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.
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).
Allendale, MI – FRSO organizer Jessica Plichta was invited by Grand Valley State University students to report back from her recent trip to Venezuela on Wednesday, January 14. The reportback event was hosted by the GVSU Progressive Student Union and the Grand Rapids district of Freedom Road Socialist Organization and was held at the Allendale campus of GVSU.
Detroit, MI – President Trump visited Detroit January 13, to promote the auto industry. His trip included a tour of the Ford factory in Dearborn and a visit to the Motor City Casino, where he was set to give a speech at the Detroit Economic Club.
Once the details of Trump’s visit were made public, the DROP Trump Coalition organized an emergency protest to say no to Trump and his racist agenda. Over 300 people rallied on the corner of Trumbull and Temple to show that his presence wasn’t welcome in Detroit.
Detroit, MI – On January 7, crowds of people rallied and marched to demand justice and protest the murder of Renee Good. Comité de Acción Comunitaria – Detroit (DCAC) organized an emergency protest just hours after reports came in as part of a national campaign with the Legalization for All network to condemn this killing and the attacks on our communities.
Detroit, MI – Over 40 people came out to an emergency protest put on by Detroit Anti-War Committee, January 4, outside the Patrick V. McNamara Federal building to oppose Trump's attack on Venezuela and the kidnapping of President Maduro.
Detroit Anti-War Committee was joined by Detroit Community Action Committee, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, and many others. Many people held signs saying, “No war on Venezuela” and banners that featured Maduro and Simón Bolivar portraits, accompanied with chants of “Trump wants war, Trump wants oil. Hands off Venezuelan soil!”
Detroit, MI – Despite the chilly weather, over 50 people came to Hart Plaza to protest Trump’s wars and his agenda in commemoration of Human Rights Day, December 13.
As part of the rally, Daanyal Syed of Detroit Anti-War Committee stated, “This administration is bloodthirsty and looking to both plunder Venezuela for its oil and gold and use our tax dollars to stimulate the war economy. We know this because the very same war profiteers who profit off war with Venezuela have already made and continue to make millions off the genocide of Palestinians, the horrifying conditions in Sudan, in the Philippines, and across the world wherever the U.S. intervenes.”
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.
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.
Detroit, MI – As part of the Week of Action called by the United National Antiwar Coalition and the Anti War Action Network, Detroit Anti-War Committee organized a march and rally, November 22, to demand “Hands Off Venezuela.” Over 20 community members showed up.
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.
Dearborn, MI – On November 18, 20 protesters met at the Arab American Museum in Dearborn to confront a hate march put on by right-wingers who called for end to “Islamification.” Islamophobic marchers managed to gather a group of 30 people. The march was initially spearheaded by Anthony Hudson, an “America First” gubernatorial candidate who tried to recant his claims that Dearborn was under “Sharia law” – only to still face the protest anyways.
Muskegon, MI – On November 13, plumbers and apprentices working for Moore Mechanical Grand Rapids began picketing outside the Shaw Walker Project in Muskegon, Michigan. They were joined by other union members of UA local 174 as well as a handful of community members.
Detroit, MI — On Veterans Day, Detroiters came out in the chilly November weather to show that they reject Trump’s war on Venezuela and demand we truly honor our veterans by ending the U.S. military's forever wars.
Detroit, MI — On the evening of November 1, Comité de Acción Comunitaria – Detroit, Detroit Anti-War Committee, Engineers Against Apartheid, and several other organizations came together in Southwest Detroit to build an ofrenda (traditional altar) that contained candles, portraits of those who have been lost, as well as the flags of Palestine and Venezuela.
Portage, MI – More than 50 people converged on the Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport this past Sunday to greet the arrival of Sumud Flotilla activist Khalid Jamal after his detention in the notorious Ktzi'ot Prison.
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.
Detroit, MI – On October 18, more than 8000 protesters gathered for a major No Kings protest starting at Roosevelt Park in Detroit to demand Detroit declare itself a sanctuary city, that troops be ousted from our cities, and the city divest from war profiteers.
Zeeland, MI – For the second year in a row, Palestine Solidarity Grand Rapids rallied outside of war profiteer Woodward FST to commemorate the anniversary of the Al Aqsa flood. Over 40 people chanted to the sounds of snares, claves and cymbals as surrounding factories marked their second shift change and employees filtered into the parking lot.
Allendale, MI – On Tuesday, October 7, the Grand Valley State University Progressive Student Union held a rally on campus to stand with the Palestinian people. After two years of genocide by Israel, and two years of bold resistance by the Palestinian people, students came together to hear speeches and give chants in solidarity with Palestine.