PoorPeoplesMovements &mdash; Fight Back! News https://fightbacknews.org/tag:PoorPeoplesMovements News and Views from the People's Struggle Thu, 30 Apr 2026 17:05:01 +0000 https://i.snap.as/RZCOEKyz.png PoorPeoplesMovements &mdash; Fight Back! News https://fightbacknews.org/tag:PoorPeoplesMovements Poor People's Campaign protests at Capitol in DC https://fightbacknews.org/poor-peoples-campaign-protests-capitol-dc?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[Enter a descriptive sentence about the photo here. Washington, DC - On the morning of Saturday, June 18, thousands of people poured into the streets in front of the United States Capitol to participate in the Poor People’s Campaign (PPC) political action. They are demanding justice and redressal for millions of people in the United States facing poverty and deplorable living conditions under U.S. capitalism. !--more-- “54 years ago my father launched the Poor People’s Campaign to revolutionize the economic landscape of our nation. Unfortunately, Dr. King did not live long enough to see it come to fruition. However, on June 19, 1968, my mother Coretta Scott King was here in the nation’s capital to deliver a very powerful message on poverty,” said Reverend Dr. Bernice A. King, “She made the appeal that poverty is not only a longstanding evil of this nation, but an actual act of violence against the dignity, livelihood and humanity of its citizens.” Before the COVID-19 pandemic, hundreds of thousands died from curable diseases each year, due to poor access to health care. The pandemic only exacerbated these conditions, especially for African-Americans, Native Americans, Chicanos, Mexicanos and Latinos and other oppressed nationalities. Over a million people have died. It is why so many people from different cross sections of society - those in health care, peace activists, socialist organizations, and labor organizers, joined in coalition with the PPC to denounce the conditions capitalism puts workers and their families in, especially during the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Such is the time now for a mass moral meeting in the streets,” said Dr. Reverend Barber of the PPC. “We can’t be silent anymore.” He added, “This is a movement until children are protected, until sick folk are healed, until low-wage workers are paid, until immigrants are treated fairly, until affordable housing is provided, until the atmosphere, the land, and the water are protected.” The PPC has also announced another mass mobilization in Washington, DC scheduled for September 2022. The PPC plans to join 5000 poor and working class people and religious leaders with 100 economists in a “nonviolent moral direction action.” The rally took place commemorated the 50-plus years since Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. founded the PPC in 1967, shortly before his assassination in 1968. #WashingtonDC #DC #PoorPeoplesMovements #PoorPeoplesCampaign div id="sharingbuttons.io"/div]]> Enter a descriptive sentence about the photo here.

Washington, DC – On the morning of Saturday, June 18, thousands of people poured into the streets in front of the United States Capitol to participate in the Poor People’s Campaign (PPC) political action. They are demanding justice and redressal for millions of people in the United States facing poverty and deplorable living conditions under U.S. capitalism.

“54 years ago my father launched the Poor People’s Campaign to revolutionize the economic landscape of our nation. Unfortunately, Dr. King did not live long enough to see it come to fruition. However, on June 19, 1968, my mother Coretta Scott King was here in the nation’s capital to deliver a very powerful message on poverty,” said Reverend Dr. Bernice A. King, “She made the appeal that poverty is not only a longstanding evil of this nation, but an actual act of violence against the dignity, livelihood and humanity of its citizens.”

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, hundreds of thousands died from curable diseases each year, due to poor access to health care. The pandemic only exacerbated these conditions, especially for African-Americans, Native Americans, Chicanos, Mexicanos and Latinos and other oppressed nationalities. Over a million people have died. It is why so many people from different cross sections of society – those in health care, peace activists, socialist organizations, and labor organizers, joined in coalition with the PPC to denounce the conditions capitalism puts workers and their families in, especially during the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Such is the time now for a mass moral meeting in the streets,” said Dr. Reverend Barber of the PPC. “We can’t be silent anymore.” He added, “This is a movement until children are protected, until sick folk are healed, until low-wage workers are paid, until immigrants are treated fairly, until affordable housing is provided, until the atmosphere, the land, and the water are protected.”

The PPC has also announced another mass mobilization in Washington, DC scheduled for September 2022. The PPC plans to join 5000 poor and working class people and religious leaders with 100 economists in a “nonviolent moral direction action.”

The rally took place commemorated the 50-plus years since Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. founded the PPC in 1967, shortly before his assassination in 1968.

#WashingtonDC #DC #PoorPeoplesMovements #PoorPeoplesCampaign

]]> https://fightbacknews.org/poor-peoples-campaign-protests-capitol-dc Wed, 22 Jun 2022 14:45:58 +0000 Tallahassee: Demanding a Peoples Budget https://fightbacknews.org/tallahassee-demanding-peoples-budget?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[Isabelle Casanova, Regina Joseph, Delilah Pierre at People's Budget Panel.") Tallahassee, FL - On April 30, Tallahassee Community Action Committee (TCAC) hosted a panel discussing Tallahassee’s current city budget and the need for a People’s Budget. The panel was put on at The Bark, a local vegan restaurant in the All Saints neighborhood, and was co-sponsored by the Tallahassee chapters of Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) and Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). !--more-- “It’s super important that we let the city know that we’re not just going to be silent in the face of rising rent and inflation and unemployment. In general, it’s really important for people to know that they can make a difference,” said Regina Joseph, president of TCAC and district organizer for FRSO. The panelists highlighted how the current city budget does not allocate enough resources to take care of the everyday needs of Tallahassee residents, but instead funnels more and more money to the Tallahassee Police Department (TPD) with each passing year. For the 2022 fiscal year, TPD received just over $64 million, which equates to roughly 37% of the city’s general fund. TCAC demands that the city reallocate the funding for community support and stop using other city and county funding for TPD. With the high correlation between poverty and increased crime rates, if the city really wanted to address crime, they would redirect money away from TPD and put it towards solutions proven to reduce both poverty and crime, such as reliable access to affordable housing and public healthcare options. Instead, that money is used to further militarize a police force with things like night vision goggles, urban assault vehicles and a new helicopter. “The city commission would rather let developers build more student housing and more studio apartments instead of actually allocating money towards housing that working people can afford,” said Isabela Casanova, one of the panelists and a member of SDS. Casanova added, “The truth of the matter is that people need a place to sleep, and people need a place to call home - to not put affordable housing on their agenda or even on the radar is pretty sad. Working-class people need a cap on rent and to be actually able to afford the houses they are living in.” Tallahassee’s desperate need for a People’s Budget further reinforces the demand from Tallahassee activists for a Civilian Police Accountability Council, which would put the power of police and their spending in the hands of the city’s residents. If each year TPD is rewarded for their inability to keep Tallahassee residents safe with a larger budget, there will never be an incentive for them to change, so it’s time to take that decision away from the city and give it to the people most affected. Jordan Scott, the organizing chair for Graduates Assistants United, a union for grad students on FSU’s campus, stated, “The people’s budget gives the ability to seize those resources - that we pay anyway, through taxes- and give it back to things we need, like public transportation. We know that working-class people are the people that make this city.” #TallahasseeFL #PoorPeoplesMovements #InJusticeSystem #HousingStruggles #StudentsForADemocraticSocietySDS #PeoplesBudget #TallahasseeCommunityActionCommitteeTCAC div id="sharingbuttons.io"/div]]> Isabelle Casanova, Regina Joseph, Delilah Pierre at People's Budget Panel.

Tallahassee, FL – On April 30, Tallahassee Community Action Committee (TCAC) hosted a panel discussing Tallahassee’s current city budget and the need for a People’s Budget. The panel was put on at The Bark, a local vegan restaurant in the All Saints neighborhood, and was co-sponsored by the Tallahassee chapters of Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) and Students for a Democratic Society (SDS).

“It’s super important that we let the city know that we’re not just going to be silent in the face of rising rent and inflation and unemployment. In general, it’s really important for people to know that they can make a difference,” said Regina Joseph, president of TCAC and district organizer for FRSO.

The panelists highlighted how the current city budget does not allocate enough resources to take care of the everyday needs of Tallahassee residents, but instead funnels more and more money to the Tallahassee Police Department (TPD) with each passing year. For the 2022 fiscal year, TPD received just over $64 million, which equates to roughly 37% of the city’s general fund. TCAC demands that the city reallocate the funding for community support and stop using other city and county funding for TPD.

With the high correlation between poverty and increased crime rates, if the city really wanted to address crime, they would redirect money away from TPD and put it towards solutions proven to reduce both poverty and crime, such as reliable access to affordable housing and public healthcare options. Instead, that money is used to further militarize a police force with things like night vision goggles, urban assault vehicles and a new helicopter.

“The city commission would rather let developers build more student housing and more studio apartments instead of actually allocating money towards housing that working people can afford,” said Isabela Casanova, one of the panelists and a member of SDS.

Casanova added, “The truth of the matter is that people need a place to sleep, and people need a place to call home – to not put affordable housing on their agenda or even on the radar is pretty sad. Working-class people need a cap on rent and to be actually able to afford the houses they are living in.”

Tallahassee’s desperate need for a People’s Budget further reinforces the demand from Tallahassee activists for a Civilian Police Accountability Council, which would put the power of police and their spending in the hands of the city’s residents. If each year TPD is rewarded for their inability to keep Tallahassee residents safe with a larger budget, there will never be an incentive for them to change, so it’s time to take that decision away from the city and give it to the people most affected.

Jordan Scott, the organizing chair for Graduates Assistants United, a union for grad students on FSU’s campus, stated, “The people’s budget gives the ability to seize those resources – that we pay anyway, through taxes- and give it back to things we need, like public transportation. We know that working-class people are the people that make this city.”

#TallahasseeFL #PoorPeoplesMovements #InJusticeSystem #HousingStruggles #StudentsForADemocraticSocietySDS #PeoplesBudget #TallahasseeCommunityActionCommitteeTCAC

]]> https://fightbacknews.org/tallahassee-demanding-peoples-budget Thu, 05 May 2022 11:16:04 +0000 Hurricane Ida: Black, indigenous and working-class Louisianans can’t afford to leave, corporations raise prices https://fightbacknews.org/hurricane-ida-black-indigenous-and-working-class-louisianans-can-t-afford-leave-corporatio?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[Hurricane Ida. New Orleans, LA - On August 29, at 11:55 a.m., Hurricane Ida made landfall on the Louisiana coast. The storm arrived on the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Like then, working class, Black, and indigenous Louisianans are least able to evacuate and suffer the most damages. !--more-- Storm surges reached up to 16 feet. Affected parishes include Lake Charles, an industrial city that already suffered from Hurricane Laura last year. The poorest neighborhoods of the coastline are predominantly Black and indigenous. Many more of their residents had no choice but to stay, compared to wealthier and whiter areas. All suffer from dilapidating infrastructure. Even before landfall, thousands of Louisianans lost power. Dorothy Williams, a Black evacuee and retired housekeeper, told Fight Back!, “I have a niece and nephew that stayed for financial and transportation reasons. We almost didn’t make it either.” Williams’ niece is a healthcare worker. For Black workers who could leave, many will likely face unemployment and discrimination when they return. Tulane University sociologists James R. Elliott and Jeremy Pais found that that Black workers were seven times more likely to have lost their job after Katrina than white ones. Meanwhile, corporations selling basic necessities took advantage to increase their bottom lines. Williams remembered that a friend of hers “figured that their rooms went for double the price.” Charlette Becnel, a retired flight attendant and journalist who evacuated from New Orleans, said: “Before I had left, on Wednesday night, gas was $2.48 a gallon. The day everyone evacuated, gas went from $2.62 that morning to $2.98.” She noticed that prices even went up for food and other basic necessities that stores already had in stock. Becnel pointed out that her motel is “not a five-star place. Prices here are what five stars would’ve been before.” Louisiana is also among the states that suffered the worst outbreaks of the COVID-19 Delta variant. The state’s ICU units were almost full before the storm, and at least one Thibodeaux city hospital has already lost power. The hurricane will probably trigger another spike in cases. All Baton Rouge city hospitals are in the southern white areas. Southeast Louisiana’s mutual aid organizations are making preparations for relief efforts. Time will tell if federal, state and parish governments will do the same. This is a developing story. Fight Back! will provide ongoing reports from the ground. #NewOrleansLA #CapitalismAndEconomy #PoorPeoplesMovements #OppressedNationalities #AfricanAmerican #IndigenousPeoples #hurricane #EnvironmentalJustice #Antiracism #HurricaneIda div id="sharingbuttons.io"/div]]> Hurricane Ida.

New Orleans, LA – On August 29, at 11:55 a.m., Hurricane Ida made landfall on the Louisiana coast. The storm arrived on the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Like then, working class, Black, and indigenous Louisianans are least able to evacuate and suffer the most damages.

Storm surges reached up to 16 feet. Affected parishes include Lake Charles, an industrial city that already suffered from Hurricane Laura last year.

The poorest neighborhoods of the coastline are predominantly Black and indigenous. Many more of their residents had no choice but to stay, compared to wealthier and whiter areas. All suffer from dilapidating infrastructure. Even before landfall, thousands of Louisianans lost power.

Dorothy Williams, a Black evacuee and retired housekeeper, told Fight Back!, “I have a niece and nephew that stayed for financial and transportation reasons. We almost didn’t make it either.” Williams’ niece is a healthcare worker.

For Black workers who could leave, many will likely face unemployment and discrimination when they return. Tulane University sociologists James R. Elliott and Jeremy Pais found that that Black workers were seven times more likely to have lost their job after Katrina than white ones.

Meanwhile, corporations selling basic necessities took advantage to increase their bottom lines.

Williams remembered that a friend of hers “figured that their rooms went for double the price.”

