The Grand Rapids Alliance is stunned but not surprised at the decision by Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker to shield the murderers of Da’Quain Tre Johnson. We condemn this decision and are filled with emotion alongside his family as they will no longer get their day in court due to the inaction of the justice system in Grand Rapids. We call upon the Attorney General Nessel to rectify this and bring charges against these officers.

Once again, we see a justice system that protects the powerful and not the broader community. We see decisions made behind closed doors with no explanation in court. The police department plays public relations games while investigations are ongoing, tainting evidence and swaying the public before any decision can be made. Officers are empowered to be judge, jury, and executioner with no recourse for the victim or the community.

The city should launch an independent 3rd party investigation immediately and begin a review of its policy of deadly force by police officers. We stand by the Johnson family as they pursue a civil case against the city. We renew our call for community control of the police department. Until those who use deadly force are held accountable by the community they are supposed to keep safe, peace is not possible.

Justice for Da’Quain Tre Johnson!

#GrandRapidsMI #MI #DaQuainTreJohnson #InjusticeSystem #OppressedNationalities

Grand Rapids, Michigan – 30 community members gathered at the East Church on Saturday for a panel discussion of International Women’s Day. The three panelists who spoke were Jessica Plichta of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Jess Westra of IATSE Local 26, and Kawiye Jumale of A Glimpse of Africa.

Kawiye Jumale spoke of her experience as a child refugee of the Somali civil war, and the long struggle to immigrate to the United States stating, “It was a lengthy process. They [her parent’s] had already stayed in the camp for eleven years, before the process began. In those eleven years, is when I was born.”

Jessica Plichta stated, “Here in the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, we’re in the streets and the meeting halls, and we’ll let it be known that we stand with undocumented women, children and families. ICE terror needs to be stopped now.”

Plichta continued. “During my time in Venezuela, I met revolutionaries who fought and defended the Bolivarian Revolution against U.S. intervention and won. There have been significant advancements for women in society, the workplace and education. Most of the government officials I met and heard speak were women, such as Delcy Rodríguez, the vice president and current acting president of Venezuela.”

Trade unionist Jess Westra taught the crowd about the infamous Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire of 1911, when 146 women and children died due to the ownership’s disregard for safety.

“Let’s talk about the manager that was on site, who was in the room and saw the smoke. Do you know what his response was? He leaves, and locks the door behind him,” Westra said. “Children and women were throwing things at the fire, trying to put it out, and they reached for the firehose which had disintegrated. The water won’t come out of the pipes because they haven’t been checked.”

Afterward, the crowd asked several questions of the panelists and made comments from their own experiences as women or as allies to women. To finish off the event, the group gathered for a picture and chanted, “Long live International Women’s Day!”

#GrandRapidsMI #MI #InternationalWomensDay #WomensMovement #LGBTQ

Grand Rapids, MI – On Sunday, March 1 people rallied in downtown Grand Rapids to oppose the U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran. The Palestine Solidarity Grand Rapids (PSGR) called the rally to voice public outrage about the U.S. and Israel killing hundreds of people and the illegal assassination of the head of state.

PSGR joined dozens of cities across the U.S. protesting the strikes on Iran.

The protesters chanted demands like “No war with Iran!” and “No boots on the ground, no bombs in the air, U.S. out of everywhere!”

Julliette Kibby, an organizer with PSGR, told the crowd, “We have seen these same tactics used time and time again across the world. Publicly the U.S. says that they are doing this war to take down a government that they claim denies people rights by the suppression of protesters. Last time I checked we had a racist armed police force and ICE with no rules and total impunity roaming our streets, murdering protesters, and hiding greater atrocities within their detention centers.”

Owen Frassetto, an organizer with the Progressive Student Union at GVSU stated: “Students have historically sat at the heart of the anti-war movement. Whether it be Vietnam, Iraq, Palestine, Venezuela or Iran. While oppressed peoples around the world fought to free themselves from U.S. domination, students here have always landed real blows against the war machine and have turned the tide of public opinion against every single rich man’s war!”

Eduardo Montiel with the Freedom Road Socialist Organization led the group in chants of “International solidarity” and stated, “That’s why we need to stand up and fight right now! The Trump administration has been speedrunning through the policy goals of the rich – destabilizing Venezuela to steal their oil, starving Cuba, continuing the genocide in Palestine and now overthrowing the rightful government of Iran.”

On Tuesday March 3 at 5 p.m. at Monument Park on the corner of Division and Fulton, the group will be protesting the recent U.S. escalations and sanctions against Cuba, Venezuela, and now Iran.

#GrandRapidsMI #MI #AntiWarMovement #Iran

Grand Rapids, MI – Michigan is experiencing record cold temperatures, but that didn’t stop the community of Grand Rapids showing out this Sunday, January 25, for a demonstration against ICE in the wake of Renne Good and Alex Pretti’s murders in Minneapolis.

Around 100 people gathered on the intersection of Cesar Chavez Avnue. SW and Van Raalte Drive, centered in a largely Latino neighborhood, to hold signs, listen to speeches and come together in the fight against ICE. The protesters were greeted with honks of approval and chants of “Viva Mexico” from drivers, while several residents observed from their porches.

Among the speakers was Ivan Diaz, an independent currently running for the District 29 seat of the Michigan Senate, who is campaigning against police collaboration with ICE and for community control of the police. Diaz announced this week Tuesday, January 27, he is calling on everyone to rally at the city commission meeting and voice their demands.

A key organizer for the rally, Eduardo Montiel, emceed and introduced several speakers, including Julian Cortez of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization and Micah Colby with the Progressive Student Union.

“These violent systems will not last forever, but the people must endure. We will. But only through unity. And we will only be able to win what we are willing to fight for. And we see that resistance is not just an abstract thing – it’s happening now in Minneapolis, and here in Grand Rapids today,” said Cortez.

Micah Colby said the student movement has been hard at work demanding sanctuary campuses, including at Grand Valley State University. Colby said now is the time to get organized and fight side by side.

“Every act of violence they unleash is, in fact, an act of total desperation. Every child murdered in Gaza, every fisherman slaughtered in the Caribbean, and every legal observer gunned down is the United States ruling class admitting they don't have control. It is them admitting their incredible weakness and their desperation to defend such a fragile system,” said Colby.

