from fighting for each other and for better conditions. But we know that they will never have our numbers. So our mission is simple, unite the many to defeat the few!”

Before dispersing, the co-emcee from Movimiento Migrante DC closed the rally with a chant for their ongoing Families Not Feds campaign, which intends to launch a Peoples Ballot initiative for the upcoming mayoral race.

Follow @dcagainsttrump on Instagram to stay up to date with their struggle to keep DC a sanctuary city and defeat the racist Trump agenda.

#WashingtonDC #ImmigrantRights #NAARPR #FRSO #AlexPretti #KillerICE

New Orleans, LA – On Monday, January 19, 100 activists and community members marched through the busy streets of New Orleans to commemorate MLK’s long legacy.

The protest was headed by the New Orleans Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (NOAARPR). Demands included an end to deportations and justice for victims of police brutality.

The protest began with a rally at A.L. Davis Park.

“King was taken from us too soon, but his words and deeds were not. We remember King as someone who fought not only to protect peace but to protect the dignity of all working people,” said Toni Jones, chair of NOAARPR. Jones later stated, “His actions are what are worth remembering in trying to change history.”

Mich Gonzales of Sanctuary Now Abolition Project quoted Martin Luther King Jr, saying, “A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.” Gonzales then stated “We, the people of the United States, will not be spoken for by the filthy rich. The working-class people are rising up, and we are done!”

Before taking to the streets, Toni Mar from the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) read from MLK’s Letter from Birmingham Jail, finishing with the line “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Mar then said, “We have to heed the call to take to the streets! We will not take one step backwards, we are only going forward!”

As the crowd marched through the streets, chants rang out such as “Cell blocks for crooked cops!” And “No justice! No peace!” Community support was high, with people along the streets chanting along with their fists in the air.

The march concluded in front of a sculpture commemorating MLK Jr. on Martin Luther King Boulevard in Central City.

Rosalina Framboise from Liberate and Unite New Orleans Students for a Democratic Society (LUNO SDS), spoke on the importance of remembering the true legacy of MLK, “This is not just something that we learn about in our classes. This is something we experience right here today in our real lives as we continue to shape history.”

Before the protest was over, the crowd gathered together and repeated Assata Shakur’s famous quote, “It is our duty to fight for our freedom. It is our duty to win. We must love and protect one another. We have nothing to lose but our chains.”

#NewOrleansLA #LA #OppressedNationalities #AfricanAmerican #MLKDay #NOAARPR #NAARPR

Dallas, TX– On Friday, January 16, the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (NAARPR) Dallas organized a noise demonstration against ICE agents being housed at taxpayers’ expense in at Hilton Anatole. People from all over the DFW community arrived and showed that the community does not stand for the kidnapping and brutalizing of friends and neighbors.

More than 100 people showed up, bullhorns in hand whistles mouth to make noise – and keep the ICE agents from sleeping. ICE has been terrorizing timmigrant and oppressed communities in DFW, using a mixture of intimidation, violence and kidnappings to torment and break down communities. The crowd also protested the fact that the Hilton Anatole in Dallas was the venue of choice for the Zionist-funded Jewish National Fund Convention in 2024.

After the murder of Renee Nicole Good, eyes have turned onto ICE and the cruel abuse of power they have enjoyed for far too long, Protesters demanded the jailing of Jonathan Ross, and justice for Renee Good.

Kevin Acosta, an organizer and community liaison for NAARPR – Dallas, said ,“The reason we put this noise demonstration today is because the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Texas is housing ICE agents. Therefore, we wanted to show them that they are not welcomed here in our community. They are tearing families apart every single day without any remorse towards them. The acts of inhuman conditions that they are put through needs to stop today. We put out a call to boycott all Hilton Hotels for complying with ICE agents that create terror in our communities. We will always stand in solidarity with our communities being affected by this administration.”

Many organizations, such as the Freedom Road Socialist Organization-Dallas, El Moviemiento and Vecinos Unidos and many others showed up in solidarity with the communities being targeted by ICE.

#DallasTX #TX #ImmigrantRights #ICE #NAARPR

New Orleans, LA – On Sunday evening, January 11, members of the New Orleans Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression held a demonstration in front of the Saint Louis Cathedral in the French Quarter to demand justice for Jace Lee Scott who was murdered by the son of NOPD officer Victor Gant in 2019.

The protest targeted the inauguration of New Orleans Mayor-elect Helena Moreno. The event was well secured with barriers. Victor Gant now serves on the mayor’s security team, even though he aided in his son Andrew Gant’s murder case.

Phone records show that after Andrew Gant murdered Jace Scott, he called his father for help. Victor Gant drove to his son instead of calling 911, and was present during his son’s interrogation – a clear conflict of interest. Andrew Gant got off on a negligent homicide charge and never saw a day in jail. The judge overseeing his case, Judge Nandi Campbell, also allowed him to be late on his restitution 14 times and never put him in jail.

“Helena Moreno, do what’s right! Stand with the families, help us fight!” chanted the crowd. In front of numerous NOPD officers and heavily armed National Guard, they chanted “Victor Gant is a crooked cop, we want justice, lock him up!” Some of the officers laughed and bobbed along with the rhythm of the chant.

“All of you officers who are laughing, I want you to think about what it would be like if your family, if your son or your daughter was shot in cold blood and their killer got to walk the streets not seeing a single day in jail,” said Toni Mar, directly confronting NOPD officers over the loudspeaker. “I bet you wouldn’t have a fucking smirk on your face like you do right now!”

People on the street walking by stopped to listen to Sister Shanta Scott, the mother of Jace and founder of the Jace Lee Scott Foundation. “When cops lie, they steal. And when they steal, they murder,” she said. “My son was stolen from me. Murdered in cold blood. And the police covered it up.”

Sister Shanta Scott made her demands known. Addressing Mayor Moreno, she called for the immediate firing of all police officers involved in the cover-up of her case, federal charges against Victor Gant and his son Andrew Gant, a civil lawsuit against the city of New Orleans for protecting the officers involved, and community control of the police.

“No one should have to go through what I have to seek justice for their child,” Shanta Scott said. “This is not just about my son. This is about accountability, transparency and ensuring that no one is above the law. Families deserve truth, and justice must be applied equally.”

As the inauguration crowd exited the ceremony in their Sunday best, they had to walk in front of the protest demanding “Justice for Jace!”

#NewOrleansLA #LA #InJusticeSystem #KillerCops #PoliceCrimes #NAARPR #NOAARPR