Charlette Becnel, a retired flight attendant and journalist who evacuated from New Orleans, said: “Before I had left, on Wednesday night, gas was $2.48 a gallon. The day everyone evacuated, gas went from $2.62 that morning to $2.98.”

She noticed that prices even went up for food and other basic necessities that stores already had in stock. Becnel pointed out that her motel is “not a five-star place. Prices here are what five stars would’ve been before.”

Louisiana is also among the states that suffered the worst outbreaks of the COVID-19 Delta variant. The state’s ICU units were almost full before the storm, and at least one Thibodeaux city hospital has already lost power. The hurricane will probably trigger another spike in cases. All Baton Rouge city hospitals are in the southern white areas.

Southeast Louisiana’s mutual aid organizations are making preparations for relief efforts. Time will tell if federal, state and parish governments will do the same.

This is a developing story. Fight Back! will provide ongoing reports from the ground.

#NewOrleansLA #CapitalismAndEconomy #PoorPeoplesMovements #OppressedNationalities #AfricanAmerican #IndigenousPeoples #hurricane #EnvironmentalJustice #Antiracism #HurricaneIda

]]> https://fightbacknews.org/hurricane-ida-black-indigenous-and-working-class-louisianans-can-t-afford-leave-corporatio Mon, 30 Aug 2021 01:13:39 +0000 El Primero de Mayo 2021: Unir los muchos a vencer los pocos! ¡Abajo con los multimillonarios! ¡Necesitamos socialismo! https://fightbacknews.org/el-primero-de-mayo-2021-unir-los-muchos-vencer-los-pocos-abajo-con-los-multimillonarios-nec?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[El Primero de Mayo empezó como una celebración de la clase obrera y su lucha heroica después de la brutal violencia de la policía en el año 1886. Los trabajadores que manifestaron en Haymarket lucharon en contra condiciones de trabajo bien peor y por una campana de un día de trabajo por ocho horas. Los atacaron la policía, con muchos trabajadores heridos y muertos, muchos de ellos eran inmigrantes, resultado de un evento infamoso llamado la masacre de Haymarket. El estado de Illinois tuvo un juicio y ejecutó cuatro líderes laborales, siempre recordado como los Mártires de Haymarket. Todavía, el espíritu de este día, el primer Primero de Mayo vive y está celebrado alrededor del mundo cada año. !--more-- En los Estados Unidos, las capitalistas monopólicos y sus políticos han tratado de reemplazar el día de los trabajadores internacional con algo que se llamó “Labor Day” en el mes de Septiembre. Era un a intervención a robar el impulso revolucionario del Primero de Mayo con algo más flojo, más débil del sentimiento original. Pero, en 2006, con las marchas masivas de tantos inmigrantes a celebrar el Primero de Mayo, otra vez inicio el día como su legado alrededor del mundo. Trabajadores alrededor del mundo han continuado luchando en la cara de una pandemia mundial. La clase élite ha hecho bien claro que valoran sus ganancias más que las vidas de la clase obrera. Específicamente, cuando veamos en las comunidades de los Afro-Americanos, los Latinos y Chicanos, y la gente Indigena quien sufrir los peores efectos de la pandemia. Los Americanos Asiáticos han recibido una ola de violencia racista, como los dos administraciones han levantado las tensiones con la República del Pueblo China. La situación en los Estados Unidos demarca una contrasto bien claro en vez de los otros países socialistas como Cuba donde han ayudado mucho su población durante tiempos duros en la pandemia. Algunos cheques estímulos durante los 12 meses en pasado no son suficientes para cobrar todas los problemas de finanzas por las familias luchando en los E.E.U.U. Los educadores sigan luchando con sus administradores y los políticos con la salud y seguridad en nuestras escuelas. Los estudiantes en las universidades están luchando contra las administraciones que los han maltratado injustamente. Hay tantas personas deberían haber sido los primeros en recibir la vacuna pero tienen esperar porque el capitalismo es un sistema fracasado y no nos sirve nuestras interesas. El Primero de Mayo es la hora de planear las batallas que vienen como hacemos el análisis y reflejamos lo que está pasando ahora. Debemos ganar justicia por el George Floyd con cualquier métodos necesarios y para todas las víctimas de los crímenes de la policía. Debemos luchar para parar el maltratamiento de todos los migrantes y refugiados que lleguen a la frontera, y tenemos que cerrar todos los centros de detención donde ocurren tantos abusos. Debemos apoyar los sectores de la clase obrera que están organizándose por condiciones mejores, especialmente los trabajadores de Amazon en Alabama confrontando una represión masiva de los patrones y el estado en su lucha por la elección por su sindicato. Por cada y todas las causas, debemos redoblar nuestros esfuerzos a organizarnos y seguir luchando por una agenda popular que se pone los necesidades de los muchos primero. El capitalismo está muriendo y luchando contra sus últimas piernas y sus debilidad se muestra más y más con el tiempo. Los atentados de la clase élite se ponen más desesperados como con cada abertura en sus sistema viene más resistencia a sus modos viejos y brutales. En cada parte del mundo podemos ver la evidencia que tantos trabajadores siguen batallando en muchos frentes. Después el asesino de George Floyd hemos visto una gran rebelión de millones en movimiento llevando el país al punto de cambio. La historia está en el lado de la clase obrera y los oprimidos de todo el mundo. Cuando el poder económico y político está en las manos de la clase obrera podemos empezar a proveer por el pueblo. Aprovechar el tiempo – vamos a revitalizar nuestros esfuerzos a ganar un mundo mejor para todos y todas por derrotando el sistema que no nos deja hacerlo. #UnitedStates #AntiwarMovement #ImmigrantRights #PoorPeoplesMovements #StudentMovement #InJusticeSystem #Labor #OppressedNationalities #WomensMovement #ElPrimeroDeMayo #Healthcare #PeoplesStruggles #HousingStruggles #Antiracism #Socialism #OrganizaciónSocialistaDelCaminoDeLibertadOSCL #socialismo div id="sharingbuttons.io"/div]]> El Primero de Mayo empezó como una celebración de la clase obrera y su lucha heroica después de la brutal violencia de la policía en el año 1886. Los trabajadores que manifestaron en Haymarket lucharon en contra condiciones de trabajo bien peor y por una campana de un día de trabajo por ocho horas. Los atacaron la policía, con muchos trabajadores heridos y muertos, muchos de ellos eran inmigrantes, resultado de un evento infamoso llamado la masacre de Haymarket. El estado de Illinois tuvo un juicio y ejecutó cuatro líderes laborales, siempre recordado como los Mártires de Haymarket. Todavía, el espíritu de este día, el primer Primero de Mayo vive y está celebrado alrededor del mundo cada año.

En los Estados Unidos, las capitalistas monopólicos y sus políticos han tratado de reemplazar el día de los trabajadores internacional con algo que se llamó “Labor Day” en el mes de Septiembre. Era un a intervención a robar el impulso revolucionario del Primero de Mayo con algo más flojo, más débil del sentimiento original. Pero, en 2006, con las marchas masivas de tantos inmigrantes a celebrar el Primero de Mayo, otra vez inicio el día como su legado alrededor del mundo.

Trabajadores alrededor del mundo han continuado luchando en la cara de una pandemia mundial. La clase élite ha hecho bien claro que valoran sus ganancias más que las vidas de la clase obrera. Específicamente, cuando veamos en las comunidades de los Afro-Americanos, los Latinos y Chicanos, y la gente Indigena quien sufrir los peores efectos de la pandemia. Los Americanos Asiáticos han recibido una ola de violencia racista, como los dos administraciones han levantado las tensiones con la República del Pueblo China. La situación en los Estados Unidos demarca una contrasto bien claro en vez de los otros países socialistas como Cuba donde han ayudado mucho su población durante tiempos duros en la pandemia.

Algunos cheques estímulos durante los 12 meses en pasado no son suficientes para cobrar todas los problemas de finanzas por las familias luchando en los E.E.U.U. Los educadores sigan luchando con sus administradores y los políticos con la salud y seguridad en nuestras escuelas. Los estudiantes en las universidades están luchando contra las administraciones que los han maltratado injustamente. Hay tantas personas deberían haber sido los primeros en recibir la vacuna pero tienen esperar porque el capitalismo es un sistema fracasado y no nos sirve nuestras interesas.

El Primero de Mayo es la hora de planear las batallas que vienen como hacemos el análisis y reflejamos lo que está pasando ahora. Debemos ganar justicia por el George Floyd con cualquier métodos necesarios y para todas las víctimas de los crímenes de la policía. Debemos luchar para parar el maltratamiento de todos los migrantes y refugiados que lleguen a la frontera, y tenemos que cerrar todos los centros de detención donde ocurren tantos abusos. Debemos apoyar los sectores de la clase obrera que están organizándose por condiciones mejores, especialmente los trabajadores de Amazon en Alabama confrontando una represión masiva de los patrones y el estado en su lucha por la elección por su sindicato. Por cada y todas las causas, debemos redoblar nuestros esfuerzos a organizarnos y seguir luchando por una agenda popular que se pone los necesidades de los muchos primero.

El capitalismo está muriendo y luchando contra sus últimas piernas y sus debilidad se muestra más y más con el tiempo. Los atentados de la clase élite se ponen más desesperados como con cada abertura en sus sistema viene más resistencia a sus modos viejos y brutales. En cada parte del mundo podemos ver la evidencia que tantos trabajadores siguen batallando en muchos frentes. Después el asesino de George Floyd hemos visto una gran rebelión de millones en movimiento llevando el país al punto de cambio. La historia está en el lado de la clase obrera y los oprimidos de todo el mundo. Cuando el poder económico y político está en las manos de la clase obrera podemos empezar a proveer por el pueblo. Aprovechar el tiempo – vamos a revitalizar nuestros esfuerzos a ganar un mundo mejor para todos y todas por derrotando el sistema que no nos deja hacerlo.

#UnitedStates #AntiwarMovement #ImmigrantRights #PoorPeoplesMovements #StudentMovement #InJusticeSystem #Labor #OppressedNationalities #WomensMovement #ElPrimeroDeMayo #Healthcare #PeoplesStruggles #HousingStruggles #Antiracism #Socialism #OrganizaciónSocialistaDelCaminoDeLibertadOSCL #socialismo

]]> https://fightbacknews.org/el-primero-de-mayo-2021-unir-los-muchos-vencer-los-pocos-abajo-con-los-multimillonarios-nec Sat, 01 May 2021 17:26:12 +0000 May Day 2021: Unite the many to defeat the few! Down with the billionaires! We need socialism! https://fightbacknews.org/may-day-2021-unite-many-defeat-few-down-billionaires-we-need-socialism?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[Enter a descriptive sentence about the photo here. International Workers Day is celebrated on May 1. Around the world, workers have accomplished many great things over the past year that we can be proud of. The ruling class, made up of monopoly capitalists, have tried their best to keep profits high at the expense of the people during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we’ve seen time and time again that the people can rise above the obstacles created by the 1% and bring about real change. On May Day 2021, it is important to reflect on the past year. We must also renew our efforts to end the rule of the monopoly capitalists and replace their broken, failed system with a system that benefits not the few but the majority of people – socialism. !--more-- May Day began as a celebration of the working class and its heroic struggle after Haymarket in Chicago in 1886. Workers at Haymarket fought against terrible working conditions and for an eight-hour workday. The greedy bosses and their servants, the police, tried to brutally repress the workers and their movement. The police attacked, injured and killed striking workers, most of them immigrants, leading up to the Haymarket massacre. Then the state of Illinois held a trial and hung four labor leaders, the Haymarket Martyrs. Still, the spirit of that first May Day lives on and is celebrated by workers around the world each year. In the United States, the monopoly capitalists and their politicians tried to replace the globally celebrated International Workers Day with ‘Labor Day’ in September. It wasn’t until the massive marches for immigrant rights of 2006 that the celebration of May Day became once again widespread in the U.S. Workers around the world continue to struggle in the face of the global COVID-19 pandemic. The ruling class has made it clear over the past year that they value making profits much more than they value the lives of the working class. This is especially true as we see African American, Latino/Chicano, and Native American communities continuing to suffer the worst effects of the pandemic, even as many people begin to have access to vaccinations. Asian Americans are being hit by a wave of racist violence, as both the Trump and Biden administrations have ramped up tensions with China The situation in the U.S. lies in stark contrast to the measures being taken in other countries like Cuba, where the socialist government is actively helping their people against the pandemic. A few stimulus checks over the past 12 months is nowhere near enough financial help for families struggling in the U.S. Teachers continue to struggle with administrators and politicians over safety in our schools. College students are fighting back against administrations that have treated many young adults unfairly. Many people who should have been among the first to receive vaccinations are having to wait because capitalism is a failed system that doesn’t serve our best interests. May Day is a time to plan for the battles to come as we analyze and reflect on the current situation. Justice must be won by any means necessary for George Floyd and all victims of police crimes. We must fight for an end to the cruel treatment of immigrants and refugees at the U.S. border, and we need to shut down all the detention centers where terrible abuses are taking place. We must support sectors of the working class that are organizing for better conditions, including the workers at Amazon in Alabama currently seeing massive repression from the boss and from the state throughout their union election. For each and every cause, we must double down on our organizing efforts and continue fighting for a people’s agenda that puts the needs of the many first. Capitalism is on its last legs, and the weakness of that system shows more and more as time goes on. The attempts of the ruling class become more desperate as each crack in their system brings forth increased resistance to their outdated and rotten way of doing things. This is evident all over the world, as workers continue their fight along many fronts. Over this past year, after the murder of George Floyd, we have witnessed a great rebellion that has drawn millions into motion. This country is at a turning point. History is on the side of the working class and oppressed people all over the world. Only once economic and political power is in the hands of the working class can the people’s needs truly begin to be met. Seize the time – let us renew our efforts to win a better world for all and smash the system that’s holding us back. #UnitedStates #AntiwarMovement #ImmigrantRights #CapitalismAndEconomy #PoorPeoplesMovements #StudentMovement #InJusticeSystem #Labor #OppressedNationalities #Healthcare #PeoplesStruggles #HousingStruggles #internationalWorkersDay #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganizationFRSO #Socialism #MayDay2021 div id="sharingbuttons.io"/div]]> Enter a descriptive sentence about the photo here.

