_House Republicans could force 19% benefit cut to Disability Insurance _
San José, CA – On August 14, Social Security will be 80 years old. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law during the Great Depression to curtail mass poverty among older Americans. Today the Social Security benefits go to 39 million retirees, 11 million disabled people, and 9 million dependents or survivors of the retired or disabled. Social Security has brought down the poverty rate for the elderly so the poverty rate for elders is actually lower than working age adults or children.
_House Republicans could force 19% benefit cut to Disability Insurance _
San José, CA – On August 14, Social Security will be 80 years old. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law during the Great Depression to curtail mass poverty among older Americans. Today the Social Security benefits go to 39 million retirees, 11 million disabled people, and 9 million dependents or survivors of the retired or disabled. Social Security has brought down the poverty rate for the elderly so the poverty rate for elders is actually lower than working age adults or children.
Arlington, TX – On August 10, Mothers Against Police Brutality held a vigil for Christian Taylor outside the police department here. About 100 people attended.
¡Lucha y Resiste! esta circulando esta declaración conjunta de solidaridad con el Partido Comunista de Grecia (KKE). La Organización Socialista Camino de la Libertad (FRSO) es una de las organizaciones que ha firmado la declaración.Declaración conjunta de solidaridad con el KKE
Fridley, MN – On July 14, 345 Hospital Workers at Unity Hospital in Fridley, a first ring suburb of Minneapolis, voted by a roughly 60% majority to join SEIU Healthcare MN. The new bargaining unit includes Nursing Assistants, Dietary Aides, Patient Care Techs, Health Unit Coordinators, Environmental Services Aides and other job classes.
St. Paul, MN – Minnesota’s Governor Mark Dayton and legislative leaders are considering bringing all the legislators from around the state, 201 of them, to talk about giving zero-interest loans and tax breaks to resort and business owners, claiming they will ‘suffer’ because the walleye fishing season is ending early on one lake – Lake Mille Lacs, in east-central Minnesota.
Minneapolis, MN – This past spring, Missouri imposed a 45-month limit on how long poor families can receive federally funded welfare benefits, down from 60 months.
Minneapolis, MN – More than 40 people protested outside the office of Senator Amy Klobuchar on July 24, demanding the closing of ‘family detention centers’ housing thousands of immigrant mothers and children near the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas. The largest family detention center in Dilley, Texas houses around 2000 immigrant mothers and children, the vast majority of whom fled rampant violence and economic deterioration in the Central American countries of Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. After a harrowing and dangerous journey across several borders, these mothers and children are suffering yet another nightmare of being jailed indefinitely by the U.S. government under terrible conditions. The Dilley prison is a private prison operated for profit by the Corrections Corporation of America (CCA).
St. Paul, MN – Dozens of protesters gathered at the intersection of Summit and Snelling Avenues here, July 24, to remember last summer’s war on Gaza. They held signs, Palestinian flags, and chanted “Free Palestine” as cars that drove by the busy intersection. After getting supportive honks and peace signs for an hour they concluded with a short rally.
Chicago, IL – On July 20, Rasmea Odeh’s legal defense team filed a new brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, demolishing the July 8 arguments of Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Tukel, who is opposing her bid for a new trial.
Dallas, TX – About 60 people gathered at Belo Park here, July 22, to remember Sandra Bland, the young African American woman who died in police custody in Waller County, Texas, and to demand justice for her. The activists listened to a number of speeches and a few prayers, before marching through downtown chanting “What's her name? Sandra Bland,” and other slogans.
Washington, DC – In the Philippines, there is a mounting crisis of human rights abuses against indigenous people, labor and community activists at the hands of the armed forces. Victims demand justice and there are even calls for President Benigno Aquino to resign. But mainly the demand is for an end to impunity for the killers and torturers, because over and over they go unpunished.
Fight Back News Service is circulating the following Joint Statement in Solidarity with the Communist Party of Greece (KKE). Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) is one of the many signers.Joint Statement in Solidarity with KKE
Columbia, SC – Facing sweltering heat, and in the face of a massive police presence, about 2000 protesters, including the New Black Panther Party, confronted a Ku Klux Klan rally on the grounds of the capitol building here, July 18. Snipers could be seen at the corner of every building top.
March on Chicago City Hall for community control of police
Chicago, IL – Prominent ministers, labor organizations and national figures in the movement against police crimes are joining the call to march on Chicago City Hall, August 29.
Jacksonville, FL – The International Brotherhood of Teamsters is targeting United Parcel Service (UPS) for their leadership role in the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a corporate policy organization that drafts and pushes anti-worker legislation in state governments.
Chicago, IL – 200 people rallied in solidarity with Palestine on Al Quds Day. Al Quds is Jerusalem in Arabic. Joe Iosbaker of the Anti-War Committee-Chicago, spoke at the rally, making the following remarks:
Chicago, IL – Federal prosecutor Jonathan Tukel filed a brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, July 8, opposing Rasmea Odeh’s move to overturn her conviction and sentencing on immigration charges. Tukel argues that the lower court was right to deny Odeh her full defense, including its decisions to bar the testimony of a torture expert, to restrict Rasmea’s own testimony, and to allow documents obtained via torture by the Israeli military.