Despite the cold weather, energy flared for over an hour before dispersing. The organizers promised more actions in the future and encouraged everyone to stand together against the terror inflicted by ICE on communities across the country.

#GrandRapidsMI #MI #ImmigrantRights #AlexPretti #ICE #KillerICE #

Grand Rapids, MI – Nida Abu Baker was a child when the FBI began their decades long campaign of repression against her father, Shukri Abu Baker, and the charity he helped run, The Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (HLF).

After trumped-up material support for terrorism charges and nearly two decades of prison, Shukri and his colleague Ghassan Elashi still remain behind bars. Their crime: fundraising for humanitarian aid and the construction of schools and clinics within Palestine.

It was weeks after 9/11, and the U.S. was already flexing its domestic muscle by ramping up its Islamophobic “war on terror.” Shukri Abu Baker, alongside his colleagues Mohammad El-Mezain, Ghassan Elashi, Mufid Abdulqader and Abdulrahman Odeh, were some of its earliest domestic victims.

Palestine solidarity activists in Grand Rapids were honored to have Nida Abu Baker speak on her own activism and the struggle to free her father and his colleagues from prison. She was joined by Zena Ozier, an activist-lawyer with the US Palestinian Community Network (USPCN), and Tom Burke, a member of the Anti-war 23 and labor leader, for a panel discussion featuring the story of the Holy Land 5 and the struggle of political prisoners at home and in Palestine.

“Politically, I didn’t choose activism. Activism chose me. I had no choice. My politicization came from my personal experience,” Nida Abu Baker began. “Everything that I am now is because of my childhood. When the HLF shutdown it’s like I lost my home. A lot of people in the community felt the same way. Homes were raided. Phones were tapped, people we loved were suddenly gone and deported. I was only seven years old when the initial raids happened, but I understood why we were being targeted – that helping Palestinians was being criminalized.”

After their sentencing, it became clear that the U.S. had been surveilling the Holy Land Foundation since the mid-90s. In 2001, the Foundation was raided and its assets were frozen. In 2004, the U.S. indicted the Holy Land 5 and raided their homes. In 2008, the five were convicted and sent to jail with heavy sentences ranging from 15 to 65 years.

“Growing up I remember seeing an unmarked FBI vehicle always parked in our neighborhood. The phones always sounded fuzzy – we knew we were tapped and we knew we were being watched. But that didn’t stop us from living normally,” said Abu Baker

When asked about her background and her own activism, Zena Ozier explained: “I learned to question the law. As a Lebanese American, I understood occupation. My maternal village had been occupied by Israel. My own lineage and family carried the struggle – it's part of my ancestry. The law here isn’t meant to protect people like us.”

Ozier continued, “Since the repression of the Holy Land 5, the U.S. uses several mechanisms to repress activists. For example, the prosecution itself was meant to send a chilling message to other organizations that even humanitarian aid could lead to prison time.”

The panelists also made it clear that solidarity between activists, groups, and between those facing political repression was necessary for combating these types of bogus charges.

“There were ties between what happened to the Anti-war 23 and the Holy Land 5,” explained Tom Burke. “Their goal was to give us sentences like what the Holyland 5 received – 15 years for just one charge.”

Both Shukri Abu Baker and Ghassan Elashi are in Beaumont Prison complex in Texas. Both face worsening conditions brought on through almost 20 years of imprisonment and mistreatment.

“My father has had two near-death experiences while in Beaumont,” Nida Abu Baker said. “The conditions there are horrible. Once, my father was gassed by guards while other prisoners were fighting and he collapsed. If it weren’t for other inmates coming to his aid he would’ve passed away. Guards are constantly harassing him, raiding his room, and cutting him off from the outside world. Despite this he is an activist within the prison and has helped transform the lives of his fellow inmates for the better.”

The panelists fielded many questions from the audience on international solidarity, the Palestinian prisoner movement, and on organizing strategies.

Watch the full livestream of the event on Instagram @palestinesolidarity_gr

#GrandRapidsMI #MI #InJusticeSystem #PoliticalRepression #HolyLand5 #AntiWarMovement #Palestine

Grand Rapids, MI – 200 community members rallied in Calder Plaza on the evening of Thursday, January 8 to demand justice for Renee Good, a woman who was observing ICE agents in Minneapolis on Wednesday and was murdered by ICE officer Jonathan Ross.

Representatives from the Grand Rapids Coalition to Oppose Trump, the GVSU Progressive Student Union, and the Freedom Road Socialist Organization addressed the crowd. Reverend Greta Joe of the All Souls Community Church, Kent County Commissioner Robert Womack and former Michigan House of Representatives candidate Lily Cheng Schulting also spoke at the rally.

“This is a problem for this community. This is a problem for the Blacks, this is a problem for the whites, this is a problem for the women, this is a problem for the men, this is a problem for the children,” said Kent County Commissioner Robert Womack, referring to ICE’s unchecked terror.

Despite the rainy weather, the rally went strong for over two hours. Street drummers gathered around the chant leaders, who led the crowd in chanting “Say it once, say it twice, we will not put up with ICE!” and “¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido!”

The community faced their signs and chants to the road, to the applause and horns of supportive drivers passing by. By contrast, when Grand Rapids police vehicles would pass by, the crowd yelled “Shame!” and “Quit your job!” as anger grows in the community against the police. The GRPD continues to collaborate with ICE and continues to target activists who exercise their First Amendment right in leading street marches.

“There are a staggering many instances of political repression and police violence perpetrated upon communities and weaponized against dissent throughout the US. Right here in Grand Rapids, we have witnessed the murder of community members such as Patrick Lyoya, Samuel Sterling and Riley Doggett. Just existing in this city under our police force, especially as a nationally oppressed person, poses a risk to life and limb!” said Julian Cortez of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

Thursday night’s rally built on the emergency vigil held the night before, when over 30 people came together in just a half hours’ notice, to mourn the loss of Renee Good, and vow to fight back against ICE going forward.