International Workers Day is celebrated on May 1. Around the world, workers have accomplished many great things over the past year that we can be proud of. The ruling class, made up of monopoly capitalists, have tried their best to keep profits high at the expense of the people during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we’ve seen time and time again that the people can rise above the obstacles created by the 1% and bring about real change. On May Day 2021, it is important to reflect on the past year. We must also renew our efforts to end the rule of the monopoly capitalists and replace their broken, failed system with a system that benefits not the few but the majority of people – socialism.

May Day began as a celebration of the working class and its heroic struggle after Haymarket in Chicago in 1886. Workers at Haymarket fought against terrible working conditions and for an eight-hour workday. The greedy bosses and their servants, the police, tried to brutally repress the workers and their movement. The police attacked, injured and killed striking workers, most of them immigrants, leading up to the Haymarket massacre. Then the state of Illinois held a trial and hung four labor leaders, the Haymarket Martyrs. Still, the spirit of that first May Day lives on and is celebrated by workers around the world each year.

In the United States, the monopoly capitalists and their politicians tried to replace the globally celebrated International Workers Day with ‘Labor Day’ in September. It wasn’t until the massive marches for immigrant rights of 2006 that the celebration of May Day became once again widespread in the U.S.

Workers around the world continue to struggle in the face of the global COVID-19 pandemic. The ruling class has made it clear over the past year that they value making profits much more than they value the lives of the working class. This is especially true as we see African American, Latino/Chicano, and Native American communities continuing to suffer the worst effects of the pandemic, even as many people begin to have access to vaccinations. Asian Americans are being hit by a wave of racist violence, as both the Trump and Biden administrations have ramped up tensions with China The situation in the U.S. lies in stark contrast to the measures being taken in other countries like Cuba, where the socialist government is actively helping their people against the pandemic.

A few stimulus checks over the past 12 months is nowhere near enough financial help for families struggling in the U.S. Teachers continue to struggle with administrators and politicians over safety in our schools. College students are fighting back against administrations that have treated many young adults unfairly. Many people who should have been among the first to receive vaccinations are having to wait because capitalism is a failed system that doesn’t serve our best interests.

May Day is a time to plan for the battles to come as we analyze and reflect on the current situation. Justice must be won by any means necessary for George Floyd and all victims of police crimes. We must fight for an end to the cruel treatment of immigrants and refugees at the U.S. border, and we need to shut down all the detention centers where terrible abuses are taking place. We must support sectors of the working class that are organizing for better conditions, including the workers at Amazon in Alabama currently seeing massive repression from the boss and from the state throughout their union election. For each and every cause, we must double down on our organizing efforts and continue fighting for a people’s agenda that puts the needs of the many first.

Capitalism is on its last legs, and the weakness of that system shows more and more as time goes on. The attempts of the ruling class become more desperate as each crack in their system brings forth increased resistance to their outdated and rotten way of doing things. This is evident all over the world, as workers continue their fight along many fronts. Over this past year, after the murder of George Floyd, we have witnessed a great rebellion that has drawn millions into motion. This country is at a turning point. History is on the side of the working class and oppressed people all over the world. Only once economic and political power is in the hands of the working class can the people’s needs truly begin to be met. Seize the time – let us renew our efforts to win a better world for all and smash the system that’s holding us back.

#UnitedStates #AntiwarMovement #ImmigrantRights #CapitalismAndEconomy #PoorPeoplesMovements #StudentMovement #InJusticeSystem #Labor #OppressedNationalities #Healthcare #PeoplesStruggles #HousingStruggles #internationalWorkersDay #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganizationFRSO #Socialism #MayDay2021

]]> https://fightbacknews.org/may-day-2021-unite-many-defeat-few-down-billionaires-we-need-socialism Sat, 01 May 2021 03:06:05 +0000 ¡No dejen que Trump robe las elecciones! ¡Tomen las calles para exigir un programa de la gente! https://fightbacknews.org/no-dejen-que-trump-robe-las-elecciones-tomen-las-calles-para-exigir-un-programa-de-la-gent?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[El mundo está observando cómo los americanos votan por la derrota de Trump y de la agenda Republicana de racismo, discriminación, y opresión. Por supuesto, el sistema ya engañó a los americanos en 2016. Trump perdió el voto popular pero fue declarado presidente de los EEUU por el sistema elitista del Colegio Electoral. Ahora Donald Trump amenaza con robar las elecciones de nuevo, tratando de mentir, engañar, y robar su camino de regreso a la Casa Blanca. !--more-- Trump aprendió mucho en 2000 cuando la Corte Suprema usó chads (los papelitos que se producen cuando la perforadora en la máquina de votación marca las selecciones en las boletas) colgantes para declarar a Bush presidente. Así como Bush, Trump no bastará para nada, eliminando votantes negros desde las listas de elegibilidad, forzando que votantes hacen fila por horas en las estaciones de votación, retrasando el correo estadounidense y rechazando de contar boletas de correo. Juntos, ¡la gente debe desencadenar un aluvión de lucha! Si el voto no funciona, entonces es hora de tomar las calles - necesitamos mítines y marchas de la gente de la clase trabajadora y oprimida, con nuestros aliados, avanzar las reivindicaciones democráticas y desafiar al sistema. Hace cuatro años, manifestándose en contra de la inauguración de Trump en Washington DC, el secretario político de Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) Steff Yorek declaró, “Nuestro objetivo es hacer que el país sea ingobernable para Trump y los Republicanos.” El próximo día, la Marcha de las Mujeres fue la manifestación masiva más grande en la historia estadounidense. Trump lanzaba ataque tras ataque, y la gente los resistía con números crecientes. Hemos hecho todo en nuestro poder para echar leña al fuego de esta resistencia, desde manifestaciones en el aeropuerto, dándole una paliza a la Prohibición de Musulmanes de Trump, a mítines en oficinas de ICE denunciando a la detención de niños encerrados en jaulas, a promover y dirigir el número creciente de huelgas por trabajadores, a oponerse a los ataques de Trump hacia la gente LGBTQ+. Después de la ira justa en contra del asesinato espantoso de George Floyd por la policía de Minneapolis, es seguro decir que hay más gente poniéndose de pie y resistiendo que en cualquier momento desde el principio de los 70. Díganlo con nosotros, “¡Lucha! ¡Resiste!” ¿Y ahora qué? Estamos organizando a la gente para mantener las calles. Si Trump niega de salir, tendremos que seguir en modo de exigir que los gobiernos locales, condados, y estatales rechacen reconocerlo y actúen en su contra. Literalmente hacer que el país sea ingobernable. ¡Hemos trabajado para encontrar los ataques de Trump con unidad, poder de la gente y solidaridad! Cuando la gente fuerza a Trump a conceder, ¡será un día dichoso! Entonces avanzamos a la próxima etapa de lucha. A pesar de cómo Trump sale del puesto, nuestro próximo blanco es un presidente que también baila al ritmo de los banqueros de Wall Street. Con la crisis económica y sanitaria en desarrollo, no podemos regresar a las formas viejas de hacer las cosas. Con Biden en el cargo, nada no va a cambiar aunque exigimos que lo cambie y lo respaldamos con poder de la gente, incluyendo los esfuerzos organizados de la clase trabajadora. Biden no va a salvarnos. Tenemos que iniciar los cambios que deseamos a través de nuestros movimientos y con la dirección que actúa conscientemente e independientemente de ambos partidos de Wall Street. El historial de Biden es claro; empujó a los pobres de la asistencia social, encerró a los hombres negros y a otros en cantidades sin precidentes, y entró en guerra con entusiasmo en contra de países y gentes que Wall Street consideraba demasiados independientes o demasiados fuertes. Para dar el cambio, debemos avanzar una agenda de la gente como la de la Marcha en la Convención Nacional Democrática en Milwaukee, en agosto de 2020. De las muchas reformas que la gente quiere, como los derechos de los inmigrantes y la reversión del cambio climático, tres destacan. Inmediatamente necesitamos atención médica para todos para luchar contra la pandemia COVID-19. Necesitamos extendido y ampliado subsidio por desempleo (¡Traiga de vuelta los $600 ahora!) para pagar el alquiler y los recibos. Lo más importante es que debemos poner fin a los asesinatos policiales y el terror policial con el control comunitario de la policía. El hecho es que tenemos que quitarnos de encima a Trump. Su tipo de brutalidad y reacción no solamente es una amenaza concreta a las vidas de personas actuales; la pérdida constante de terreno es un impedimento para hacer progreso en varios asuntos, con el potencial de desmoralizar el flujo de lucha. Sin embargo, no estamos confundidos sobre la naturaleza de Biden o el hecho de que las reformas no son suficientes. La gente trabajadora y oprimida no pueden cumplir nuestros sueños y aspiraciones dentro del sistema que existe hoy - necesitamos algo diferente y mejor. Si ustedes leen ¡Lucha y Resiste! como noticiario, saben que estamos construyendo movimientos, tratando de ganar peticiones urgentes, todo el tiempo pidiendo a los organizadores y activistas desarrollar la lucha por la revolución al registrarse con la Freedom Road Socialist Organization. Conviertan su ira justa en activismo valioso para la revolución, el socialismo, y la liberación. Únanse con la FRSO. #EstadosUnidos #AntiwarMovement #ImmigrantRights #PoorPeoplesMovements #StudentMovement #InJusticeSystem #Labor #OppressedNationalities #WomensMovement #LGBTQ #US #Healthcare #PeoplesStruggles #AfricanAmerican #HousingStruggles #EnvironmentalJustice #Antiracism #Elections #elección2020 div id="sharingbuttons.io"/div]]> El mundo está observando cómo los americanos votan por la derrota de Trump y de la agenda Republicana de racismo, discriminación, y opresión. Por supuesto, el sistema ya engañó a los americanos en 2016. Trump perdió el voto popular pero fue declarado presidente de los EEUU por el sistema elitista del Colegio Electoral. Ahora Donald Trump amenaza con robar las elecciones de nuevo, tratando de mentir, engañar, y robar su camino de regreso a la Casa Blanca.

Trump aprendió mucho en 2000 cuando la Corte Suprema usó chads (los papelitos que se producen cuando la perforadora en la máquina de votación marca las selecciones en las boletas) colgantes para declarar a Bush presidente. Así como Bush, Trump no bastará para nada, eliminando votantes negros desde las listas de elegibilidad, forzando que votantes hacen fila por horas en las estaciones de votación, retrasando el correo estadounidense y rechazando de contar boletas de correo.

Juntos, ¡la gente debe desencadenar un aluvión de lucha! Si el voto no funciona, entonces es hora de tomar las calles – necesitamos mítines y marchas de la gente de la clase trabajadora y oprimida, con nuestros aliados, avanzar las reivindicaciones democráticas y desafiar al sistema.

Hace cuatro años, manifestándose en contra de la inauguración de Trump en Washington DC, el secretario político de Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) Steff Yorek declaró, “Nuestro objetivo es hacer que el país sea ingobernable para Trump y los Republicanos.” El próximo día, la Marcha de las Mujeres fue la manifestación masiva más grande en la historia estadounidense. Trump lanzaba ataque tras ataque, y la gente los resistía con números crecientes.

Hemos hecho todo en nuestro poder para echar leña al fuego de esta resistencia, desde manifestaciones en el aeropuerto, dándole una paliza a la Prohibición de Musulmanes de Trump, a mítines en oficinas de ICE denunciando a la detención de niños encerrados en jaulas, a promover y dirigir el número creciente de huelgas por trabajadores, a oponerse a los ataques de Trump hacia la gente LGBTQ+. Después de la ira justa en contra del asesinato espantoso de George Floyd por la policía de Minneapolis, es seguro decir que hay más gente poniéndose de pie y resistiendo que en cualquier momento desde el principio de los 70. Díganlo con nosotros, “¡Lucha! ¡Resiste!”

¿Y ahora qué? Estamos organizando a la gente para mantener las calles. Si Trump niega de salir, tendremos que seguir en modo de exigir que los gobiernos locales, condados, y estatales rechacen reconocerlo y actúen en su contra. Literalmente hacer que el país sea ingobernable.

¡Hemos trabajado para encontrar los ataques de Trump con unidad, poder de la gente y solidaridad! Cuando la gente fuerza a Trump a conceder, ¡será un día dichoso! Entonces avanzamos a la próxima etapa de lucha.

A pesar de cómo Trump sale del puesto, nuestro próximo blanco es un presidente que también baila al ritmo de los banqueros de Wall Street. Con la crisis económica y sanitaria en desarrollo, no podemos regresar a las formas viejas de hacer las cosas. Con Biden en el cargo, nada no va a cambiar aunque exigimos que lo cambie y lo respaldamos con poder de la gente, incluyendo los esfuerzos organizados de la clase trabajadora. Biden no va a salvarnos. Tenemos que iniciar los cambios que deseamos a través de nuestros movimientos y con la dirección que actúa conscientemente e independientemente de ambos partidos de Wall Street.

El historial de Biden es claro; empujó a los pobres de la asistencia social, encerró a los hombres negros y a otros en cantidades sin precidentes, y entró en guerra con entusiasmo en contra de países y gentes que Wall Street consideraba demasiados independientes o demasiados fuertes. Para dar el cambio, debemos avanzar una agenda de la gente como la de la Marcha en la Convención Nacional Democrática en Milwaukee, en agosto de 2020.

