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News and Views from the People's Struggle

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By Grisha Glozman

Orlando rally demands, "Drop the charges against Chris Gibson."

Orlando, FL – On Sunday, June 22, 15 community members rallied behind a local student activist, Chris Gibson. Gibson had been charged by the Orlando Police Department with “battery on a police officer,” a felony they allege occurred when he participated in a pro-Palestine rally on October 7, 2024.

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By Grisha Glozman

Demonstration against the Trump agenda in Orlando.

Orlando, FL – On Saturday, June 14, at least 6000 rallied outside of Orlando City Hall as part of the No Kings national day of action; several crowds spilled out into the surrounding streets. They rallied behind the slogan “We the people are pissed!” with a clear emphasis from protesters being placed on the ongoing campaign of raids being conducted by ICE, the continued repression and disenfranchisement of the LGBTQ community and women, as well as acting in direct opposition to the Trump administration itself.

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By Anthony Renzetti

Orlando press conference demands justice for Tyrone Bartley. 

Orlando, FL – On May 25, family, loved ones, and the community of gathered for a press conference to demand justice for Tyrone Bartley – a 32 year old who was shot and killed in his own home by Orange County deputies during a botched SWAT raid on the afternoon of May 16.

The press conference, organized by Orlando Against Police Crimes, sought to correct the police narrative and hear directly from the family and other tenants of the house.

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By staff

Orlando, FL – On May 25, tropical showers did not stop Orlando Against Police Crimes (OAPC) from raining down condemnation on both local killer cops and President Trump’s latest executive order on policing. 30 people gathered at Lake Eola as part of the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression’s (NAARPR) call to action on the fifth anniversary of George Floyd’s murder by Derek Chauvin.

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By Cassia Laham

People stand with banners and signs reading, "DROP THE CHARGES NOW!"

Orlando, FL – A group of 20 community members gathered outside the Orange County Courthouse in downtown Orlando to demand charges against a pro-Palestine student activist be dropped. Chris Gibson, a student at the University of Central Florida (UCF), was arrested during a pro-Palestine demonstration that took place outside of Orlando City Hall in October 2024.

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By Vanessa Christaldi

Florida students oppose apartheid Israel.

Orlando, FL – On April 3, the Knights Against Genocide Coalition held its first day of action at the University of Central Florida (UCF) campus to present its demands to university administration and mobilize students against UCF’s continued support for the genocide and occupation of Palestine. The day of action began at Millican Hall with a delivery of the coalition’s demands to UCF President Alexander Cartwright.

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By staff

Orlando, Florida press conference demands dropping charges against pro-Palestine student.

Orlando, FL – On Tuesday, April 8, Orlando Against Police Crimes and UCF Students for a Democratic Society held a press conference in support of Chris Gibson, a pro-Palestine student activist and member of UCF SDS who is facing felony charges for protesting Israel’s genocide against Palestine. Gibson was arrested and brutalized by Orlando Police Department officers outside of City Hall on October 7, 2024.

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By Jacob Muldoon

Orlando, Florida protest demands justice for Luis Lopez.

Orlando, FL – On April 10, organizers with Orlando Against Police Crimes (OAPC) attended the Orange County Sheriff’s Civilian Advisory Committee to demand justice for Luis Lopez, a recent victim of a deadly police shooting in his own home.

“They killed an innocent person who was supposed to be helping,” explained David Porter, a member of OAPC. He continued, “if Sheriff Mina reached the absurd conclusion that deputies acted within policy, then your policy sucks, your training sucks.”

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By Marcus Polzer

A group of youth sit and listen to a speaker during a fundraising event in a bar.

Orlando, FL – On March 31, University of Central Florida (UCF) Students for a Democratic Society, Young Poet Society, and Young Democratic-Socialists of America came together to hold an open mic and fundraiser for Trans Day of Visibility, with all proceeds going towards Central Florida Mutual Aid’s Trans Safety Fund.

The goal of this event was to platform trans and queer voices on campus amid attacks on LGBTQ rights, including the recent unanimous decision by the UCF board of trustees to make it a conduct charge to use a bathroom that does not correspond with one’s “sex assigned at birth.”

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By Anthony Renzetti

A group of people stand holding white and blue balloons

Orlando, FL – On March 16, over 50 people gathered at Lake Ellenor Park to celebrate the life of Luis Lopez and to demand justice for his murder. Attendees watched Lopez’s team win their soccer match before gathering for a vigil and press conference.

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By Jacob Muldoon

International Women's Day marked in Orlando, Florida.

Orlando, FL – On March 8, the Orlando district of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) held a spoken word and trivia fundraiser to commemorate International Women’s Day and gather the Orlando community in the face of recent attacks on women. The slogans raised at the event were “Defend Women’s and Reproductive Rights,” “Stand with the Women of Palestine” and “Stop the Deportations! Keep Families Together.”

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By staff

Luis Lopez.

On Thursday, March 6, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office released the bodycam footage detailing the events that took place on the evening of February 8, 2025 resulting in murder of 26-year old Luis Lopez by Orange County deputies.

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By staff

Luis Lopez.

¡Lucha y Resiste! servicio noticial esta circulando la siguiente comunicado de Orlando Contra los Crímenes Policiales

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By staff

Luis López.

El Noticiero ¡Lucha y Resiste! está circulando el siguiente comunicado de Orlando Contra los Crímenes Policiales sobre el asesinato de Luis López, publicado originalmente en inglés el 13 de febrero de 2025.

Orlando Contra los Crímenes Policiales condena enérgicamente el asesinato de Luis López, de 24 años, a manos de agentes de la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Orange la noche del sábado 8 de febrero en el vecindario de Pine Castle.

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By staff

Luis Lopez.

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement by Orlando Against Police Crimes.

Orlando Against Police Crimes strongly condemns the murder of 24-year old Luis Lopez by Orange County deputies on the night of Saturday, February 8th in the Pine Castle neighborhood.

Officers arrived following reports of a burglarized home. In a statement to WFTV, a close friend of Lopez, Loida Zunun, said “Some guy was trying to get in his house, and he called my mom,” Zunun said. “He was scared, and he told us, hey, there’s somebody trying to come inside my house.”

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By staff

Protesters hold signs on a green. Their signs have slogans like “US out of the Middle East” and “No a las deportaciones”.

Orlando, FL – On January 20, organizations from around Central Florida rallied to protest the presidential inauguration of Donald Trump.

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By Marcus Polzer

Orlando, FL – From November 18 -26 students at the University of Central Florida (UCF) participated in a week of action that featured multiple protests for Palestine, and an observance of the Trans Day of Remembrance.

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By staff

Orlando, FL – On Monday, Nov 4, despite the rain, ten students gathered in front of the Ferrell Commons building on the University of Central Florida campus to demand UCF’s Office of Student Conduct & Academic Integrity (SCAI) drop their conduct charges against Chris Gibson, a UCF student, a member of Students for a Democratic Society and the Divestment Coalition.

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By staff

Orlando protest after Trump election.  | Fight Back! News/staff

Orlando, FL – On Wednesday, November 6, more than 40 community members, students and activists rallied at the George C. Young Federal Court House to protest Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 presidential election. The rally was organized by the Orlando District of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO).

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By staff

Students wearing keffiyehs and holding Palestinian flags gather.

Orlando, FL - On Monday, September 23, several student and community groups rallied at the University of Central Florida (UCF) to demand justice for a Palestinian protester targeted by university administration.

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