#GrandRapidsMI #ImmigrantRights #ReneeGood #AllSoulsCommunityChurch #FRSO

Grand Rapids, Michigan – Community members gathered at the Gerald R Ford International Airport on Friday evening, December 12, to welcome home Jessica Plichta, an activist returning from a solidarity trip to Venezuela.

In recent months, U.S. President Donald Trump has been bombing fishing boats, threatening Venezuela with a naval encirclement in the Caribbean using major warships, and has heightened brutality against Venezuelan immigrants. The Trump administration seeks to overthrow the popular government of Venezuela for access to the country's oil and other resources.

In response, the Simón Bolivar Institute for Peace and Solidarity Among Peoples convened the International Peoples' Assembly for Sovereignty and Peace in Caracas, Venezuela from December 9 through 11, an international gathering of people opposed to the United States’ warmongering.

Hundreds of organizers from across the U.S. were invited to the Peoples’ Assembly, but due to Trump’s pressure on airlines to cancel flights for Venezuela, only a fraction of those invited were able to arrive in Caracas. Alongside several others from across the U.S., Plichta represented the Freedom Road Socialist Organization at the People’s Assembly.

U.S. delegates to the assembly participated in large panels, hearing from and talking directly with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, alongside other high-ranking representatives of Venezuela’s popular democratic system. They visited communes, met with activists and people’s politicians from around the world, and explored the city of Caracas.

Upon her return to Grand Rapids, Plichta was welcomed with cheers by her fellow community organizers and activists. They embraced, and chanted “¡Viva Venezuela, viva Maduro!”

“There’s a lot of hardships for people here, and we need to work towards making sure that the people have the power, that the ruling class can no longer oppress the national liberation struggles or the working class,” said Plichta, when asked what it meant to return from Venezuela to the U.S. “We’re going to work to flip it upside down and have socialism in the U.S. It’ll be a long road but we’re working towards that goal.”

The Grand Rapids Opponents of War (GROW) have been organizing protests and educational events to spread awareness in the city about Trump’s war threats against Venezuela. With Plichta, a founding member of GROW, back from Venezuela, efforts to organize the people of Grand Rapids against the war will become stronger than ever.

#GrandRapidsMI #MI #International #AntiWarMovement #Venezuela #GROW

Grand Rapids, MI – On Friday, November 21, almost 40 people gathered in downtown Grand Rapids to rally in solidarity with Venezuela, and to hold a vigil for the civilians killed in Trump’s airstrikes in the Caribbean.

The event, organized by the newly-founded Grand Rapids Opponents of War (GROW), featured speeches from the Progressive Students Union, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, the GR Coalition to Oppose Trump, and the Anti-War Action Network’s Tom Burke.

Venezuelan flags, which faced the surrounding streets of the Grand Rapids business district, were joined by the flags of Cuba and Mexico. This was in line with the event’s message of solidarity with Latin America, and other progressive governments, which are also under threat of U.S. attacks.

Regarding U.S. domination of Latin America broadly, Jada Dobbins, on behalf of Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) said, “The pattern is clear. It isn’t about democracy – it is about plundering resources, dominating these countries’ economies, and crushing movements that fight for working class power.”

Since the Bolivarian Revolution began in 1999, enormous strides have been made in Venezuela, such as those to eliminate extreme poverty, improve access to fundamental housing and healthcare resources, and most notably, to establish a grassroots democracy, with power increasingly held by directly-elected assemblies of working people.

Gathered for more than an hour at the intersection of Pearl Street and Monroe Avenue, the energy of the crowd continued to expand, as local passersby joined in the demonstration to voice their opposition to war. Chants of “No war on Venezuela” and “U.S. out of the Caribbean” were among the loudest.

One participant said, “There is no reason for these wars to begin. if it is for another country’s oil, we should just make a deal with them.” Furthermore, she stated that opposition to U.S. sanctions on Venezuela, which have caused harm to her Venezuelan friends, was also an important reason for her to attend.

Speaking for the Grand Rapids Opponents of War, Michael Amirault called the Trump administration “the very embodiment of war,” and stated the group’s intention to revamp the anti-war movement locally. “Creating GROW was our response,” he said. “Against this war-mongering, we must be the first line of opposition, and the growth of our movements here gives us this strength.”

The city’s first demonstration in solidarity with Venezuela will be followed by more actions and events organized by GROW, as the U.S. continues escalating towards all-out war.

#GrandRapidsMI #MI #AntiWarMovement #Venezuela #GROW #AWAN

Grand Rapids, MI – Spirits were high as Syd Loving, a member of the Central Committee of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, spoke at two events in the Grand Rapids area on Monday, November 11. Loving had spent ten days during the summer in China as a part of the Friends of Socialist China delegation there – learning about Chinese history, the role of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in daily life and governance, and the technological advances the largest socialist country has made.

Loving took on the numerous misconceptions about China and told why we should learn from China’s experience building socialism.

The two events in Grand Rapids marked the beginning of Loving’s five-day speaking tour through the Midwest. In addition to the talks in Grand Rapids, they will be in Detroit, Columbus, Cleveland and Lafayette. Loving has already spoken to crowds in over a dozen cities in the U.S. since their return.

Loving began the event with an overview of their experiences in China as they visited cities such as Shanghai, Yan’an, Xi’an and Jiuquan. The delegation also attended a major cross-cultural meeting in Dunhuang where hundreds of delegates from countries across the world met with one another.

“China is a real place, it isn’t a utopia.” Loving began. “It’s a real place on Earth. So of course there’s going to be contradictions there like there is in everything. But what we saw really affirmed that China is not only continuing to build socialism in a way that centers the people, but also that China’s role in the world proves that the future is more equal, more peaceful, and more prosperous for more people if we build socialism.”

The talk focused on many aspects of Chinese society in the 21st century, as well as Chinese revolutionary history. They said the trip to Yan’an was amongst their favorite places due to its importance to the revolution.

“I’m a revolutionary, so of course I was excited to go to Yan’an! It was the cradle of the revolution. The party was based there from ’35 to ‘38. It was the end point of the Long March, where members of the Red Army marched tens of thousands of kilometers around enemy lines to group up. And then, from the city, commanded a war against Japanese aggression,” Loving explained.

China’s resounding successes with poverty alleviation was another important topic.