De las muchas reformas que la gente quiere, como los derechos de los inmigrantes y la reversión del cambio climático, tres destacan. Inmediatamente necesitamos atención médica para todos para luchar contra la pandemia COVID-19. Necesitamos extendido y ampliado subsidio por desempleo (¡Traiga de vuelta los $600 ahora!) para pagar el alquiler y los recibos. Lo más importante es que debemos poner fin a los asesinatos policiales y el terror policial con el control comunitario de la policía.

El hecho es que tenemos que quitarnos de encima a Trump. Su tipo de brutalidad y reacción no solamente es una amenaza concreta a las vidas de personas actuales; la pérdida constante de terreno es un impedimento para hacer progreso en varios asuntos, con el potencial de desmoralizar el flujo de lucha. Sin embargo, no estamos confundidos sobre la naturaleza de Biden o el hecho de que las reformas no son suficientes. La gente trabajadora y oprimida no pueden cumplir nuestros sueños y aspiraciones dentro del sistema que existe hoy – necesitamos algo diferente y mejor.

Si ustedes leen ¡Lucha y Resiste! como noticiario, saben que estamos construyendo movimientos, tratando de ganar peticiones urgentes, todo el tiempo pidiendo a los organizadores y activistas desarrollar la lucha por la revolución al registrarse con la Freedom Road Socialist Organization. Conviertan su ira justa en activismo valioso para la revolución, el socialismo, y la liberación. Únanse con la FRSO.

#EstadosUnidos #AntiwarMovement #ImmigrantRights #PoorPeoplesMovements #StudentMovement #InJusticeSystem #Labor #OppressedNationalities #WomensMovement #LGBTQ #US #Healthcare #PeoplesStruggles #AfricanAmerican #HousingStruggles #EnvironmentalJustice #Antiracism #Elections #elección2020

]]> https://fightbacknews.org/no-dejen-que-trump-robe-las-elecciones-tomen-las-calles-para-exigir-un-programa-de-la-gent Wed, 04 Nov 2020 13:54:45 +0000 Don’t let Trump steal the election! Take to the streets to demand a people’s agenda! https://fightbacknews.org/don-t-let-trump-steal-election-take-streets-demand-people-s-agenda?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[The world is watching as Americans vote to defeat Trump and the Republican agenda of racism, discrimination and oppression. Of course, the system already cheated the American people back in 2016. Trump lost the popular vote but was declared U.S. president by the elitist Electoral College system. Now Donald Trump threatens to be at it again, trying to lie, cheat and steal his way back into the White House. !--more-- Trump learned a lot back in 2000 when the Supreme Court used ‘hanging chads’ to declare Bush the president. Like Bush, Trump will stop at nothing, purging Black voters from election rolls, forcing voters to stand in line for hours at the polls, slowing the U.S. mail and refusing to count mail-in ballots. Together the people must unleash a storm of struggle! If voting is not doing it, then it is time to take it to the streets - we need rallies and marches of working-class and oppressed people, with our allies, advancing democratic demands and challenging this system. Four years ago, protesting Trump’s inauguration in Washington D.C., the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) Political Secretary Steff Yorek declared, “Our goal is to make the country ungovernable for Trump and the Republicans.” The next day the Women’s March was the largest mass protest in U.S. history. Trump immediately launched attack after attack, and people resisted these with growing numbers of protests. We have done everything in our power to fan the flames of this resistance, from airport protests slamming Trump’s Muslim ban, to rallies at ICE offices denouncing immigrant children locked in cages, to promoting and leading the growing number of strikes by workers, to opposing Trump attacks on LGBTQ+ people. After the righteous anger of widespread militant protests against the gruesome Minneapolis police murder of George Floyd, it is safe to say there are more people standing up and fighting back in our country than any time since the early 1970s. Say it with us, “Stand up! Fight back!” So what is next? We are organizing people to keep it in the streets. If Trump refuses to leave, we will need to do things like demand that local, county and state governments refuse to recognize him and act against him. Literally make the country ungovernable. We have worked to meet Trump’s attacks with unity and people power solidarity! When the people force Trump to concede, it will be a very happy day! Then we advance to the next phase of struggle. Regardless of how Trump leaves office, our next target is a president who also dances to the tune of Wall Street bankers. With the economic and health crisis ongoing, we cannot return to the old ways of doing things. With Biden in office, little is going to change unless we demand it and back it up with people power, including the organized forces of the working class. Biden is not going to save us. We must initiate the changes we want through our own movements and with leadership consciously acting independently of both parties of Wall Street. Biden’s record is clear; he pushed poor people off welfare, he locked up Black men and others at record numbers, and he enthusiastically went to war against countries and peoples that Wall Street considered too independent or too strong. To make change, we need to advance a people’s agenda like the one at the March on the Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee, August, 2020. Of the many reforms people want, like immigrant rights and reversing climate change, three stand out. We immediately need health care for all to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. We need extended and expanded unemployment (Bring back the $600 now!) to pay rent and bills. Most importantly, we need to end police killings and police terror with community control of the police. The fact is that we need to be rid of Trump. His brand of brutality and reaction is not only a concrete threat to real people’s lives; the constant loss of ground is an impediment to making progress on many issues, with the potential to demoralize the rising tide of struggle. That said, we are not confused about the nature of Biden or that fact that reforms do not go far enough. Working and oppressed people cannot get our dreams and aspirations met within the existing system - we need something different and better. If you read Fight Back! for news, then you know we are building movements, trying to win immediate demands, all the while asking organizers and activists to build the fight for revolution by signing up with the Freedom Road Socialist Organization. Turn your righteous anger into meaningful activism for revolution, socialism and liberation. Join the FRSO. #UnitedStates #AntiwarMovement #ImmigrantRights #PoorPeoplesMovements #StudentMovement #InJusticeSystem #Labor #OppressedNationalities #WomensMovement #LGBTQ #US #Healthcare #PeoplesStruggles #AfricanAmerican #HousingStruggles #EnvironmentalJustice #Antiracism #Elections #2020Election div id="sharingbuttons.io"/div]]> The world is watching as Americans vote to defeat Trump and the Republican agenda of racism, discrimination and oppression. Of course, the system already cheated the American people back in 2016. Trump lost the popular vote but was declared U.S. president by the elitist Electoral College system. Now Donald Trump threatens to be at it again, trying to lie, cheat and steal his way back into the White House.

Trump learned a lot back in 2000 when the Supreme Court used ‘hanging chads’ to declare Bush the president. Like Bush, Trump will stop at nothing, purging Black voters from election rolls, forcing voters to stand in line for hours at the polls, slowing the U.S. mail and refusing to count mail-in ballots.

Together the people must unleash a storm of struggle! If voting is not doing it, then it is time to take it to the streets – we need rallies and marches of working-class and oppressed people, with our allies, advancing democratic demands and challenging this system.

Four years ago, protesting Trump’s inauguration in Washington D.C., the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) Political Secretary Steff Yorek declared, “Our goal is to make the country ungovernable for Trump and the Republicans.” The next day the Women’s March was the largest mass protest in U.S. history. Trump immediately launched attack after attack, and people resisted these with growing numbers of protests.

We have done everything in our power to fan the flames of this resistance, from airport protests slamming Trump’s Muslim ban, to rallies at ICE offices denouncing immigrant children locked in cages, to promoting and leading the growing number of strikes by workers, to opposing Trump attacks on LGBTQ+ people. After the righteous anger of widespread militant protests against the gruesome Minneapolis police murder of George Floyd, it is safe to say there are more people standing up and fighting back in our country than any time since the early 1970s. Say it with us, “Stand up! Fight back!”

So what is next? We are organizing people to keep it in the streets. If Trump refuses to leave, we will need to do things like demand that local, county and state governments refuse to recognize him and act against him. Literally make the country ungovernable.

We have worked to meet Trump’s attacks with unity and people power solidarity! When the people force Trump to concede, it will be a very happy day! Then we advance to the next phase of struggle.

Regardless of how Trump leaves office, our next target is a president who also dances to the tune of Wall Street bankers.

With the economic and health crisis ongoing, we cannot return to the old ways of doing things. With Biden in office, little is going to change unless we demand it and back it up with people power, including the organized forces of the working class. Biden is not going to save us. We must initiate the changes we want through our own movements and with leadership consciously acting independently of both parties of Wall Street.

Biden’s record is clear; he pushed poor people off welfare, he locked up Black men and others at record numbers, and he enthusiastically went to war against countries and peoples that Wall Street considered too independent or too strong. To make change, we need to advance a people’s agenda like the one at the March on the Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee, August, 2020.

Of the many reforms people want, like immigrant rights and reversing climate change, three stand out. We immediately need health care for all to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. We need extended and expanded unemployment (Bring back the $600 now!) to pay rent and bills. Most importantly, we need to end police killings and police terror with community control of the police.

The fact is that we need to be rid of Trump. His brand of brutality and reaction is not only a concrete threat to real people’s lives; the constant loss of ground is an impediment to making progress on many issues, with the potential to demoralize the rising tide of struggle. That said, we are not confused about the nature of Biden or that fact that reforms do not go far enough. Working and oppressed people cannot get our dreams and aspirations met within the existing system – we need something different and better.

If you read Fight Back! for news, then you know we are building movements, trying to win immediate demands, all the while asking organizers and activists to build the fight for revolution by signing up with the Freedom Road Socialist Organization. Turn your righteous anger into meaningful activism for revolution, socialism and liberation. Join the FRSO.

#UnitedStates #AntiwarMovement #ImmigrantRights #PoorPeoplesMovements #StudentMovement #InJusticeSystem #Labor #OppressedNationalities #WomensMovement #LGBTQ #US #Healthcare #PeoplesStruggles #AfricanAmerican #HousingStruggles #EnvironmentalJustice #Antiracism #Elections #2020Election

]]> https://fightbacknews.org/don-t-let-trump-steal-election-take-streets-demand-people-s-agenda Wed, 04 Nov 2020 13:40:06 +0000 Hennepin County AFSCME fights to protect workers and community services https://fightbacknews.org/hennepin-county-afscme-fights-protect-workers-and-community-services?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[Minneapolis, MN – On October 20, Hennepin County workers gathered at the Government Center in downtown Minneapolis to demand, “Protect our workers, protect our community services: don’t balance the budget on our backs.” !--more-- The event was sponsored by the Hennepin County AFSCME Policy Committee, representing six AFSCME unions and over 5000 county workers. The gathering was scheduled one day before Hennepin County Board of Commissioners were slated to authorize layoffs, mandatory furloughs, and other cuts to Hennepin County worker benefits. These measures were delayed but will likely come before the board in the coming weeks. What layoffs at the county would mean for the community Proposed staffing cuts stand to roll back vital community services at a time when county residents are facing devastation from both the pandemic and the unfolding economic crisis. The county has already permanently closed eight libraries and plans layoffs in the department along with other direct service areas such as probation. Layoff proposals stand to deepen existing racial disparities in the county and undermine the county’s recent initiative to approach racism as a public health crisis. “Hennepin County is based on the premise of serving residents,” says Latonya Reeves, president of AFSCME Hennepin County Policy Committee and AFSMCE Local 552. “Frontline staff have worked with remarkable adaptability during these difficult times to provide excellent, efficient services to residents. We want to ensure continued access to services amidst the ongoing pandemic, civil unrest and uncertain times for the BIPOC community and all the communities we serve. Cutting staff means limiting services and we don’t want that.” Support for working parents Across the country, COVID-related childcare issues are forcing parents, particularly women and women of color, out of the workforce at alarming rates. According to recent government statistics, 617,000 women left the workforce in September alone, compared with only 78,000 men. One in four women are considering leaving the workforce, says McKinsey's and LeanIn's Women in the Workplace report. AFSCME is awaiting county-specific data but know that mothers are being hit hard. Speaking to her experience as a county worker and mother, AFSCME Local 2822 Vice President Jayne Mikulay stated, “As a single parent I have exhausted my federal COVID FMLA leave and I have no option of remote work. I need to support my son’s distance learning and I am now being forced to take unpaid leave. I am being penalized as a woman and single parent for not having the ability to do two jobs at once.” Women who are able to work from home find themselves in an impossible situation as well. “We are forced to choose between supporting our children, helping them educationally, paying bills and work,” says Aimee Wimberly, a county financial worker and single mother whose been working remotely since March. The AFSCME Local 34 member went on to say, “It seems the county is going out of their way to create more obstacles for us and controlling our schedules in a way that allows us no flexibility. Forcing us into using leaves that pay us significantly less than our wages and putting us into financial distress. AFSCME is calling on the county to expand childcare leave for those who’ve run out, supplement existing federal childcare leave which only covers two-thirds of parent’s and caregivers regular pay, and create county-sponsored daycare centers.” Safety Workers who must work onsite are demanding increased safety measures on the job. Workers at least two Hennepin County Libraries, Minneapolis Central in downtown Minneapolis and Washburn Library, have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past weeks. There are probably many more cases. Speaking to their experience with COVID-19, one worker wrote, “I went to the ER for asthma-related symptoms and tested positive for COVID-19. I had a bad case and was transferred to Bethesda Hospital in Saint Paul. That first day I spent worrying if my co-workers would be informed that they should get tested. It angers me that I may have unknowingly spread the virus to my co-workers, and to the patrons who visit the library. Especially when there are things that the county can be doing but are choosing not to do: such as mandatory notification of positive cases, mandatory testing and temperature checks and verbal screenings at the door, common sense things the union has been pushing for.” Responding to the union’s request for these additional safety measures, Labor Relations Representative Kathy Megarry stated that only in “unique circumstances” would staff be notified of positive cases in the workplace. Workers at Target and other retail areas are routinely informed of positive cases. Retaliation Since the beginning of the pandemic, Hennepin County workers have been voicing their health and safety concerns by speaking publicly at Hennepin County commissioner meetings. In some areas, such as the Department of Community Corrections, the response has been silence or intimidation. Speaking out against a rushed return to work plan in Adult Probation, AFSCME 2822 Steward Susannah Olson observed, “Mothers and employees with health concerns were given two or three days’ notice of their new schedule in the office. After speaking up at the county board meeting and filing a class action grievance, asking for a one-week extension of the return to work date, so mothers could find child care, I received a ‘coaching’ session the very next day. The coaching session questioned my union activity.” During a meeting with AFSCME union representatives on September 16, Mark Thompson, assistant county administrator of public safety, threatened layoffs if support staff continue their advocacy. AFSCME is calling for an end to retaliation for all those who speak out and for the removal of the coaching letter for Sue Olson and no discipline for the others. #MinneapolisMN #PoorPeoplesMovements #AFSCME #HennepinCounty #COVID #HennepinCountyAFSCMEPolicyCommittee div id="sharingbuttons.io"/div]]> Minneapolis, MN – On October 20, Hennepin County workers gathered at the Government Center in downtown Minneapolis to demand, “Protect our workers, protect our community services: don’t balance the budget on our backs.”

