Fight Back! News

News and Views from the People's Struggle

grandrapidsmi

By Jessica Plichta

Protesters hold signs and banners.

Grand Rapids, MI – On September 2, over a dozen community members gathered for an emergency protest held by Grand Rapids Opponents of War (GROW) in response to Trump air strikes on southern Iran. 

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By J. Cortez

Grand Rapids rally to "Stop the mass deportation of Haitians" at Richmond Park

Grand Rapids, MI – On the afternoon of Sunday, August 23, community members gathered in Richmond Park to express solidarity with Haitian immigrants. They condemned the Trump administration’s anti-immigrant policies, focusing on the recent removal of Temporary Protection Status (TPS) for 350,000 Haitian immigrants.

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By staff

Grand Rapids, MI – On the morning of August 19, activists walked into the Grand Rapids Retirement System board meeting with one goal in mind: “What will it take for the city pension plan to divest from Israeli companies?”

The ongoing “Grand Rapids Divest from Israel” campaign started when Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests confirmed the existence of a $1.1 million investment from the retirement system in an Israeli AI company called NiCE.

NiCE makes AI-powered software for use in anything from business management to police surveillance. 

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By Sam Tunningley

Protest against ICE killings in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Grand Rapids, MI – A historic heat wave hitting Grand Rapids, Michigan on Wednesday night, July 15, did nothing to slow down a mobilization against the ICE murders of Joan Sebastian Guerrero in Maine and Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston.

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By staff

Protest against new U.S. attacks on Iran.

Grand Rapids, MI – On the evening of July 8, members from the Grand Rapids Opponents of War (GROW) and others gathered at Monument Park to demand an immediate end to the U.S.'s attacks on Iran.

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By Alan Mitchell

July 4 anti-war event in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Grand Rapids, MI – In the late afternoon on July 4, around 40 people gathered in Roberto Clemente Park to socialize, eat and condemn 250 years of U.S. war crimes. For many of the attendees, this was the first anti-war event they've attended.

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By Micah Colby

Grand Rapids, MI – The Grand Rapids Coalition Against Trump hosted “Pride in the Park” at MLK Jr. Park, Sunday June 28. This was the first event hosted by the coalition this summer. Food, games, tarot card reading and live music were present, creating a celebratory environment for the community.

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By Jude Florez

Grand Rapids, Michigan protest at visit by war criminals and former Presidents Bush and Clinton.

Grand Rapids, MI – On the evening of June 2, more than 40 people showed up outside the entrance of Devos Hall to protest the visit of former Presidents George W. Bush and Bill J. Clinton to Grand Rapids. The war criminals were speaking as guests of honor at the annual dinner put on by the Economic Club of Grand Rapids, a networking club for local elites.

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By Eduardo Montiel

Grand Rapids, MI – The Grand Rapids district of The Freedom Road Socialist Organization assembled for a May 17 reportback from Jessica Plichta on their recent humanitarian aid trip to Cuba. The event took place at Fountain Street Church

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By Daniel Hawley-Lowry

Grand Rapids, MI – The Grand Rapids May Day Committee organized a rally commemorating International Workers Day, Saturday, May 2, at Fountain Street Church.

Co-hosted by the May Day Committee chair, Tom Burke of