“The U.S. and the rest of the imperialist countries define extreme poverty as something like making less than $3 a day. China has a more robust definition. To them, extreme poverty is when someone doesn’t have access to a safe home, running water, running electricity, education, or safe food. China has completely eradicated this back-breaking poverty in their country and that’s why people support the CPC.”

Loving ended the event with a Q&A portion.

Cindy Gomez, a student at Grand Valley State University, expressed gratitude for their reporting on China, saying, “Syd connecting with the students was beautiful, but listening to Syd break down the myths of China was an awakening experience. Syd brought a form of clarity to the students of Grand Valley about the socialist construction in China.”

Check out Syd Loving’s report back on their trip to China by attending a talk in any of these cities: Detroit on November 18; Cleveland, Ohio November 19; Columbus, Ohio November 20; and Lafayette, Indiana on November 21.

#GrandRapidsMI #MI #International #China #Socialism #FRSO #Feature

Grand Rapids, MI – On Saturday, October 18, approximately 10,000 protesters convened in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids. This “No Kings” protest was held at Rosa Parks Circle in response to the nationwide call for people to stand up against the Trump administration, joining the dozens of demonstrations across West Michigan and the more than 2500 across the country.

The protest was organized by the GR Coalition to Oppose Trump, an alliance of nine groups including Freedom Road Socialist Organization, the GVSU Progressive Student Union, Palestine Solidarity Grand Rapids, The Grand Rapids Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, IATSE Local 26, Protest For Progress, Unite and Resist Grand Rapids, the SPARC collective, and Kent County Indivisible.

In contrast to the overcast sky, spirits were high throughout the midday Saturday protest. Community members of diverse ages and backgrounds stopped by the tables of local organizations to sign petitions, learn about the work they do on the ground, and speak with organizers on how to get involved.

One protester, when asked what brought him out, stated. “I've always wanted to be able to stand up for human rights, I mean, that's one of the things that makes our country so beautiful, that when things are going poorly, the people come together and unite and this helps us move forward.” Offering his opinion as a Black man in the U.S., he continued, “I saw a sign earlier asking what people would have done during the civil rights struggle or slavery, and I think this is the time to show what you would have done.”

Ivan Diaz, a union rep who previously served on the Kent County Board of Commissioners and is currently running for the 29th District in the Michigan State Senate, said, “Any political candidate who aspires to be an elected leader must show up everywhere, especially when the people are clamoring for change and leadership. If we cannot trust our politicians to show up and have our back in the streets, then we definitely cannot trust them with the power to represent us.”

These same sentiments were echoed and amplified by the lineup of speakers, including the GVSU Progressive Student Union, Movimiento Cosecha/Rapid Response to ICE, The Urban Core Collective, and the ACLU.

Tabby Dawson, speaking on behalf of the GVSU Progressive Student Union stated, “The Progressive Student Union is a student organization at GVSU who are putting pressure on the administration to make the campus a sanctuary campus for students of all nationalities. We are trying to get the administration to write policies that state they will not allow ICE to enter our schools or our facilities.”

Julian Cortez, representing Freedom Road Socialist Organization, told the crowd “There are so many fronts of the struggle ahead of us. So many peoples' rights are under attack, from immigrants to the trans community. From the erosion of education and the dismantling of reproductive rights, I believe events like this are an important way to grow bonds of solidarity between different elements of the grassroots struggle.”

After the speeches, marchers, led by 24 progressive clergy members, took to the streets. They took up the right hand lane of Monroe Avenue, and the reaction from drivers were primarily honks of solidarity, sign waving, and people joining in on one of the many chants calling for a free Palestine, immigrant rights, and unity in the struggle against Trump.

As the march continued, passing the courthouse on Ottawa Avenue, both lanes were entirely filled with protesters, chanting, “Chinga la Migra” and “Free Palestine!”

Arriving on Fulton Street, aggressive drivers attempting to drive through the crowd were swiftly blocked by Industrial Workers of the World volunteers alongside other community members with a banner that read “First they came for the immigrants.” As the march concluded where it began, the chants continued, and people were encouraged by coordinators to join local grassroots organizations.

#GrandRapidsMI #MI #ImmigrantRights #PeoplesStruggles #Trump #NoKings

Grand Rapids, MI – On September 20, pro-Palestine protesters confronted Hillary Scholten outside of the Kent County Democratic Party headquarters during a pro-union fundraising event.

Union activist and protester Carsten Forester stated, “The recent general strike in Italy showed that even a brief demonstration of organized labor’s ability to bring the economy to a halt is enough to swiftly change the government’s policy. Unions in the U.S. need to see this and realize the power that we collectively have to pressure our government.”

As the protesters chanted, they outlined why it was important to protest the Democrat Scholten despite the fact she ostensibly opposes Trump. From 2019 to 2024 she has received just under $350,000 from AIPAC and other pro-Israel PACS – money representing the interests of a foreign government actively committing genocide against the Palestinian people. She, along with Senators Peters and Slotkin, and Representatives such as James, Stevens, Thanedar and Rivet are just some of the many Michigan lawmakers bought and paid for by AIPAC and other Zionist PACs like J Street.

“I protested Scholten because I know she's bought and paid by the Israeli lobby. She is meant to represent me. No one who votes to give money to a rogue state committing genocide can represent me – especially if they're taking money from that lobby,” stated activist Mary McQuirter. “People need to know what Hilary Scholten is doing with the fruits of their labor.”

“All of the trade unionists who approached me identified it as a genocide and that it needed to stop,” stated Jessica Plichta with the Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

Plichta continued, “As Scholten was speaking we chanted ‘Hillary Hillary we know you, you take money from AIPAC too!’ And because of where we were positioned, Hillary Scholten left the event from the back of the building, and we were told she had to climb over wood piles to leave.”

People all around the country are demanding that our elected officials represent their constituents’ views and put a stop to genocidal Israel. People like Scholten, however, would rather run away than confront their own complicity in the genocide.

Join Palestine Solidarity Grand Rapids for the October 7 National Day of Action, called by the Anti-war Action Network, as PSGR protests the military contractor Woodward in Zeeland, Michigan.