The event was sponsored by the Hennepin County AFSCME Policy Committee, representing six AFSCME unions and over 5000 county workers.

The gathering was scheduled one day before Hennepin County Board of Commissioners were slated to authorize layoffs, mandatory furloughs, and other cuts to Hennepin County worker benefits.

These measures were delayed but will likely come before the board in the coming weeks.

What layoffs at the county would mean for the community

Proposed staffing cuts stand to roll back vital community services at a time when county residents are facing devastation from both the pandemic and the unfolding economic crisis.

The county has already permanently closed eight libraries and plans layoffs in the department along with other direct service areas such as probation. Layoff proposals stand to deepen existing racial disparities in the county and undermine the county’s recent initiative to approach racism as a public health crisis.

“Hennepin County is based on the premise of serving residents,” says Latonya Reeves, president of AFSCME Hennepin County Policy Committee and AFSMCE Local 552. “Frontline staff have worked with remarkable adaptability during these difficult times to provide excellent, efficient services to residents.

We want to ensure continued access to services amidst the ongoing pandemic, civil unrest and uncertain times for the BIPOC community and all the communities we serve. Cutting staff means limiting services and we don’t want that.”

Support for working parents

Across the country, COVID-related childcare issues are forcing parents, particularly women and women of color, out of the workforce at alarming rates.

According to recent government statistics, 617,000 women left the workforce in September alone, compared with only 78,000 men. One in four women are considering leaving the workforce, says McKinsey's and LeanIn's Women in the Workplace report. AFSCME is awaiting county-specific data but know that mothers are being hit hard.

Speaking to her experience as a county worker and mother, AFSCME Local 2822 Vice President Jayne Mikulay stated, “As a single parent I have exhausted my federal COVID FMLA leave and I have no option of remote work. I need to support my son’s distance learning and I am now being forced to take unpaid leave. I am being penalized as a woman and single parent for not having the ability to do two jobs at once.”

Women who are able to work from home find themselves in an impossible situation as well. “We are forced to choose between supporting our children, helping them educationally, paying bills and work,” says Aimee Wimberly, a county financial worker and single mother whose been working remotely since March. The AFSCME Local 34 member went on to say, “It seems the county is going out of their way to create more obstacles for us and controlling our schedules in a way that allows us no flexibility. Forcing us into using leaves that pay us significantly less than our wages and putting us into financial distress.

AFSCME is calling on the county to expand childcare leave for those who’ve run out, supplement existing federal childcare leave which only covers two-thirds of parent’s and caregivers regular pay, and create county-sponsored daycare centers.”

Safety

Workers who must work onsite are demanding increased safety measures on the job. Workers at least two Hennepin County Libraries, Minneapolis Central in downtown Minneapolis and Washburn Library, have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past weeks.

There are probably many more cases. Speaking to their experience with COVID-19, one worker wrote, “I went to the ER for asthma-related symptoms and tested positive for COVID-19. I had a bad case and was transferred to Bethesda Hospital in Saint Paul. That first day I spent worrying if my co-workers would be informed that they should get tested. It angers me that I may have unknowingly spread the virus to my co-workers, and to the patrons who visit the library. Especially when there are things that the county can be doing but are choosing not to do: such as mandatory notification of positive cases, mandatory testing and temperature checks and verbal screenings at the door, common sense things the union has been pushing for.”

Responding to the union’s request for these additional safety measures, Labor Relations Representative Kathy Megarry stated that only in “unique circumstances” would staff be notified of positive cases in the workplace. Workers at Target and other retail areas are routinely informed of positive cases.

Retaliation

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Hennepin County workers have been voicing their health and safety concerns by speaking publicly at Hennepin County commissioner meetings.

In some areas, such as the Department of Community Corrections, the response has been silence or intimidation.

Speaking out against a rushed return to work plan in Adult Probation, AFSCME 2822 Steward Susannah Olson observed, “Mothers and employees with health concerns were given two or three days’ notice of their new schedule in the office. After speaking up at the county board meeting and filing a class action grievance, asking for a one-week extension of the return to work date, so mothers could find child care, I received a ‘coaching’ session the very next day. The coaching session questioned my union activity.”

During a meeting with AFSCME union representatives on September 16, Mark Thompson, assistant county administrator of public safety, threatened layoffs if support staff continue their advocacy.

AFSCME is calling for an end to retaliation for all those who speak out and for the removal of the coaching letter for Sue Olson and no discipline for the others.

#MinneapolisMN #PoorPeoplesMovements #AFSCME #HennepinCounty #COVID #HennepinCountyAFSCMEPolicyCommittee

]]> https://fightbacknews.org/hennepin-county-afscme-fights-protect-workers-and-community-services Wed, 21 Oct 2020 14:03:29 +0000 Texas entertainment workers rally to push for $600 and pass HEROES Act https://fightbacknews.org/texas-entertainment-workers-rally-push-600-and-pass-heroes-act?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[![Texas workers demand 600 dollar unemployment benefit.](https://i.snap.as/j5FFDy91.jpg "Texas workers demand 600 dollar unemployment benefit. Texas workers demand 600 dollar unemployment benefit. \(Fight Back! News/Staff\)") Austin, TX - On the morning of September 8, a group of around 100 unemployed artisans, designers, technicians, stagehands and other entertainment industry workers held a protest to push for $600 in unemployment benefits and pass the HEROES Act now. The protest was organized by IATSE Local 484 and Local 205, along with many independent contractors. !--more-- Participants gathered at the Paramount Theatre and marched with 60 road cases up to the state capitol building for a rally. Chants included, “Push for 600, HEROES Act now!” and “They say cut back, we say fight back!” The action wrapped up with a march to the Texas AFL-CIO building. In discussing the demands of the protesters, one of the organizers for the Push for 600 ATX protest, Jennifer Crump, said, "We all need the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance extended and the Heroes Act to be passed because none of us know when it will be safe to work in our industry again. We've bailed out several major corporations including the Airlines industries. We now need to bailout the entertainment industry workers along with all other industry workers that have been displaced by COVID-19." Other demands include: Send out a second round of economic stimulus checks, provide government assistance for rent and mortgage payments, extend the eviction moratorium, and increase government funding for the arts and entertainment workers. The protest was called in light of the Senate’s continual failure to address the needs of working people, as millions remain unemployed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Entertainment workers continue to protest the government’s inaction not only in Texas, but also in other “Push for $600” actions, such as those in Michigan, and across the country. #AustinTX #PoorPeoplesMovements #IATSE #HEROESAct #ParamountTheatre #COVID19Pandemic div id="sharingbuttons.io"/div]]> Texas workers demand 600 dollar unemployment benefit.

Austin, TX – On the morning of September 8, a group of around 100 unemployed artisans, designers, technicians, stagehands and other entertainment industry workers held a protest to push for $600 in unemployment benefits and pass the HEROES Act now. The protest was organized by IATSE Local 484 and Local 205, along with many independent contractors.

Participants gathered at the Paramount Theatre and marched with 60 road cases up to the state capitol building for a rally. Chants included, “Push for 600, HEROES Act now!” and “They say cut back, we say fight back!” The action wrapped up with a march to the Texas AFL-CIO building.

In discussing the demands of the protesters, one of the organizers for the Push for 600 ATX protest, Jennifer Crump, said, “We all need the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance extended and the Heroes Act to be passed because none of us know when it will be safe to work in our industry again. We've bailed out several major corporations including the Airlines industries. We now need to bailout the entertainment industry workers along with all other industry workers that have been displaced by COVID-19.”

Other demands include: Send out a second round of economic stimulus checks, provide government assistance for rent and mortgage payments, extend the eviction moratorium, and increase government funding for the arts and entertainment workers.

The protest was called in light of the Senate’s continual failure to address the needs of working people, as millions remain unemployed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Entertainment workers continue to protest the government’s inaction not only in Texas, but also in other “Push for $600” actions, such as those in Michigan, and across the country.

#AustinTX #PoorPeoplesMovements #IATSE #HEROESAct #ParamountTheatre #COVID19Pandemic

]]> https://fightbacknews.org/texas-entertainment-workers-rally-push-600-and-pass-heroes-act Fri, 11 Sep 2020 23:13:04 +0000 The $600 is essential for the unemployed, extend FPUC now! https://fightbacknews.org/600-essential-unemployed-extend-fpuc-now?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[San José, CA - In less than two weeks the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation or FPUC, which provides an extra $600 a week to those who are unemployed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, will end. The FPUC was part of CARES act passed back in March as disaster relief as the pandemic began to ravage the U.S. economy. !--more-- In addition to the $600 a week in extra unemployment benefits, another part of the CARES act protecting tenants is about to expire. There has been an eviction ban on all apartment buildings that are part of federal assistance programs, or whose landlords have federally insured mortgages. These come to more than one out of four rental units in the United States. At this time, the job market seems to have bottomed out. The latest report on unemployment insurance benefits or UI released by the U.S. Labor Department said that in the week ending July 11, 1.3 million new claims were filed, down 14,000, or about 1%, from last week’s initial estimate. New claims for the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance or PUA, aimed at self-employed and gig workers, were about 930,000, for a total of new claims of 2.2 million, down slightly from 2.3 million the week before. The broadest measure that includes regular state UI, the PUA, and the federal Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, for the week ending June 27, also dropped by about 1%, from 32.4 million the week before to 32 million. Since the recession began in February, there are now 30 million more people who have lost their livelihood because of the pandemic and are receiving government aid. While millions of people are lining up at food banks and more people are going hungry, the FPUC and eviction moratoriums have prevented a wave of evictions, foreclosures and loan defaults. All that is set to end at the end of July. While the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives did pass another relief bill two months ago, the Republican-controlled Senate has done nothing but criticize the HEROES act - Senate leader Mitch McConnell said that it was “dead in the water.” Like the Republican’s attack on the Affordable Care Act, where they promised to “repeal and replace” where they never proposed a replacement, the Republicans are now saying that they will have a new relief act but don’t have a specific bill. Part of the reason is that the Republicans really don’t care about working people or small business - just their big business buddies that fund their campaigns. But below this is the belief that government aid will keep the poor from working - thus their targeting of the FPUC, which allows two-thirds of the unemployed to take home as much or even more than they made before they lost their income. In fact, people would like to work - but not at the risk of their and their family’s health and safety. Nor do they really want to work for the low-paying, no benefit, often part-time and/or temporary jobs that made up more and more of the jobs even before the recession hit. If the FPUC was keeping people from jobs, we would see wages rising to entice more people to work. In fact, for the first time since the Great Depression in the 1930s, we are seeing more and more businesses cutting wages. Other businesses that increased wages right at the beginning of the pandemic have almost all eliminated these raises. In addition to the FPUC’s ending, the pandemic itself is growing to new records. The latest daily infection count of more than 75,000 is up 50% in just two weeks. Hospitals in the hardest hit states of Florida, Texas and Arizona are again scenes of overflowing beds, staff shortages, shortages of personal protective equipment and medicines. Deaths are hitting record highs in the hard-hit states. In response, Republican Governor Brian Kemp of Georgia signed an executive order forbidding cities or counties from mandating masks and is suing the city of Atlanta for doing so. But more and more cities, counties and states are rolling back their ‘reopening’ of the economy, which started too soon and went too far, laying the ground for the current resurgence of the pandemic. This is taking an inevitable toll on jobs, which like the infections themselves, may not show up for a few weeks. With the pandemic again bearing down on the economy, extending the FPUC is more important than ever. #SanJoséCA #PoorPeoplesMovements #Labor #OppressedNationalities #Unemployment #US #Healthcare #PeoplesStruggles #DonaldTrump #COVID19PandemicAid #FederalPandemicUnemploymentCompensationFPUC div id="sharingbuttons.io"/div]]> San José, CA – In less than two weeks the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation or FPUC, which provides an extra $600 a week to those who are unemployed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, will end. The FPUC was part of CARES act passed back in March as disaster relief as the pandemic began to ravage the U.S. economy.

In addition to the $600 a week in extra unemployment benefits, another part of the CARES act protecting tenants is about to expire. There has been an eviction ban on all apartment buildings that are part of federal assistance programs, or whose landlords have federally insured mortgages. These come to more than one out of four rental units in the United States.

