Fight Back! News

News and Views from the People's Struggle

injusticesystem

By staff

Colorado Springs, CO – On October 16, the family and friends of Josh Ybarra gathered at El Paso Criminal Justice Center for a candlelight vigil after Ybarra’s wrongful death while in the custody of Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD).

The Colorado Springs Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (COSAARPR), and the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) helped the family organize the vigil. Over 30 people braved the cold to honor Ybarra’s memory and to demand justice for his death.

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By staff

A group of protesters holding a banner.

Brooklyn, NY – In the early morning of Tuesday, October 20, the NYPD arrested two organizers with the New York Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression in their homes in Brooklyn.

Jamie Kowalski was arrested at 5:30 a.m. and, an hour later, Daniel Koh was arrested from his home. As of right now, charges or reasons for their arrests have not been disclosed by the NYPD.

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By Joseph Nohava

People speaking at a press conference holding signs.

Tampa, FL – On the evening of Monday, October 12, activists from Tampa Immigrants Rights Committee (TampaIRC) held a press conference with the family of Adelaido Chavez Mariano, a Tampa Bay husband, father and Mexican immigrant, to demand transparency and justice following his brutalization and abduction.

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By staff

A color drawing of a courtroom scene.

New York, NY – A group of eight activists attended the October 15 arraignment of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores in a show of support for the kidnapped Venezuelan leaders. The activists included representatives of the Anti-War Action Network, Freedom Road Socialist Organization and leaders of the New York City Latin American community.

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By Brandon Pink

A man wearing a hooded sweatshirt standing in front of a window.

Atlanta, GA – Since 2024, Charles Brown has been bounced around the Georgia state incarceration system, from facility to facility. He has spent the last two years trying to figure out why he’s sitting behind bars and trying to obtain the documentation that can help him get out.

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By staff

Angry Santa Ana residents at city council meeting.

Santa Ana, CA – All eyes are on Santa Ana and the police brutality against 28-year-old Chicano Florentino Lopez, which was captured on video by his family.

On October 1, police pinned Florentino’s hands behind his back and pressed him against their vehicle. Without warning, one officer violently wrestled him to the ground, punching and kneeing him in the face while the other officer also struck and pinned him to the ground. The first officer turned out to be killer cop Luis Casillas. In December 2024, Casillas killed two Chicanos in one month's time: Noe Rodriguez and Henry Gonzalez Junior, and he allegedly beat 15-year-old Mario Diaz last June.

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By Kristen Bonner

Washington, D.C. – On the evening of Tuesday, October 6, over 100 community members, organizers, as well as friends and family of Tawfiq Abdul Haqq, who had recently changed his name from Bernard Gibson III, gathered outside the Branch Avenue Metro Station to demand that Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown arrest and charge Corbin Davis, the Prince George’s County cop who murdered Haqq.

Bernard Gibson Jr., Haqq’s father, spoke on behalf of the family. “I thank everyone for coming out because we have to show solidarity, and we have to support these things, because if not, they are gonna do what they do. We have to find a way to change the whole system!”

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By Matthew Compton

Anaheim, CA – On September 29, the Arzola family, alongside Community Service Organization Orange County (CSO OC) attended Anaheim City Council to demand justice for Albert Arzola. Albert was killed by Anaheim PD officer Nathan Garcia on December 6, 2025.

Garcia chased Albert Arzola down the street to his home where he shot him in the back of his head. Arzola had his hands raised and was surrendering to police. His family was present at the home and watched Arzola die. For months leading up to the killing of Arzola, Officer Nathan Garcia harassed Albert and his family.

After public comments were made, Rosie Camacho, the mother of Albert Arzola, stopped and yelled at Anaheim Police Chief Manuel Cid. Camacho said, “We want everything, we want all the cameras! That wasn’t the first time he went to my house! Wasn’t the first time he showed up and called my son by his name!”

Earlier in the meeting, Councilwoman Natalie Rubulcava had this to say, “I have to mention there was a loaded tech 9, a gun banned by name under California Law, which was at the scene that created a serious threat for the officers.” This statement has been used as a justification for the killing of Arzola, despite him being unarmed and giving himself up. This enraged the Arzola family, which led to justified angry comments being hurled at Rubulcava.

During the confrontation,family members continued to yell at the chief and city council. Screams of “Justice for Albert Arzola!” and “Shame!” rang through the council chambers. The meeting was brought to a halt, with the mayor trying desperately to calm things down. She even threatened to stop the meeting, saying, “I understand, thank you. I don’t want to have to recess the meeting.”

The chief had nothing to say. He simply stood off to the side, trying his best to seem unbothered by the confrontation. His silence spoke volumes. He couldn’t look in the family's direction as more and more officers came and stood by him. The family, along with CSO OC, will continue to confront the chief and demand that killer cop Nathan Garcia be fired.