#GrandRapidsMI #MI #AntiWarMovement #Palestine #PSGR #AWAn

Grand Rapids, MI – The Grand Rapids Coalition to Oppose Trump called a protest in coordination with the National Day of Action to honor the late civil rights leader John Lewis. The coalition formed a week before, with a dozen community organizations and leaders united to oppose the Trump agenda. The entire event was planned and executed in less than a week after the coalition was founded.

Starting at Ah-Nab-Awen Park, the crowd of over 300 community members overlooked the concrete stage at the bank of the Grand River. Several speakers honored John Lewis and spoke of his important contributions to the civil rights movement and voting rights.

“Where would America be without our civil rights leaders?” asked Israel Siku, the spokesperson and translator for the family of Patrick Lyoya, who was killed by Grand Rapids Police Department Officer Christopher Schurr in April 2022.

Julian Cortez of the Grand Rapids chapter of the National Alliance Against Racists and Political Repression stated, “This struggle has only intensified under the Trump administration, and our organization is on the front lines of the fight against deportation and ICE repression. One of our national members from Los Angeles, Alejandro Orellana, was recently arrested by the FBI for having provided assistance to the community being teargassed, all this in the context of the surge in resistance to ICE taking place. We view this as a case of racist and political repression, and demand that Alejandro’s charges be dropped.”

The Grand Rapids Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression is a founding member of the coalition.

Andrica Cage, the mother of Samuel Sterling, told of unity after her son was murdered by Michigan State Police Officer Brian Keely. Cage stated, “We have to stand; if we don’t stand we stand for nothing. Let’s stand together, all this racism, all this stuff that doesn’t make any sense. The only way is to stand, not against each other, but with each other.”

“More and more people are waking up to the injustices being committed by the United States,” said Emerson Wolfe, a co-chair of Palestine Solidarity Grand Rapids. They continued the call for unity and endorsed the coalition by saying, “We need to create a mass movement for real change over the next three years and beyond.”

The rally then transitioned into a march through the streets of downtown Grand Rapids. The crowd crossed a pedestrian bridge to honor Lewis' legendary march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge. The chants focused on immigrant, Black, student and queer rights. “When immigrant rights are under attack, what do we do? Stand up fight back!”

The march ended at Calder Plaza, situated between the Federal Building and Kent County Courthouse, where several more organizers were given a chance to speak.

An organizer from Movimiento Cosecha emphasized that ICE raids did not start with the Trump administration, “It doesn’t matter who is in the White House, ICE was still kidnapping our loved ones and neighbors.” They emphasized the demand that the Grand Rapids City Commission grant the city “sanctuary status.” The City Commission has been avoiding this topic, as well as rumors regarding Grand Rapids Police Department cooperating with ICE after leaked documents showed license plate readers installed around the city were being searched for Immigration-related warrants.

The event concluded without harassment or arrests from the local police. The crowd engaged with organizers and table volunteers for another hour to get more information on groups belonging to the new coalition.

#GrandRapidsMI #MI #PeoplesStruggles #ImmigrantRights #Feature

Grand Rapids, MI – On June 26, more than 40 activists and organizers, led by Palestine Solidarity Grand Rapids (PSGR), embarked on a spirited march of 75 miles. Over five days of walking from Grand Rapids to Lansing they successfully raised funds for Palestinian children.

Traversing narrow shoulders on busy highways and dusty country roads, through 90-degree weather and heavy rain, the group set out to raise $5000. However, by the time they reached their destination at the Michigan State Capitol on June 30, they smashed through their initial goal and raised more than $21,000.

The money goes to two groups, HEAL Palestine and Playgrounds for Palestine. Because of the overwhelming success, PSGR added a third beneficiary to the fundraiser: The Gaza Infant Nutrition Alliance.

In the end, 27 people marched all 75 miles, with more than 50 people joining for at least one day. Many expressed their regret they could not join for all five days, limited by work and family obligations. While the group initially expected numbers to drop dramatically after the first day, marchers exhibited their resilience, dedication and commitment with every step they took, uniting around the shared struggle of displacement and Palestinian liberation. Only a few walkers dropped out, and many came back after taking time to recuperate.

Despite occasional hostility, the marchers were met with unexpected care and hospitality in every city and the countryside. West of Ionia, the marchers encountered a mother and her adult daughter sitting on their front porch. Intrigued by the exhausted, neon clad group wandering their country road, they asked what was happening. When they heard that the group was raising money for Palestinian children, they quickly grabbed $120 from their wallets. “Politics doesn’t matter,” the elder mother said. “We should always help children.”

Community members drove up and down the route looking for the marchers to deliver cash donations, popsicles and frozen drinks and ice-cold water. A carful of Muslim American women wearing hijabs drove back and forth half a dozen times west of Portland, hanging out the windows and sunroof, horn blazing, triumphant cheers bringing tears to the eyes of every marcher. “That was everything I needed to keep me going,” said one marcher at the front.

The event, organized to mirror the Global March To Gaza, was put together quickly in under two months. Six coordinators managed and implemented the logistics of organizing the route, scheduling almost 30 drivers to meet walkers every couple of miles with cold drinks and snacks. They set up shelters on the side of the road to keep marchers safe from heat illness, managing medical care with doctors, nurses and street medics. The hard-working organizers also found accommodations and respite stops along the way, hauling marchers’ gear to each new city. They coordinated another 30 volunteers to bring hot meals for 27 to 50 people from Grand Rapids three times per day.

One doctor who joined the group to march said, “As a senior marcher, I have to agree that activist types are not always the most gifted in organization, and what we experienced on these five days was truly inspired and incredibly skillful organization. Kudos to everyone who helped make it run like a well-oiled machine.”

This was the group’s first attempt at organizing something of this scale and they learned many lessons on how to effectively implement a high-stress, multi-day event. The positive impact on marchers was clear.

“This has been the most impactful experience of my life,” said one marcher. Another echoed the sentiment by saying “I wasn’t expecting this to change my perspective so much.”