At this time, the job market seems to have bottomed out. The latest report on unemployment insurance benefits or UI released by the U.S. Labor Department said that in the week ending July 11, 1.3 million new claims were filed, down 14,000, or about 1%, from last week’s initial estimate. New claims for the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance or PUA, aimed at self-employed and gig workers, were about 930,000, for a total of new claims of 2.2 million, down slightly from 2.3 million the week before.

The broadest measure that includes regular state UI, the PUA, and the federal Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, for the week ending June 27, also dropped by about 1%, from 32.4 million the week before to 32 million. Since the recession began in February, there are now 30 million more people who have lost their livelihood because of the pandemic and are receiving government aid. While millions of people are lining up at food banks and more people are going hungry, the FPUC and eviction moratoriums have prevented a wave of evictions, foreclosures and loan defaults.

All that is set to end at the end of July. While the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives did pass another relief bill two months ago, the Republican-controlled Senate has done nothing but criticize the HEROES act – Senate leader Mitch McConnell said that it was “dead in the water.” Like the Republican’s attack on the Affordable Care Act, where they promised to “repeal and replace” where they never proposed a replacement, the Republicans are now saying that they will have a new relief act but don’t have a specific bill.

Part of the reason is that the Republicans really don’t care about working people or small business – just their big business buddies that fund their campaigns. But below this is the belief that government aid will keep the poor from working – thus their targeting of the FPUC, which allows two-thirds of the unemployed to take home as much or even more than they made before they lost their income.

In fact, people would like to work – but not at the risk of their and their family’s health and safety. Nor do they really want to work for the low-paying, no benefit, often part-time and/or temporary jobs that made up more and more of the jobs even before the recession hit.

If the FPUC was keeping people from jobs, we would see wages rising to entice more people to work. In fact, for the first time since the Great Depression in the 1930s, we are seeing more and more businesses cutting wages. Other businesses that increased wages right at the beginning of the pandemic have almost all eliminated these raises.

In addition to the FPUC’s ending, the pandemic itself is growing to new records. The latest daily infection count of more than 75,000 is up 50% in just two weeks. Hospitals in the hardest hit states of Florida, Texas and Arizona are again scenes of overflowing beds, staff shortages, shortages of personal protective equipment and medicines. Deaths are hitting record highs in the hard-hit states. In response, Republican Governor Brian Kemp of Georgia signed an executive order forbidding cities or counties from mandating masks and is suing the city of Atlanta for doing so.

But more and more cities, counties and states are rolling back their ‘reopening’ of the economy, which started too soon and went too far, laying the ground for the current resurgence of the pandemic. This is taking an inevitable toll on jobs, which like the infections themselves, may not show up for a few weeks. With the pandemic again bearing down on the economy, extending the FPUC is more important than ever.

#SanJoséCA #PoorPeoplesMovements #Labor #OppressedNationalities #Unemployment #US #Healthcare #PeoplesStruggles #DonaldTrump #COVID19PandemicAid #FederalPandemicUnemploymentCompensationFPUC

]]> https://fightbacknews.org/600-essential-unemployed-extend-fpuc-now Sat, 18 Jul 2020 17:02:55 +0000 Michigan workers rally and march for unemployment extensions https://fightbacknews.org/michigan-workers-rally-and-march-unemployment-extensions?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[Michigan workers demand extension of unemployment benefits.") Lansing, MI - 120 union members and supporters marched through downtown Lansing, July 15, chanting, “They say cut back! We say fight back!” The march stopped at a union worker statue where Nick Eaton of IATSE Local 247 spoke, “This statue represents the workers who built the new buildings you see in front of you. It also reflects the history of factory workers before deindustrialization left ugly scenes and empty lots, like many cities in the Midwest.” !--more-- The marchers returned to the State Capitol building chanting about unemployment, “Extend to the end!” and “HEROES Act now!” Josh Roskamp with IATSE Local 26 explained, “The hundreds of post cards addressed to Republican Senator Mitch McConnell will send a message that we need the $600. We can’t wait for it to run out. We need every person at this rally to organize small groups to visit politicians at their offices to talk about unemployment and the HEROES Act!” Pete Vargas with the Restaurant Opportunities Center spoke at the rally, “Many of our food service workers live on tips, and are low wage at $3.25 per hour. For those who applied, many of them women and immigrants, they only make $126 a week for unemployment. It is just totally unacceptable. We support the expansion on both the state level and federal level.” Nia Winston, president of UNITE HERE Local 24 covering Michigan and Ohio, opened with the crowd chanting, “No justice! No peace!” Winston spoke passionately, “All of us have been essential for a long ass time, but nobody recognized that until now.” She then told the story of a McLaren Hospital porter forced to wear a plastic trash bag for PPE during the COVID-19 crisis. Other workers had to beg for masks while the McLaren Health Care Corporation continued to roll in the profits. Speaking to the unemployment need, Winston said, “For UNITE HERE union, 98% of our members are on furlough. If Congress and the Senate does not pass the HEROES Act now, unfortunately we will have members with serious medical conditions who will lose their health care.” She finished by saying, “Who the hell can live off of $300 per week unemployment? Extend the HEROES Act to the end! My plea is to the Senate to pass the HEROES Act now. Do your damn job!” The rally also featured a leading group of IATSE union stagehands Walter Shink, Lindsey Katerberg, Joe Miller, Tom Rivera and Josh Roskamp. IATSE members work in Detroit, Flint, Ann Arbor, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Battle Creek and Kalamazoo. Anne Brown spoke for U.S. Congressperson Elissa Slotkin of the 8th District on the topic, “What is the HEROES Act and what to expect?” She finished with a call and response, “When we fight! We win!” Importantly, Ron Bieber, president of the Michigan AFL-CIO spoke about workers being sick, and the people he knows who died. Bieber explained, “Dumbass Donald Trump has failed to have a coordinated federal response, to this day, after all the pain and all the deaths in this country. He continues to downplay the seriousness of the virus; after all we have been through.” Bieber continued, “You cannot fix this economic crisis until you fix the health crisis. Get your ass to work fixing that, Donald.” Josh Roskamp closed the rally by responding to Presidential Advisor Ivana Trump’s “Find something new” statement last week. Roskamp said, “Do we really want to be competing for everybody else’s job? Do we really need to run down all our wages?” U.S. unemployment rose by 1.8 million workers this past week. Officially there are 33 million unemployed, including 2 million in the entertainment industry. #LansingMI #CapitalismAndEconomy #PoorPeoplesMovements #Unemployment #PeoplesStruggles #AFLCIO #IATSE #HEROSACT div id="sharingbuttons.io"/div]]> Michigan workers demand extension of unemployment benefits.

Lansing, MI – 120 union members and supporters marched through downtown Lansing, July 15, chanting, “They say cut back! We say fight back!” The march stopped at a union worker statue where Nick Eaton of IATSE Local 247 spoke, “This statue represents the workers who built the new buildings you see in front of you. It also reflects the history of factory workers before deindustrialization left ugly scenes and empty lots, like many cities in the Midwest.”

The marchers returned to the State Capitol building chanting about unemployment, “Extend to the end!” and “HEROES Act now!” Josh Roskamp with IATSE Local 26 explained, “The hundreds of post cards addressed to Republican Senator Mitch McConnell will send a message that we need the $600. We can’t wait for it to run out. We need every person at this rally to organize small groups to visit politicians at their offices to talk about unemployment and the HEROES Act!”

Pete Vargas with the Restaurant Opportunities Center spoke at the rally, “Many of our food service workers live on tips, and are low wage at $3.25 per hour. For those who applied, many of them women and immigrants, they only make $126 a week for unemployment. It is just totally unacceptable. We support the expansion on both the state level and federal level.”

Nia Winston, president of UNITE HERE Local 24 covering Michigan and Ohio, opened with the crowd chanting, “No justice! No peace!” Winston spoke passionately, “All of us have been essential for a long ass time, but nobody recognized that until now.” She then told the story of a McLaren Hospital porter forced to wear a plastic trash bag for PPE during the COVID-19 crisis. Other workers had to beg for masks while the McLaren Health Care Corporation continued to roll in the profits.

Speaking to the unemployment need, Winston said, “For UNITE HERE union, 98% of our members are on furlough. If Congress and the Senate does not pass the HEROES Act now, unfortunately we will have members with serious medical conditions who will lose their health care.”

She finished by saying, “Who the hell can live off of $300 per week unemployment? Extend the HEROES Act to the end! My plea is to the Senate to pass the HEROES Act now. Do your damn job!”

The rally also featured a leading group of IATSE union stagehands Walter Shink, Lindsey Katerberg, Joe Miller, Tom Rivera and Josh Roskamp. IATSE members work in Detroit, Flint, Ann Arbor, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Battle Creek and Kalamazoo.

Anne Brown spoke for U.S. Congressperson Elissa Slotkin of the 8th District on the topic, “What is the HEROES Act and what to expect?” She finished with a call and response, “When we fight! We win!”

Importantly, Ron Bieber, president of the Michigan AFL-CIO spoke about workers being sick, and the people he knows who died. Bieber explained, “Dumbass Donald Trump has failed to have a coordinated federal response, to this day, after all the pain and all the deaths in this country. He continues to downplay the seriousness of the virus; after all we have been through.”

Bieber continued, “You cannot fix this economic crisis until you fix the health crisis. Get your ass to work fixing that, Donald.”

Josh Roskamp closed the rally by responding to Presidential Advisor Ivana Trump’s “Find something new” statement last week. Roskamp said, “Do we really want to be competing for everybody else’s job? Do we really need to run down all our wages?”

U.S. unemployment rose by 1.8 million workers this past week. Officially there are 33 million unemployed, including 2 million in the entertainment industry.

#LansingMI #CapitalismAndEconomy #PoorPeoplesMovements #Unemployment #PeoplesStruggles #AFLCIO #IATSE #HEROSACT

]]> https://fightbacknews.org/michigan-workers-rally-and-march-unemployment-extensions Fri, 17 Jul 2020 18:52:46 +0000 Total number of people getting unemployment benefits continues to climb https://fightbacknews.org/total-number-people-getting-unemployment-benefits-continues-climb?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[COVID-19 infections and end to enhanced benefits to make a bad situation worse San José, CA - On Thursday, July 9, the U.S. Department of Labor reported that the broadest measure of people on unemployment continued to climb. In the week ending June 20, the total number was 32.9 million, up by 1.4 million from a week earlier. This number includes those who are receiving the regular state unemployment insurance benefits, the growing number getting the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance or PUA, the Federal Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation or PEUC, and other smaller programs. !--more-- The latest report on new applications for state unemployment benefits for the week ending July 4 did fall slightly to 1.31 million, down 99,000 from the week before. However new claims for the federal PUA rose by 42,000 to 1.04 million from a week earlier. Looking at only the slow decline in the state UI applications can be misleading as people on UI are barely more than half (52%) of all individuals getting aid. Further, even as new layoffs may be slowing, fewer people are getting hired back, boosting the total number getting aid. Even this grim picture of more than 30 million people relying on direct government aid is looking worse. Yesterday the United States reported another record high in COVID-19 infections, with almost 60,000 new cases in a single day. Even worse, hotspots across the South and Southwest - Florida, Texas and Arizona - are seeing their hospitals in crisis, with intensive care units full and shortages of personal protective equipment, ventilators and medical supplies. Back in April we saw the United States emerge as the world’s hotspot for COVID-19, rising above the outbreak in Europe. But while Europe has been able to dramatically reduce the number of new infections, the United States is still the world’s leader in infections and deaths. Three southern and southwestern states: Arizona, Florida and South Carolina, have more new infections, adjusted for population, than any country in the world. This increase in infections, hospitalizations, and now deaths are leading to more people pulling back from restaurants and shopping, and to businesses cutting back on operations. Food pantries across the country facing historic demands and hunger is on the rise. There is a growing threat of mass evictions as state and local eviction moratoriums expire. In July more than a third (36%) of renters have missed some or all of their rent and these numbers will rise in August with the end of the expanded $600 a week unemployment benefits to end on or before July 31. Companies large and small are announcing more layoffs, or mass job cuts when their government aid runs out. Harley Davidson, Walgreens and Wells Fargo all announced plans for more layoffs. Most dramatically, United Airlines said that they would cut one half of their U.S. workers when federal aid ends at the end of September. With the continuing economic crisis in mind, the Democrat-controlled House passed their HEROES Act, which would extend and expand the provisions of the earlier CARES act through the end of the year. In addition to extended the expanded unemployment, it includes a second round of payments that would include adult dependents and taxpaying undocumented immigrants left out of the CARES act, as well as more for state and local governments, and a small amount for renters. In contrast, all the Republicans have been able to do is to declare the HEROES Act “Dead on arrival” and that they don’t want to extend the $600 a week benefits. But neither the Republican-controlled Senate nor the Trump administration has a concrete proposal. To add insult to injury, the Senate is taking a two-and-a-half-week recess and holiday that started on July 3. They won’t come back until Monday, July 20, leaving just days for them to agree on a plan and then negotiate with House on a bill. The fact of the matter is that many Republicans want the aid to expire, seeing it as a barrier to get workers to go back to work at dangerous jobs. #SanJoséCA #PoorPeoplesMovements #Unemployment #US #Healthcare #PeoplesStruggles #DonaldTrump #COVID19 #stockMarketCrash div id="sharingbuttons.io"/div]]> COVID-19 infections and end to enhanced benefits to make a bad situation worse

San José, CA – On Thursday, July 9, the U.S. Department of Labor reported that the broadest measure of people on unemployment continued to climb. In the week ending June 20, the total number was 32.9 million, up by 1.4 million from a week earlier. This number includes those who are receiving the regular state unemployment insurance benefits, the growing number getting the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance or PUA, the Federal Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation or PEUC, and other smaller programs.