#AnaheimCA #CA #OrangeCounty #AlbertArzola #InjusticeSystem #OppressedNationalities

By staff

Protesters marching in the street.

Minneapolis, MN – On the afternoon of Saturday, October 3, hundreds of community members rallied in downtown Minneapolis to demand justice for all victims of ICE violence and to drop the charges against anti-ICE protesters.

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By staff

Centennial protesters win battle to get state charges dropped.

Aurora, CO – On Thursday, September 24, Terry Burnsed, Arnie Carter, Yoselin Corrales, and El Moss were notified that the Arapahoe County District Attorney’s Office would be filing a motion to dismiss all charges against them stemming from a protest at the Denver Field Office in Centennial, Colorado on July 20.

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By Jon Staub

Tacoma, WA – On September 28, 30 people held a vigil for those killed by Tacoma police. This vigil was held in response to a recent killing on September 27. Tacoma police have not released the identity of the man they killed. Attendees were concerned that this would become another cover-up, so they demanded the release of the bodycam footage and officers' accountability if unnecessary force was used.

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By staff

New Orleans, LA – On Tuesday, September 28, about a dozen people packed the municipal court for activist Toni Jones of the New Orleans Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression. Jones is facing trumped-up misdemeanor charges of disturbing the peace and disturbing city council. She was arrested on March 30 during a city council meeting where Shanta Scott and supporters gave public comment on corrupt Sargeant Victor Gant Jr of the New Orleans Police Department.

Before Jones’s court hearing, the crowd gathered in front of the building with a loud speaker to chant and give speeches. They held signs reading “Stop NOPD corruption” and “Justice for Jace Lee Scott.”

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By staff

Jacksonville, FL – On September 26, about 50 people gathered to celebrate Alquan Suydam’s 30th birthday, honoring a life cut short when Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) deputies shot and killed him last year.

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By Cassandra Heil

Brighton, CO – On Friday Sept 25, community members attended court at Adams County Justice Center to demand the unjust charges against Lourease “ManMan” Wilson be dropped. The campaign for Wilson started over a year ago, when the courts were deciding to charge Wilson, who was 16 at the time, as an adult for an alleged non-violent crime.

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By Bug Peterson

Colorado Springs, CO – On September 25, the Colorado Springs Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (COSAARPR) gathered outside the Broadmoor Hall to protest the annual Medal of Valor dinner hosted by the Colorado Springs Police Foundation.

They were joined by the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO), as well as the family of Alex Martinez-Sarmiento, who was killed by Officer Connor Wallick of the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) last July.

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By staff

Oakland, CA – On Tuesday, September 22, around 30 community members rallied in front of the attorney general’s offices to commemorate the fifth anniversary of Jalani Lovett, who died in LA Men’s Central Jail.

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By staff

New York, NY – For the seventh consecutive month, organizers from the New York Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression gathered members of the community, September 24, to protest the NYPD’s 71st Precinct, where killer cop Conrado Abreu-Gerez continues to draw a six-figure salary. Abreu-Gerez and his partner, Peter Lan, shot and killed 26-year-old Eudes Pierre in December 2021.

Before the speaker program, the New York Alliance gathered a crowd flyering at a nearby subway station. Commuters and passersby, including a high school classmate of Eudes Pierre, expressed outrage that Abreu-Gerez faced no consequences for murdering Eudes. Several told stories of officer misconduct, harassment and incompetence at the 71st Precinct and surrounding precincts.

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By staff

Jacksonville press conference demands local law enforcement end ties with ICE.

Jacksonville, FL — On September 22, the Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance and the Jacksonville Community Action Committee held a press conference outside city hall while, inside, officials worked on approving the 2026-27 city budget. The groups demanded an end to the 287(g) agreement that allows ICE to collaborate with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, as well as a People’s Budget, a budget proposed by JCAC that addresses underfunded areas of Jacksonville and denies the sheriff’s budget increase request.

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By staff

New York, NY – On Saturday, September 19, the New York Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (NYAARPR) staged a speak-out outside of killer cop Conrado Abreu-Gerez’s latest address in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.

Speaking through a megaphone, activists informed the community that a killer NYPD officer is now calling their neighborhood home. They also passed out flyers reading “Wanted: Killer cop!” and “Justice for Eudes Pierre!”

The response from the community was one of shock, with numerous passersby thanking the activists for the information on their new neighbor.

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By Noah Schumacher and staff

Protest against police crimes in St Paul, Minnesota.

St. Paul, MN – On Saturday, September 12, the annual Justice for Stolen Lives March took place. The march is organized annually by Toshira Garraway and Families Supporting Families Against Police Violence (FSFAPV) to honor and demand justice for all lives stolen by police. Garraway’s fiancé, Justin Teigen, was brutally murdered and had his body dumped into a recycling bin in 2009 by the Saint Paul Police Department.

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