#GrandRapidsMI #MI #AntiWarMovement #Palestine #PSGR

Grand Rapids, MI – Spirits were high on the morning of June 26, as 42 people embarked from Fountain Street Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, beginning the first leg of their five-day trek to Lansing, the state capital. The March Against Genocide, organized by Palestine Solidarity Grand Rapids, is a fundraising effort for the nonprofits HEAL Palestine and Playgrounds for Palestine.

HEAL Palestine provides lifesaving interventions for Palestinian children by bringing them to the U.S. for surgery while building field hospitals and pharmacies in Gaza. Playgrounds for Palestine helps build the parks and recreational areas Palestinian children need – they even helped build a school in Gaza during the ongoing genocide.

At the time of writing, the marchers and their supporters have neared their $10,000 fundraising goal and are doing educational outreach to the communities on the way to the capitol – meeting people from all types of backgrounds.

One marcher recounted one such powerful interaction, stating, “We took a detour south of our planned route down a rural road, and a woman and her grandmother sitting on their front porch outside of Ionia gave us $120 in cash. They said ‘politics doesn't matter. I don't care where they're from – it's important to support children.“’

Not everyone the marchers have encountered have been supportive, however.

“Even though we've gotten our share of middle fingers and choice words from a few antagonists, morale in the group is high. On the second day of the march, a man threatened to come back with his gun. But we are determined – we are marching for a good cause. Palestinians experience far worse violence every day,” said Emerson Wolfe, a leader in the group and the chief organizer of the march.

Despite harassment, threats, and grueling conditions in the Michigan summer, the cause of Palestinian liberation is a source of inspiration for all people.

Travel between Grand Rapids and Lansing anytime between now and June 30 and you may see the group of determined marchers wearing bright “Free Palestine” shirts and waving the Palestine flag. On June 30 the marchers will be meeting at Noosh Afghan Cuisine in Lansing, to march the final three miles to the capitol building.

Follow the march’s progress at https://palestinesolidaritygr.org/, on Instagram @palestinesolidarity_gr, and on Facebook under Palestine Solidarity Grand Rapids.

Donate to the march online https://gofund.me/ddb8c2fc

#GrandRapidsMI #MI #AntiWarMovement #Palestine

Grand Rapids, MI – While the Grand Rapids Pride committee was pausing festivities for the afternoon due to nearly triple-digit temperatures on Sunday, June 22, over 100 community members marched with cold compresses and face misting water bottles through the Festival to nearby Rosa Parks Circle, demanding “No war with Iran.”

Palestine Solidarity Grand Rapids co-chair Emerson Wolfe led the rally through the streets, joined by organizers from Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Progressive Student Union at Grand Valley State University, and community members of all ages.

Vendors and volunteers cheered for the crowd while festival staff drove alongside the marchers, chanting with the group and signaling excitement for a protest at Pride. They chanted, “first they lie and then they bomb – first Iraq and now Iran!” throughout the streets of downtown.

“Late yesterday, Trump unilaterally declared war with Iran by dropping bombs and then claiming it would lead to peace!” Wolfe shouted into a megaphone to onlookers. “But let’s be clear – there are no weapons of mass destruction! They are using the same script from 2003, and they think they can trick us into normalizing endless war. But we say ‘Hands off the Middle East!’”

Palestine Solidarity Grand Rapids was tabling at the Pride festival Saturday, talking to community members about their upcoming 70-mile March Against Genocide to the state capitol, when the news broke about Trump’s unjustified escalation in Iran. After 12 hours in the heat, organizers mobilized quickly to plan the emergency rally late into the night.

“Yesterday I was flyering for PSGR at Pride all day and I only had one run in with a Zionist. Queer and trans people overwhelmingly support Palestine and recognize that we shouldn’t be starting a new war in the Middle East,” said one trans organizer.

News cameras were ready and waiting for the marchers to arrive at Rosa Parks Circle. Energy was high despite the heat while the crowd chanted to cars honking in support. A community member sporting fairy wings waved a Palestinian flag on the corner, while families with young children rested in the grass holding signs saying, “No war With Iran.”

After chanting for 30 minutes, organizers led the march back to the Pride Festival, ending at the PSGR booth with chants of “Free Palestine!” Israel’s unprovoked attacks on Iran and the United States’ intervention in the region are a clear response to their support of the Palestinian resistance against the Gaza genocide. Despite the high temperatures and quick turnaround time, it is evident that the people of west Michigan refuse to be dragged into another racist war.

#GrandRapidsMI #MI #LGBTQ #AntiWarMovement #Iran #Palestine

Grand Rapids, Mi – On Wednesday, May 14, 30 people gathered near Rosa Parks Circle. in Grand Rapids, MI, to commemorate the 77th anniversary of al-Nakba and honor the generations of Palestinians who have struggled against Israeli occupation.

77 years ago, armed Israeli settlers launched a genocidal campaign of violence which displaced over 750,000 Palestinians from their homes – committing hundreds of massacres in the process. These armed gangs quickly reorganized to become Israel’s formal military. In the decades since, Israel has built cities, national parks and public infrastructure atop of the 531 Palestinian villages ethnically cleansed in 1948.

Chanting “End U.S. aid to Israel!” and “From Grand Rapids to Palestine, protesting is not a crime!” The protesters confronted Zionist counter-protesters and blocked the Israeli flag from view using an even larger Palestinian flag. During this, police showed up to try and intimidate the pro-Palestinian protesters but quickly left.

The police presence surrounding the Nakba day protest was on everyone’s mind. Last year, four organizers with Palestine Solidarity Grand Rapids were arrested and charged with misdemeanors for marching through the street.

Speakers from the group emphasized the connection between policing in the U.S. and Israel – calling out GRPD specifically for their recent crackdown on protests and the FBI raids on Palestine activists at the University of Michigan.

“The parallels between militarized policing here in the United States and Israel is no coincidence,” one protester said. “We owe it to the Palestinian people to not only stand in solidarity with them but to also organize the end of our own involvement in this catastrophe!”

In this past year, Israel has completely leveled Gaza, started a siege on the West Bank, and has forced famine upon the millions in Gaza. On May 15 alone – which is Nakba Day – Israel killed over 100 people in a few short hours and heavily bombed sections of Jabalia and Beit Lahia.