The latest report on new applications for state unemployment benefits for the week ending July 4 did fall slightly to 1.31 million, down 99,000 from the week before. However new claims for the federal PUA rose by 42,000 to 1.04 million from a week earlier. Looking at only the slow decline in the state UI applications can be misleading as people on UI are barely more than half (52%) of all individuals getting aid. Further, even as new layoffs may be slowing, fewer people are getting hired back, boosting the total number getting aid.

Even this grim picture of more than 30 million people relying on direct government aid is looking worse. Yesterday the United States reported another record high in COVID-19 infections, with almost 60,000 new cases in a single day. Even worse, hotspots across the South and Southwest – Florida, Texas and Arizona – are seeing their hospitals in crisis, with intensive care units full and shortages of personal protective equipment, ventilators and medical supplies.

Back in April we saw the United States emerge as the world’s hotspot for COVID-19, rising above the outbreak in Europe. But while Europe has been able to dramatically reduce the number of new infections, the United States is still the world’s leader in infections and deaths. Three southern and southwestern states: Arizona, Florida and South Carolina, have more new infections, adjusted for population, than any country in the world. This increase in infections, hospitalizations, and now deaths are leading to more people pulling back from restaurants and shopping, and to businesses cutting back on operations.

Food pantries across the country facing historic demands and hunger is on the rise. There is a growing threat of mass evictions as state and local eviction moratoriums expire. In July more than a third (36%) of renters have missed some or all of their rent and these numbers will rise in August with the end of the expanded $600 a week unemployment benefits to end on or before July 31. Companies large and small are announcing more layoffs, or mass job cuts when their government aid runs out. Harley Davidson, Walgreens and Wells Fargo all announced plans for more layoffs. Most dramatically, United Airlines said that they would cut one half of their U.S. workers when federal aid ends at the end of September.

With the continuing economic crisis in mind, the Democrat-controlled House passed their HEROES Act, which would extend and expand the provisions of the earlier CARES act through the end of the year. In addition to extended the expanded unemployment, it includes a second round of payments that would include adult dependents and taxpaying undocumented immigrants left out of the CARES act, as well as more for state and local governments, and a small amount for renters.

In contrast, all the Republicans have been able to do is to declare the HEROES Act “Dead on arrival” and that they don’t want to extend the $600 a week benefits. But neither the Republican-controlled Senate nor the Trump administration has a concrete proposal. To add insult to injury, the Senate is taking a two-and-a-half-week recess and holiday that started on July 3. They won’t come back until Monday, July 20, leaving just days for them to agree on a plan and then negotiate with House on a bill. The fact of the matter is that many Republicans want the aid to expire, seeing it as a barrier to get workers to go back to work at dangerous jobs.

#SanJoséCA #PoorPeoplesMovements #Unemployment #US #Healthcare #PeoplesStruggles #DonaldTrump #COVID19 #stockMarketCrash

]]> https://fightbacknews.org/total-number-people-getting-unemployment-benefits-continues-climb Fri, 10 Jul 2020 22:28:15 +0000 A new Michigan rally for ‘HEROES Act now’ set for July 15 https://fightbacknews.org/new-michigan-rally-heroes-act-now-set-july-15?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[Stagehands and gig workers demand extension of benefits for the unemployed.") Grand Rapids, MI - After a lively rally on June 24 with nearly 100 workers, the stagehands union IATSE is calling a new rally on the steps of the Michigan State Capitol for July 15. The stagehands and other gig workers are demanding the passage of the HEROES (Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions) Act by the U.S. Senate. July 25 is looming as the $600 per week unemployment boost that keeps people paying their bills is set to run out. Tensions are rising not just in Michigan, but also for stagehands from New York City to Hollywood, across the whole country. !--more-- “The U.S. House of Representatives gave us hope by passing the HEROES Act,” said Josh Roskamp of IATSE Union Local 26. “Unfortunately, the Republican-dominated U.S. Senate, leader Mitch McConnell in particular, is stalling on giving us what we need. They say $600 is too much. They claim we don’t want to work, but they know full well that we cannot work!” Roskamp continues, “We all saw the disaster of opening bars and restaurants in June. Now people are suffering and dying from COVID-19 at high rates. The events and entertainment industry is shut down until the COVID-19 pandemic is treated as a serious public health crisis. Most touring concerts and theater shows are not going back on the road until after March 2021. Millions of us are unemployed. We need to pay our bills and feed our families. This is our fight to live!” Lindsey Katerberg of Local 26 said, “We are speaking out for non-union workers too. We are in this fight together. The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits those in our industry who cannot claim unemployment. It will continue to remain vital past the current expiration of July 31. We need to raise base benefits at the state level in Michigan, to extend state unemployment, and set minimum wage for essential workers at $13 per hour.” Joe Miller of Local 38 in Detroit said, “Most of us have never filed for unemployment, never had to. You are looking at people that would rather be working. We don’t want to sit home. Now due to mishandling of the crisis, we do not see a particularly good way forward until next March 2021.” The IATSE Local 26 statement says, “Union or non-union, performers, musicians, ushers, ticket takers, security, concessions workers, stagehands, gig workers, hospitality, and travel. We are reaching out to everyone to join forces with us as we recognize the need for extending the $600 FPUC as well as unemployment benefits and raising the maximum base payment of $362 per week at the state level.” The stagehands are planning to mobilize their members to call both Michigan and U.S. representatives and senators to demand backing for the HEROES Act. It will clarify which politicians support stagehands and gig workers in the events and entertainment industry, and which do not. At their rally on June 24, the crowd chanted, “Extend to the end!” and “They say cut back! We say fight back!” The rally begins at 10 a.m. on July 15 and brings together IATSE Local 26 of West Michigan, IATSE Local 38 of Detroit Metro, IATSE Local 274 in Lansing, the Michigan AFL-CIO and other union locals throughout Michigan. #GrandRapidsMI #CapitalismAndEconomy #PoorPeoplesMovements #Unemployment #US #PeoplesStruggles #AFLCIO #DonaldTrump #IATSE #HEROESAct div id="sharingbuttons.io"/div]]> Stagehands and gig workers demand extension of benefits for the unemployed.

Grand Rapids, MI – After a lively rally on June 24 with nearly 100 workers, the stagehands union IATSE is calling a new rally on the steps of the Michigan State Capitol for July 15. The stagehands and other gig workers are demanding the passage of the HEROES (Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions) Act by the U.S. Senate. July 25 is looming as the $600 per week unemployment boost that keeps people paying their bills is set to run out. Tensions are rising not just in Michigan, but also for stagehands from New York City to Hollywood, across the whole country.

“The U.S. House of Representatives gave us hope by passing the HEROES Act,” said Josh Roskamp of IATSE Union Local 26. “Unfortunately, the Republican-dominated U.S. Senate, leader Mitch McConnell in particular, is stalling on giving us what we need. They say $600 is too much. They claim we don’t want to work, but they know full well that we cannot work!”

Roskamp continues, “We all saw the disaster of opening bars and restaurants in June. Now people are suffering and dying from COVID-19 at high rates. The events and entertainment industry is shut down until the COVID-19 pandemic is treated as a serious public health crisis. Most touring concerts and theater shows are not going back on the road until after March 2021. Millions of us are unemployed. We need to pay our bills and feed our families. This is our fight to live!”

Lindsey Katerberg of Local 26 said, “We are speaking out for non-union workers too. We are in this fight together. The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits those in our industry who cannot claim unemployment. It will continue to remain vital past the current expiration of July 31. We need to raise base benefits at the state level in Michigan, to extend state unemployment, and set minimum wage for essential workers at $13 per hour.”

Joe Miller of Local 38 in Detroit said, “Most of us have never filed for unemployment, never had to. You are looking at people that would rather be working. We don’t want to sit home. Now due to mishandling of the crisis, we do not see a particularly good way forward until next March 2021.”

The IATSE Local 26 statement says, “Union or non-union, performers, musicians, ushers, ticket takers, security, concessions workers, stagehands, gig workers, hospitality, and travel. We are reaching out to everyone to join forces with us as we recognize the need for extending the $600 FPUC as well as unemployment benefits and raising the maximum base payment of $362 per week at the state level.”

The stagehands are planning to mobilize their members to call both Michigan and U.S. representatives and senators to demand backing for the HEROES Act. It will clarify which politicians support stagehands and gig workers in the events and entertainment industry, and which do not. At their rally on June 24, the crowd chanted, “Extend to the end!” and “They say cut back! We say fight back!”

The rally begins at 10 a.m. on July 15 and brings together IATSE Local 26 of West Michigan, IATSE Local 38 of Detroit Metro, IATSE Local 274 in Lansing, the Michigan AFL-CIO and other union locals throughout Michigan.

#GrandRapidsMI #CapitalismAndEconomy #PoorPeoplesMovements #Unemployment #US #PeoplesStruggles #AFLCIO #DonaldTrump #IATSE #HEROESAct

]]> https://fightbacknews.org/new-michigan-rally-heroes-act-now-set-july-15 Wed, 08 Jul 2020 21:46:39 +0000 FRSO condemns Duterte's terror law, demands U.S. out of Philippines https://fightbacknews.org/frso-condemns-dutertes-terror-law-demands-us-out-philippines?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[FRSO condemns Duterte's terror law, demands U.S. out of Philippines The U.S.-backed government of Philippines and its President Duterte is putting in place the legal framework to carry out a wave of repression against activists in the popular movements who are fighting for social and national liberation. Freedom Road Socialist Organization condemns the recently signed Republic Act 1147, also called Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, for what it is: an attempt to criminalize trade unionists, environmentalists, women’s groups, student organizations or anyone else who wants to challenge the cruel rule of Duterte. !--more-- Duterte is using an old trick – a slight of hand utilized for years by South Africa’s white minority rulers and then perfected by Israel and the U.S. – calling those who fight for liberation ‘terrorists’, while the real terrorists, the repressive governments, jail and torture at will. This so-called anti-terrorism measure is designed to curb democratic rights, while allowing Duterte’s repressive regime to act with impunity. President Duterte’s move to expand state terrorism comes as the regime finds itself engulfed by growing social and economic crises. It is beset by a powerful national democratic movement that challenges the domination of feudalism, bureaucrat capitalism, and imperialism. In particular, the communist-led New People’s Army is growing in strength with every passing day. State terrorism in the Philippines is made in the USA. U.S. dollars, troops, the CIA, and even U.S. police departments facilitate repression on a massive scale. Progressive Filipinos are organizing protests against this terror law and we encourage everyone to join them. Stop the repression! U.S. out of the Philippines! #UnitedStates #PoorPeoplesMovements #InJusticeSystem #Labor #OppressedNationalities #Philippines #US #Asia #PeoplesStruggles #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganizationFRSO #PoliticalRepression #Antifascism #DonaldTrump #OustDuterte #JunkTerrorBill div id="sharingbuttons.io"/div]]> FRSO condemns Duterte's terror law, demands U.S. out of Philippines

The U.S.-backed government of Philippines and its President Duterte is putting in place the legal framework to carry out a wave of repression against activists in the popular movements who are fighting for social and national liberation. Freedom Road Socialist Organization condemns the recently signed Republic Act 1147, also called Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, for what it is: an attempt to criminalize trade unionists, environmentalists, women’s groups, student organizations or anyone else who wants to challenge the cruel rule of Duterte.

Duterte is using an old trick – a slight of hand utilized for years by South Africa’s white minority rulers and then perfected by Israel and the U.S. – calling those who fight for liberation ‘terrorists’, while the real terrorists, the repressive governments, jail and torture at will. This so-called anti-terrorism measure is designed to curb democratic rights, while allowing Duterte’s repressive regime to act with impunity.

President Duterte’s move to expand state terrorism comes as the regime finds itself engulfed by growing social and economic crises. It is beset by a powerful national democratic movement that challenges the domination of feudalism, bureaucrat capitalism, and imperialism. In particular, the communist-led New People’s Army is growing in strength with every passing day.

State terrorism in the Philippines is made in the USA. U.S. dollars, troops, the CIA, and even U.S. police departments facilitate repression on a massive scale.

Progressive Filipinos are organizing protests against this terror law and we encourage everyone to join them.

Stop the repression! U.S. out of the Philippines!

