Chicago, IL – A group of diverse and high powered labor leaders spoke out at the Labor Against the Trump Agenda panel held in Chicago on Saturday, August 16. The full house at the Casa Michoacan gave rousing applause to federal workers in attendance who have been the point of attack for the Trump administration’s union busting tactics. These policies have not only gutted important national unions but have taken away vital services for working people in this country.
Chicago, IL -The Chicago Coalition for Justice In Palestine held another weekly protest on Saturday, August 16. Around 100 protesters came out to demand an end to the genocide in Gaza, an arms embargo, and justice for Anas al-Sharif, the martyred Al Jazeera reporter who the Zionist entity bombed outside of a hospital.d
Chicago, IL – 150 protesters gathered in Federal Plaza on Thursday to stand up against Trump’s threats of military occupation and demand an end to racist policing. The protest and march that followed were organized by the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (CAARPR).
Patricia Williams, one of CAARPR’s co-chairs, opened the rally by reading a letter from the sickbed of Frank Chapman, executive director of the National Alliance (NAARPR).
Chicago, IL – 100 Chicagoans braved pouring rain in Daley Plaza on Tuesday, August 12, for an emergency protest for Gaza. The Chicago Coalition for Justice in Palestine (CJP) called the protest in response to the Zionist entity’s assassination on Sunday of Al Jazeera crew members Anas al-Sharif, Mohammed Qraiqea, Mohammed al-Khaldi, Ibrahim al-Thaher and Mohamed Nofal.
Chicago, IL – The South Side celebrated the last days of summer at the 96th Bud Billiken parade on Saturday, August 9. The Bud Billiken is the largest African American parade in the country. Young people received school supplies while dancers and musicians showed off their skills. Some organizations also raised political demands such as community control of police, fully funded public services, and progressive taxation.
Chicago, IL – “We are here today to demand that the U.S. government stop funding and being co-conspirators in this genocide!” With these words, Father Michael Pfleger added Saint Sabina Catholic Church, a prominent Civil Rights congregation, to the chorus of voices calling for an end to U.S. support of Israel’s military.
Minneapolis, MN – On Thursday August 7, around 1400 facilities and dining workers at the University of Minnesota filed an intent to strike notice with the Minnesota Bureau of Mediation Services. The strike notice comes after the recent announcement of a 97% vote to authorize the strike.
Chicago, IL – On August 4, a crowd packed Pilsen Community Books for a teach-in led by Educators for Palestine. Organizations from across Chicago presented their campaigns for immediate divestment from Israel. The teach-in was aimed at Chicago teachers, who have 1.8% of their pension funds invested in companies listed in the boycott, divest, sanction (BDS) list.
Chicago, IL – Activists gathered at the Cook County Courthouse Wednesday morning, August 6 to support three survivors of wrongful conviction. They demanded freedom and certificates of innocence for Rico Clark, Douglas Livingston and Kevin Jackson. They also demanded that torture-cops Brian Forberg, John Foster and Kevin Eberle be held accountable for the wrongful convictions of Clark, Livingston, Jackson, and 38 other Black men.
“We won’t stop fighting until all our loved ones are free from these god-forsaken slave ships,” said Jasmine Smith, loved one of Rico Clark and co-chair of the Campaign to Free Incarcerated Survivors of Torture (CFIST), at a press conference in the courthouse.
Oak Lawn, IL- 30 people shut down the monthly meeting of the Oak Lawn Police and Fire Commission on Wednesday night, August 6. They demanded an independent investigation into the racism of the Oak Lawn Police Department.
Downers Grove, IL- On the evening of Tuesday, August 5, a group of 30 activists led by the U.S. Palestinian Community Network (USPCN) protested outside of U.S. Representative Sean Casten’s home in Downers Grove, Illinois. The group was demanding an end to the genocide in Gaza, and in particular for Rep. Casten to sign the Block the Bombs Act.
The group clanged pots and pans to symbolize the starvation of Gaza, and shouted chants of “Gaza starves, the USA pays!” on the usually quiet block in the distant Chicago suburb.
Chicago, IL – The Chicago Coalition for Justice In Palestine held another weekly protest on Saturday, August 2, the same time as the Lollapalooza music event. While downtown was full of festival goers, about 700 Chicagoans came out demanding an arms embargo and an end to the genocide and famine against Gaza.
Chicago, IL – 150 Chicagoans banging pots and pans gathered near Trump Tower to protest the Gaza genocide, July 26. It was the third Chicago protest held in a single week in response to the ongoing genocide and famine against Gaza.
La Grange, IL- 50 activists disrupted Congressman Sean Casten’s town hall on Wednesday night, July 30. They raised their voices to demand that Casten sign the Block the Bombs act. Some of the same organizers had disrupted Congressman Bill Foster’s town hall on Tuesday night to make the same demand.
Chicago, IL – Ryan Coogler’s movie Sinners is densely packed with social commentary. Much has been written about the film's reflections on a range of topics. This review is grounded in how the film addresses national liberation. Sinners demonstrates through its plot that Black liberation is incompatible with capitalism.
Chicago, IL – Chicago's Area 5 Police Districts had a special meeting on Monday, July 28, in response to community outrage over slow investigation into sexual assaults. The commander tasked with helping residents “learn more about how CPD works” was John Foster, who is linked to multiple cases of wrongful convictions. Survivors of police torture and their allies confronted Foster and demanded his removal from CPD.
Chicago IL – 50 demonstrators rallied outside Chicago’s Philippine consulate for a People’s State of the Nation Address (PSONA), July 27. Filipino activists organized the PSONA to illuminate the real conditions faced by the Filipino masses a day before Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. delivered his SONA. Protesters demanded freedom for Filipino immigrants in the U.S. arrested by ICE, and an end to U.S. support for the Marcos regime.
Chicago, IL – Hundreds of people rallied outside McNally Capital headquarters on Tuesday evening, July 22, and chanted “Stop starving Gaza now!” Some banged pots and pans to make noise in a way symbolic of Palestinians waiting for food aid in Gaza.
The emergency rally was hosted by Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM).
Addison, IL – Answering a call from the Casa DuPage Worker’s Center (CDWC), a group of more than 40 immigrant rights advocates gathered in the Chicago suburbs, July 26, to support the local immigrant community and to spread know-your-rights information. Organizers from Chicago and CDWC marched in Addison, a working-class suburb where almost half the population is Latino.
Chicago, IL- On Thursday afternoon, July 24, 300 Chicagoans gathered for an emergency noise demonstration outside the Zionist entity’s consulate in Chicago in response to the intentional mass starvation in Gaza. The protesters demanded the immediate and unconditional lifting of the siege on Gaza and an end to all U.S. aid to Israel.