Tony O’Hegarty, a member of Freedom Road Socialist Organization, stated: “I joined this movement because I learned about the Nakba shortly before October 7, 2023. This country teaches us that we ought to support Israel unconditionally – that’s wrong! Palestine taught us to be brave! We want Palestine to be free!”

As rain fell on the protesters, people chanted slogans like “No more money for Israel’s crimes!” and “Resistance is justified when people are occupied!”

People must stand up for Palestine on Nakba Day every year – even after Palestine has freed itself from the river to the sea.

#GrandRapidsMI #MI #AntiWarMovement #Palestine #Nakba

Grand Rapids, MI – On Thursday, May 8, over 100 activists and community members gathered outside the Kent County 17th Circuit Court to stand in solidarity, outrage and mourning with the family of Patrick Lyoya, an unarmed black man and Congolese immigrant who was killed in a 2022 traffic stop by the Grand Rapids Police Officer Christopher Schurr.

After years of waiting for justice while Christopher Schurr walked free of consequences, the prosecutor’s office finally put Schurr on trial for murder. But after days of deliberation, the jury was unable to reach a verdict, and a mistrial was declared by the judge.

In response to the news, protesters took to the streets to demand a retrial and justice for Patrick and his family.

“Patrick's not here. Patrick doesn't have a voice,” said protester Erykai Cage. They continued, “As long as I have breath in my body, I'll be out here.”

After a rally outside the courthouse, during which Black community leaders delivered speeches, protesters began to march to the nearby police department, initially occupying the streets until city and state police demanded they return to the sidewalk.

Activist Aly Bates told the crowd, “We cannot allow the city to forget what happened.”

The crowd shouted chants of “Black lives matter!” “You can’t stop the revolution, GRPD is not the solution” and “Justice for Patrick!” as they made their way past the police station and back towards the courthouse.

After returning to the courthouse, protesters occupied the intersection next to the rally location. Police responded by forcing protesters onto the sidewalks. Several were maced and one arrested. Officer Daryl Howard of the GRPD violently and suddenly moved a protester who was using a wheelchair, despite this individual attempting to comply with police orders, and nearly tipped them on to the street.

Kent County Commissioner Robert Womack told the crowd, “We have to dismantle their train of thought because every building and every police officer’s gun is paid for by your tax dollars,” adding, “Have they forgotten who they work for?”

DeeDee Grier, a prominent leader in the fight for justice for Patrick Lyoya, encouraged both those in attendance and those who can’t attend to continue supporting the grieving Lyoya family.

Despite a mistrial being declared, the fight for justice for Patrick Lyoya has only just begun in Grand Rapids. Organizers promised to continue standing together in solidarity to win justice for Patrick Lyoya and commit to building a united front against police repression.

#GrandRapidsMI #MI #InJusticeSystem #KillerCops #BlackLivesMatter #PatrickLyoya #Feature

Grand Rapids, MI – On Saturday, May 3, over 100 protesters gathered at Ah-Nab-Awen Park to celebrate International Workers Day and unite in the struggle for worker and immigrant rights. Local labor unions, community groups and activists rallied and marched through the streets of downtown Grand Rapids to demand an end to the Trump administration’s attacks on labor and immigrants.

There were several speakers from different unions and local activist groups including IATSE 26, NALC 56, AFM 56, UAW Local 1753 VP, Grand Valley State University Progressive Student Union, Solidarity Singers GR, and the Grand Rapids Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression. Community organizers and activists also spoke, including Gema Lowe from Moviemento Cosecha, Kent County Commissioners Nancy Morales and Robert Womack and Ivan Diaz, who is running for Michigan State Senate.

“I am the son of an immigrant,” said Jean Duchemin, the vice president of UAW Local 1753. “My father was a Teamster, a transgender Teamster. The violence came to our home, so we’ve been fighting our whole lives.”

Duchemin talked about personal struggles that have allowed him to develop the necessary fighting spirit to be a strong union leader. This fighting spirit is necessary to help bring back true and strong class-struggle unions that stand up and fight back for the whole working class.

He described the history of the UAWD caucus, United Auto Workers for Democracy. After a failed strike in 2019 the caucus was able to reform the way the UAW functioned entirely, in particular, changing the election process of union presidents with a one-member, one-vote policy.

“They called us troublemakers,” Duchemin continued, “but we don’t ask, we demand!”

The event was a rallying point for progressive voices in Grand Rapids to unite and merge with the workers’ struggle, which is advancing throughout the country. Community members sat together, listening to classic labor songs, passionate speeches and distributed signs for the march.

“International Workers Day is for immigrants and workers’ rights,” said Tom Burke of IATSE Local 26. “We unite under the banner of ‘An injury to one, is an injury to all!’”

Burke emphasized the community's unity against Trump and Elon Musk’s attacks on labor, the postal service, the unions, federal workers, teachers, students, and of course, immigrants throughout the country.

“We will unite the many to defeat the few, to defeat the billionaires and stop their attacks on workers,” Burke added.

Robert Womack, Kent County commissioner and Ivan Diaz ,who is running for Michigan state senate, also gave speeches criticizing the lack of action from the Democratic Party and emphasizing the need for continued organization and unity in the community.

After speeches in the park wrapped up, the crowd marched through downtown Grand Rapids, shouting chants like “In the union, in the streets! Worker power can’t be beat!”

The crowd stopped in front of the local ICE headquarters during the march, where the chair of GVSU’s Progressive Student Union spoke to the interconnected struggle of workers, immigrants and students.

“I’m here to speak about the dire necessity of standing with students in the face of deportations and FBI raids,” she said. “Students have been one of the groups at the forefront of the Trump administration's attacks. Everyone needs to stand in solidarity with students who care so deeply about fighting for campuses free of backhanded collaboration between administration and the federal government.”

The chair of PSU stressed the importance of students being involved in the struggle for immigrant and worker rights, as well as the fight against the Trump administration’s reactionary attacks.

“Various fear tactics have been affecting students far beyond the property boundaries of Grand Valley and across the country,” she stated. “Students who have been fighting for a free Palestine have been kidnapped off the streets, even if they are here on a green card like Mahmoud Khalil. We’re here to say enough is enough.”

Through their chanting and interactions with one another, the crowd made it clear they are not afraid of Donald Trump or his attacks.