#UnitedStates #PoorPeoplesMovements #InJusticeSystem #Labor #OppressedNationalities #Philippines #US #Asia #PeoplesStruggles #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganizationFRSO #PoliticalRepression #Antifascism #DonaldTrump #OustDuterte #JunkTerrorBill

]]> https://fightbacknews.org/frso-condemns-dutertes-terror-law-demands-us-out-philippines Wed, 08 Jul 2020 21:31:29 +0000 Call to March on the RNC: We Can’t Breathe! https://fightbacknews.org/call-march-rnc-we-can-t-breathe?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[2008 march in St Paul, MN organized by the Coalition to March on the RNC. Fight Back News Service is circulating the following call from the Coalition to March on the RNC. !--more-- On Thursday, August 27, 2020 Donald Trump will be nominated to run for a second term of office by the Republican National Convention. He will deliver his acceptance speech in Jacksonville, Florida at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. On that day, the Coalition to March on the RNC will hold a demonstration and march through downtown Jacksonville in opposition to Trump and his right-wing, reactionary agenda. Everyone who wants to defeat Trump in November is invited to march with the coalition. The main slogan of the event will be “We Can’t Breathe – Defeat Donald Trump.” The Coalition to March on the RNC plans to emphasize the Black-led struggle against police brutality under the past four years of Trump in office. The coalition itself is a national group of organizations and activists that demand justice, peace and equality. Many local community organizations in Jacksonville have joined together with groups around the U.S. and are preparing for the coalition’s August 27 demonstration. The Trump administration has made the pandemic worse. We urge everyone who joins us in Jacksonville to wear masks and practice social distancing. Members of the coalition organized large protests against previous Republican national conventions in 2008 (Minneapolis), 2012 (Tampa), and 2016 (Cleveland). The coalition expects thousands or more from all over to participate in the historic rally and march. The event will begin with a demonstration near the Duval County Clerk of Courts building, followed by march through downtown Jacksonville, passing within sight and sound of the Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena. On August 27, 2020, millions around the world will have eyes on Jacksonville. The people opposed to Donald Trump and his wretched policies must speak out against injustice and struggle to build a movement capable of defeating his agenda. Trump has failed to protect the health and safety of working people and our communities during the pandemic. His time in office must end. The Coalition to March on the RNC invites everyone who loves peace, justice and equality to join our work and participate in the demonstration. \-\- We Can’t Breathe - Defeat Donald Trump! \-\- Stop Police Crimes! Community Control of the Police Now! \-\- Jobs and Income Now! Extend and Expand Unemployment Insurance! \-\- Stop Attacks on Immigrants! Legalization, Not Deportations! \-\- Peace, Justice, and Equality for All! For more information, or to endorse the upcoming event, please email the Coalition to March on the RNC at MarchOnRNCJAX@gmail.com. #JacksonvilleFL #ImmigrantRights #CapitalismAndEconomy #PoorPeoplesMovements #StudentMovement #InJusticeSystem #Labor #OppressedNationalities #US #Healthcare #CoalitionToMarchOnTheRNC #Antiracism #Elections #DonaldTrump #2020RepublicanNationalConventionRNC div id="sharingbuttons.io"/div]]> 2008 march in St Paul, MN organized by the Coalition to March on the RNC.

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following call from the Coalition to March on the RNC.

On Thursday, August 27, 2020 Donald Trump will be nominated to run for a second term of office by the Republican National Convention. He will deliver his acceptance speech in Jacksonville, Florida at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. On that day, the Coalition to March on the RNC will hold a demonstration and march through downtown Jacksonville in opposition to Trump and his right-wing, reactionary agenda. Everyone who wants to defeat Trump in November is invited to march with the coalition.

The main slogan of the event will be “We Can’t Breathe – Defeat Donald Trump.” The Coalition to March on the RNC plans to emphasize the Black-led struggle against police brutality under the past four years of Trump in office. The coalition itself is a national group of organizations and activists that demand justice, peace and equality. Many local community organizations in Jacksonville have joined together with groups around the U.S. and are preparing for the coalition’s August 27 demonstration.

The Trump administration has made the pandemic worse. We urge everyone who joins us in Jacksonville to wear masks and practice social distancing.

Members of the coalition organized large protests against previous Republican national conventions in 2008 (Minneapolis), 2012 (Tampa), and 2016 (Cleveland). The coalition expects thousands or more from all over to participate in the historic rally and march. The event will begin with a demonstration near the Duval County Clerk of Courts building, followed by march through downtown Jacksonville, passing within sight and sound of the Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena.

On August 27, 2020, millions around the world will have eyes on Jacksonville. The people opposed to Donald Trump and his wretched policies must speak out against injustice and struggle to build a movement capable of defeating his agenda. Trump has failed to protect the health and safety of working people and our communities during the pandemic. His time in office must end. The Coalition to March on the RNC invites everyone who loves peace, justice and equality to join our work and participate in the demonstration.

-- We Can’t Breathe – Defeat Donald Trump!

-- Stop Police Crimes! Community Control of the Police Now!

-- Jobs and Income Now! Extend and Expand Unemployment Insurance!

-- Stop Attacks on Immigrants! Legalization, Not Deportations!

-- Peace, Justice, and Equality for All!

For more information, or to endorse the upcoming event, please email the Coalition to March on the RNC at MarchOnRNCJAX@gmail.com.

#JacksonvilleFL #ImmigrantRights #CapitalismAndEconomy #PoorPeoplesMovements #StudentMovement #InJusticeSystem #Labor #OppressedNationalities #US #Healthcare #CoalitionToMarchOnTheRNC #Antiracism #Elections #DonaldTrump #2020RepublicanNationalConventionRNC

]]> https://fightbacknews.org/call-march-rnc-we-can-t-breathe Sat, 27 Jun 2020 00:53:24 +0000 Michigan stagehands to rally June 24 for unemployment extension https://fightbacknews.org/michigan-stagehands-rally-june-24-unemployment-extension?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[Michigan stagehands to rally June 24 for unemployment extension Grand Rapids, MI - Union stagehands and gig workers are rallying to extend unemployment at the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing on June 24 at 10 a.m. !--more-- “We need unemployment to ‘Extend to the end!’” said one of the organizers, Walter Shink, a union stagehand. Shink is worried that there is no end date for the COVID-19 crisis. For stagehands who work at large concert arenas, inside theaters or at corporate shows, there is no return to work. Most events are not set to come back until 2021. “Workers are the ones who pay into unemployment. That money belongs to us. In this crisis it should be paid out to those who need it. We are going to be out of jobs for many months and we need income for stagehands and all gig workers in this economy,” said Josh Roskamp, business agent for the stagehands’ union IATSE Local 26 in West Michigan. Roskamp continued, “There is a lot of anxiety for stagehands and gig workers. This includes ticket takers, security, catering, bartenders and the whole hospitality and entertainment industries. We need the HEROES Act passed by the U.S. Senate and something to replace the CARES Act so we can pay our bills. We need to pay mortgages and rent, we need to feed our children, and health insurance is in jeopardy as rates are about to skyrocket. We know the Federal Reserve and the U.S. Senate already gave away billions to Wall Street. We want President Trump and Senator Mitch McConnell to give us the unemployment money we already worked and paid for. At least we earned it.” The union’s press release states: “IATSE is the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and the labor union behind entertainment. We are the people in black moving behind the scenes of events great and small; more often than not you do not see or hear us. But on Wednesday June 24th we plan to gather at the Lansing State Capitol because in this time of crisis we must be seen and heard. “Our industry relies on the gathering of large crowds and whether it is a full-scale arena tour, trade show, theatrical performance, comedy show, music festival, community event, or symphony performance there is a large crew of industry professionals who make it all possible. We know the importance of moving back into normalcy with the greatest precautions and understand our industry will be the last to return. We seek to inform the public and our representatives in the house and senate of our dire situation: \- The CARES Act ends July 31 \- Michigan unemployment ends at 26 weeks+ 13 \- The HEROES Act is in the hands of a skeptical Senate \- Numerous tours are postponed or canceled \- Many events are tentatively looking to Summer/Fall 2021 “We will not be returning to our craft when the financial relief we have been given thus far is set to expire. The uncertainty of our future weighs heavily on all gig workers, as the necessity of financial assistance is undeniable. Please work with us to extend unemployment benefits during this unprecedented crisis that leaves our profession at a standstill.” #GrandRapidsMI #CapitalismAndEconomy #PoorPeoplesMovements #Unemployment #Healthcare #PeoplesStruggles #COVID19 #IATSE div id="sharingbuttons.io"/div]]> Michigan stagehands to rally June 24 for unemployment extension

Grand Rapids, MI – Union stagehands and gig workers are rallying to extend unemployment at the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing on June 24 at 10 a.m.

“We need unemployment to ‘Extend to the end!’” said one of the organizers, Walter Shink, a union stagehand. Shink is worried that there is no end date for the COVID-19 crisis. For stagehands who work at large concert arenas, inside theaters or at corporate shows, there is no return to work. Most events are not set to come back until 2021.

“Workers are the ones who pay into unemployment. That money belongs to us. In this crisis it should be paid out to those who need it. We are going to be out of jobs for many months and we need income for stagehands and all gig workers in this economy,” said Josh Roskamp, business agent for the stagehands’ union IATSE Local 26 in West Michigan.

Roskamp continued, “There is a lot of anxiety for stagehands and gig workers. This includes ticket takers, security, catering, bartenders and the whole hospitality and entertainment industries. We need the HEROES Act passed by the U.S. Senate and something to replace the CARES Act so we can pay our bills. We need to pay mortgages and rent, we need to feed our children, and health insurance is in jeopardy as rates are about to skyrocket. We know the Federal Reserve and the U.S. Senate already gave away billions to Wall Street. We want President Trump and Senator Mitch McConnell to give us the unemployment money we already worked and paid for. At least we earned it.”

The union’s press release states: “IATSE is the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and the labor union behind entertainment. We are the people in black moving behind the scenes of events great and small; more often than not you do not see or hear us. But on Wednesday June 24th we plan to gather at the Lansing State Capitol because in this time of crisis we must be seen and heard.

“Our industry relies on the gathering of large crowds and whether it is a full-scale arena tour, trade show, theatrical performance, comedy show, music festival, community event, or symphony performance there is a large crew of industry professionals who make it all possible. We know the importance of moving back into normalcy with the greatest precautions and understand our industry will be the last to return. We seek to inform the public and our representatives in the house and senate of our dire situation:

- The CARES Act ends July 31 - Michigan unemployment ends at 26 weeks+ 13 - The HEROES Act is in the hands of a skeptical Senate - Numerous tours are postponed or canceled - Many events are tentatively looking to Summer/Fall 2021

“We will not be returning to our craft when the financial relief we have been given thus far is set to expire. The uncertainty of our future weighs heavily on all gig workers, as the necessity of financial assistance is undeniable. Please work with us to extend unemployment benefits during this unprecedented crisis that leaves our profession at a standstill.”

#GrandRapidsMI #CapitalismAndEconomy #PoorPeoplesMovements #Unemployment #Healthcare #PeoplesStruggles #COVID19 #IATSE

]]> https://fightbacknews.org/michigan-stagehands-rally-june-24-unemployment-extension Mon, 22 Jun 2020 18:09:54 +0000 July 31 cutoff looms for unemployed https://fightbacknews.org/july-31-cutoff-looms-unemployed?pk_campaign=rss-feed <![CDATA[Unemployment insurance claims stop falling San José, CA - In six weeks, tens of millions of unemployed people face the end of the additional $600 a week in unemployment insurance benefits. This additional benefit that helps low income workers the most is set to expire due to its being opposed by the Republican-controlled Senate. These same workers were hardest hit by the pandemic recession, and many face the prospect of their jobs not coming back. This is just another example of how the economic relief has helped large corporations, which can aided by the Federal Reserve, while low-income workers are subject to punishment by republicans who see the aid as discouraging people from returning to work. !--more-- This threat to cut the aid of the lowest-paid workers comes at a time when unemployment insurance claims have stopped falling. Up until this week new claims for unemployment insurance had been falling by 200,000 to 300,000 a week. But then on Thursday, June 18, the U.S. Department of Labor said that for the week ending June 13, new claims for state unemployment insurance (UI) were over 1.5 million, down only 60,000 from the week before. But new claims for the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, or PUA, rose by more than 60,000. Together, the state UI and Federal PUA had about 2.2 million new claims, the same as the week before. Continuing claims for the state unemployment insurance, the federal PUA and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation or PEUC, and other programs had a total of 29.2 million people collecting benefits in the week ending May 30. This total was down only 300,000 or 1% from the previous week. While Wall Street has bought into the illusion of a ‘V-shaped’ recovery with a quick return of jobs, the reality is that layoffs continue. In the last week, the hotel chain Hilton, ATT, and 24 Hour Fitness were among the large corporations announcing thousands of layoffs. At the end of May there were 100 million Americans who delayed payments on their mortgage, auto and other loans, more than three times the number at the end of April. While the $1200 relief checks allowed millions of people to pay their loans in April, this has largely been spent, causing tens of millions to seek deferments on their loans. This will continue through June and July and become a catastrophe in August if aid to individuals is not extended. Finally, another sign of weakness was that housing starts barely stabilized in May, up only 4.3% after a record 26.4% fall in April. Most economic forecasters expected a large 22% bounce in May. This means that thousands more construction jobs that were lost did not come back in May. The unemployed and all workers need to mobilize to fight to extend the $600 unemployment benefits. They also need to fight for federal aid to state and local governments, including schools, which are facing massive cuts in spending from the loss of tax revenue from the pandemic recession. While Trump says the virus is “dying out,” the reality is that the pandemic is growing in almost half the states, with more reporting record levels day by day. In fact, it is the economy that faces dying out if the Republicans withhold aid and layoffs continue or even grow. #SanJoséCA #PoorPeoplesMovements #Unemployment #Healthcare #PeoplesStruggles #economy #stockMarketCrash div id="sharingbuttons.io"/div]]> Unemployment insurance claims stop falling

San José, CA – In six weeks, tens of millions of unemployed people face the end of the additional $600 a week in unemployment insurance benefits. This additional benefit that helps low income workers the most is set to expire due to its being opposed by the Republican-controlled Senate. These same workers were hardest hit by the pandemic recession, and many face the prospect of their jobs not coming back. This is just another example of how the economic relief has helped large corporations, which can aided by the Federal Reserve, while low-income workers are subject to punishment by republicans who see the aid as discouraging people from returning to work.

This threat to cut the aid of the lowest-paid workers comes at a time when unemployment insurance claims have stopped falling. Up until this week new claims for unemployment insurance had been falling by 200,000 to 300,000 a week. But then on Thursday, June 18, the U.S. Department of Labor said that for the week ending June 13, new claims for state unemployment insurance (UI) were over 1.5 million, down only 60,000 from the week before. But new claims for the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, or PUA, rose by more than 60,000. Together, the state UI and Federal PUA had about 2.2 million new claims, the same as the week before.

Continuing claims for the state unemployment insurance, the federal PUA and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation or PEUC, and other programs had a total of