Fight Back! News

News and Views from the People's Struggle

blacklivesmatter

By Reuben Navarrete

Crowd gathers holding the Mexican flag and signs with slogans like "Legalization for all".

Los Angeles, CA – On May 1, over 100 people gathered at Mariachi Plaza in Boyle Heights to commemorate May Day, the International Workers Day. Across the world workers celebrate this day to highlight the contributions of the working class, regardless of their immigration status. It originated in Chicago, where in 1886, striking workers were attacked by police while fighting for the eight-hour workday, the right to unionize and safer working conditions. Eight of the organizers were convicted and four of them publicly executed by hanging.

Read more...

By staff

Jacksonville, Florida rally against bill that would ban civilian review of police crimes. | Fight Back! News/staff

Jacksonville, FL – A few dozen community members and activists rallied to demand an end to a proposed state legislative bill meant to end civilian review boards investigations into police misconduct.

SB 576/HB 601 is legislation designed to disband civilian oversight in Florida. Currently a few dozen cities and counties have some form of civilian oversight boards. This legislation as designed seeks to stop any civilian investigations into officer misconduct and concentrate civilian oversight appointment into the hands of police chiefs and sheriffs.

Read more...

By Gemini Gnull

Tacoma, WA rally demands justice for Manny Ellis. | Fight Back! News/staff

Tacoma, WA – Chants of “Jail killer cops,” “Black lives matter” and “Justice for Manny” rang through the Hilltop neighborhood of Tacoma, as over 100 people gathered to protest, grieve and march against the wrongful acquittal of three Tacoma police officers for the murder of Manny Ellis. Among those gathered were Ellis’s sister, mother, extended family, friends and other families of people murdered by the police.

Read more...

By Regina Joseph

Tallahassee, FL – On Saturday, August 5, several racist white patrons fucked around found out when they attempted to publicly lynch an African American dock worker who asked the groups of whites to move their tugboat. The tugboat was in the way of a riverboat, the Harriott II, trying to dock. The thugs began raining down blows on the African American dock worker, who fought back but was outnumbered. Then, over a dozen African Americans rushed towards the pier and handed down one of the most viral asswhoppings of all time. The event, now dubbed by many on social media as Alabama Sweet Tea Party, Augustteenth, and Bloody Saturday (reminiscent of Blood Sunday), is inspiring hope, laughs and memes.

Read more...

By staff

Atlanta, GA – The outrageous conditions at Fulton County Jail are being brought to the spotlight again after the death of 35-year-old Lashawn Thompson in September of last year, who was eaten alive by bed bugs and lice in his jail cell. Recent autopsy reports state that correctional officers knew about Thomas’s declining health and the alarming state of his cell but neglected taking any action.

Read more...

By staff

Andrew Joseph commemorated in Tampa, FL.

Tampa, FL – The Tampa community, Black Lives Matter activists, and impacted families from across the country gathered in Tampa for the Andrew Joseph Memorial Weekend. The family-hosted event took place from Friday, February 17 to February 19. The weekend commemorates the ninth anniversary of his death with a vigil, a workshop to promote youth leadership, a fundraiser and a church service.

Read more...

By Toni Jones

Protesters listen to speeches at Riverwalk steps across from Jackson Square.

New Orleans, LA – On Monday, January 30, 100 demonstrators rallied at city hall to call for justice for Tyre Nichols and all victims of police crimes. They then marched to Jackson Square, a tourist hub in the French Quarter. Malikah Asante-Chioke spoke about her father who was killed by Louisiana state police.

Read more...

By staff

Brandon Rincon of the Colorado Springs People's Coalition leads a march through

Colorado Springs, CO – On February 4, a crowd of protesters gathered at the Colorado Springs City Hall to demand justice for Tyre Nichols. The action was called by the Colorado Springs People’s Coalition (CSPC), an affiliate of the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression. The event was also attended by members of Students for a Democratic Society, along with local community members and their children.

Read more...

By staff

LA Black Lives Matter protest.

Venice, CA – On January 29, over 200 people gathered on the intersection of Venice and Lincoln Boulevards in an action led by Black Lives Matter-LA demanding justice for Keenan Anderson, Tyre Nichols and many others whose lives were taken by police during traffic stops.

Read more...

By Lauren Pineiro

Tampa Bay SDS vigil for the national day of action against police terror.

Tampa, FL – On the first day of Black History Month, February 1, students at the University of South Florida rallied in front of a statue of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to demand justice for Tyre Nichols, Manny Páez Terán, and Keenan Anderson. The event was organized by Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) as part of a National Day of Action Against Police Terror with SDS chapters across the country participating.

Read more...