#GrandRapidsMI #MI #Labor #ImmigrantRights

Grand Rapids, MI – On the afternoon of Sunday, April 27, organizers with the Grand Rapids Alliance Against Racism and Political Repression (GRAARPR) rallied alongside community members on the steps of the Kent County Court House to demand justice for Patrick Lyoya, along with community control of the police.

A group of some 100 people gathered in anticipation of the trial of killer cop, Christopher Schurr, who murdered Patrick Lyoya during a traffic stop on April 4, 2022. The former GRPD officer killed 26-year-old Lyoya, a Congolese immigrant, with a point blank shot to the back of the head, as Lyoya lay pinned face down beneath the officer.

In the three years since the murder, other community members have been killed at the hands of GRPD and Michigan State Police, including Samuel Sterling, Riley Doggett and Hank Wymer. Meanwhile, many of the local activists demanding justice on their behalf have faced harassment and various punitive repercussions from law enforcement.

Event emcee Sam Tunningley of the Grand Rapids Alliance talked about, “the harsh repression protesters faced in the wake of this murder and the trumped-up charges they’re still facing,” adding, “This family deserves better, our city deserves better and we must stand together behind this family and everyone committed to getting justice for Patrick.”

As if to perfectly illustrate and punctuate his point, on the morning of the trial’s start, Monday, April 28, one local activist was arrested by GRPD outside of the courthouse.

Local progressive politicians and clergy members also appeared at Sunday’s event to address the crowd.

Robert Womack, a Kent County commissioner, declared, “the Lyoya family deserves due process. They deserve to sit in a courtroom and find out what happened to Patrick Lyoya!”

Rev. Nathan Dannison of Fountain Street Church stated, “The police in our poorest neighborhoods are an occupying army, and they are very well armed. That is a tremendous amount of power that you are up against, but you have power out here – our community organizers are critical to this fight.”

Gesturing to the courthouse behind him, Dannison added, “We see you! We’re watching! And we won’t blink!”

Ivan Diaz, a former Kent County commissioner currently running for the 29th District in the Michigan State Senate, emphasized, “if it can happen to Patrick, it can happen to any of us.”

Diaz continued, “Even if we get a conviction, in the next couple of weeks, in the next couple of months, it won’t be enough. Until we change the systems, we will always be at risk of having another Patrick, another Riley.”

Kodjovi Kpachavi of the All-African People’s Revolutionary Party, and member of the Black Alliance for Peace, asked the crowed, “What is to be done?” As if in answer to the day’s other speakers, he posits a demand for “community control of police,” which also constitutes one of GRAARPR’s primary aims during this period of struggle.

Kpachavi continued, “The community decides how public safety is achieved, which officers are hired and fired, who they are sending into our communities, and with what types of equipment and training – let us also be clear that we are making this demand as part of a larger effort to build dual power. That is, the organization of our communities to provide things that our government is increasingly unwilling to provide: safer streets, better education, housing, healthy foods, stable income, all the things we need to survive and to thrive.”

The event culminated in a march, during which demonstrators circled the nearby GRPD headquarters. The masses took to the streets, accompanied by the sound of drums and such chants as “black lives matter, blue lives murder!” and “GRPD, KKK, IOF, they’re all the same!”

“We have never, for a single second, forgotten about Patrick and we never will,” said Sam Tunningley of the Grand Rapids Alliance. “No matter how much they taunt us or try to silence us. Justice for Patrick!”

#GrandRapidsMI #MI #InJusticeSystem #PoliceCrimes #PoliceBrutality #KillerCops #NAARPR #

Patrick Lyoya was a Congolese man living in Grand Rapids when he was shot and killed by former Grand Rapids Police Department officer Christopher Schurr on April 4, 2022, during a traffic stop. A little over three years later, this officer who executed Lyoya is finally seeing his day in court.

Patrick Lyoya was 26 years old. He was shot in the back of the head by Schurr at point blank range.

From the beginning of the trial, it became clear that both sides’ arguments rested on Schurr’s intent. To the prosecutor, trying to get justice for Lyoya, the basis for a guilty verdict would be proving that Schurr killed Lyoya on purpose, when other methods of subduing him were available, while deliberately escalating the situation leading up to the murder. On the officer’s side, the basis of an acquittal would be to claim Schurr acted in self-defense.

The prosecutor’s witnesses included the Kent County Chief Medical Examiner, as well as Lyoya’s friends, one of whom was in the car with him when Schurr pulled them over.

The first cross examination from the defense made it clear that the main strategy is to smear Lyoya and paint him as a violent drunk. The defense attorneys, Matthew Borgula and Mikayla Hamilton, asked his friends how much Lyoya was drinking leading up to his murder, why he refused to comply to an officer’s orders, and attempted to bring up Lyoya’s past criminal history – which was shut down by the judge before the jury could return.

The prosecution raised numerous objections regarding Borgula’s cross examination style. In one instance, the defense began an argument with one of Lyoya’s friends regarding his state of intoxication that day. Each time the objection was raised by the prosecution, that the defense is just arguing with a witness, the judge sustained it.

Witnesses called by the cop’s defense played into the typical copaganda you’d expect. A Michigan state detective called by the defense played a video that contained a highlight reel of Schurr at the police training academy. During her opening statement, defense attorney Mikayla Hamilton went on about how Schurr and his wife are missionaries and devout churchgoers. The tactic was to show how all-American cop superstar Christopher Schurr was supposedly protecting the people of Grand Rapids by executing Patrick Lyoya.

Wayne Butler, the third witness called by the prosecution, is the homeowner who witnessed the encounter between Lyoya and Schurr. He spoke on how the struggle between Lyoya and Schurr was clearly dominated by Schurr the entire time and how Lyoya never threw any kicks or punches. He also testified to how Lyoya was attempting to move Schurr’s taser away from him – an event the defense is using to justify Lyoya’s execution. While recounting how he spoke to Patrick Lyoya as he lay on the ground, Butler told the court, “In America’s history this is how it ends every time.”

The second day of trial began on April 29.

#GrandRapidsMI #MI #InJusticeSystem #PoliceCrimes #PoliceBrutality #KillerCops