Fight Back! News

News and Views from the People's Struggle

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By staff

Minneapolis, MN – On June 26, the Anti-War Action Network (AWAN), a national network of anti-war and anti-imperialist grassroots organizations, hosted its first ever Pride webinar, tackling the important subject of pinkwashing.

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By staff

Protesters marching on a street holding signs and flags.

Minneapolis, MN – On a rainy Monday evening, June 30, hundreds of Minnesotans lined Lake Street with signs and chants to protest the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to give sweeping power to Trump, which could ultimately allow him to end birthright citizenship.

The decision came on Friday June 27. Legal experts say ending birthright citizenship, a right enshrined by the 14th Amendment since 1868, is a direct attack on the Constitution. The U.S. Supreme Court sidestepped directly ruling on President Trump’s racist order, for now.

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By staff

Two protesters hold a banner that says, "Drop the Charges on Alejandro Orellana! Protesting ICE is not a crime!"

Minneapolis, MN – Immigrant rights protesters gathered at Lake Street and Bloomington Avenue in Minneapolis June 27. This action was part of a National Day of Action called by the Legalization for All Network and the Committee to Stop FBI Repression.

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By Meredith Aby

Minneapolis protest demands hands off Iran.

Minneapolis, MN – On June 28, the Free Palestine Coalition and Minnesota Peace Action Coalition held a rally and march of over 200 people to oppose U.S. intervention in Iran and U.S. aid to Israel. The protest started in Powderhorn Park in south Minneapolis after the Minneapolis People’s Pride festival ended.

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By staff

Minneapolis, MN On Monday June 26, more than 15,000 registered nurses at hospitals across the Twin Cities metropolitan area and Duluth, who are represented by the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) voted to authorize a strike.

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By staff

A person speaking at a podium with other people holding signs behind them.

Edina, MN – On Monday, June 23, a crowd of Minnesotans gathered to join the People’s Action Coalition Against Trump (PACAT) for a press conference and rally against right-wing violence, held in front of the Republican Party of Minnesota Office located in Edina.

In light of the targeted assassination of State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, and the attempted murder of Senator John Hoffman and wife, Yvette Hoffman, PACAT organized the press conference and rally to condemn the rise in violent right-wing extremism, fanned by the reactionary agenda of the Republican Party and President Donald Trump.

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By staff

Two people holding a giant check.

Minneapolis, MN – The $130,000 raised has dealt a real blow to the mortgage, so we are that much closer to paying off the Lucy Parsons Center building. Unlike the empty promises of the Trump administration, we don’t write checks that can’t be cashed. When we say something, we mean it, and we back it up with action. We said we were going to raise $100,000, so we did that and then some!

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By Sonja Tomasko

Protest at DFL fundraising event demands divestment from apartheid Israel

Minneapolis, MN – On June 13, over 100 protesters rallied outside the Democratic Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) annual Humphrey-Mondale fundraising dinner. Despite hours of rain, picketers chanted outside the Minneapolis Hilton hotel, demanding that DFL leaders use their power to divest Minnesota funds from apartheid Israel after almost two years of U.S.– funded genocide of Palestinians. The action was organized by the Minnesota Anti-War Committee (AWC).

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By staff

Twin Cities, MN – In the early morning hours of June 14, an individual came to the door of State Senator John Hoffman in Champlin, reportedly impersonating a police officer. He shot at Hoffman and his wife, who shielded their child from the gunfire.

Then the gunman, who has been identified as Reverend Vance Boelter, went to the Brooklyn Park home of State Representative Melissa Hortman, where he shot and killed Representative Hortman and her husband.

Reportedly, police arrived at the scene and Boelter fled on foot. He reportedly left behind his vehicle, which appeared similar to an SUV squad car. In his car, authorities report they found a list of other targets, also elected officials. Hortman is a leader of the state DFL party, and Hoffman is also a Democrat.

Reverend Boelter is a Zionist with a background in private security.

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By Meredith Aby

Twin Cities protest in solidarity with the LA uprising.

St. Paul, MN – On June 11, the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC), Women Against Military Madness (WAMM), and the Minnesota Anti-War Committee (AWC) held a joint rally at the Lake Street/Marshall Bridge over the Mississippi River to demand an end to Trump’s war on immigrants, and the militarized attacks on Los Angeles residents by local and federal law enforcement.

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By staff

Rally at Minnesota State Capitol demands release of SEIU leader David Huerta.

Minneapolis, MN – On Monday, June 9, hundreds of members, officers and supporters from unions across Minnesota came together for a rally at the Minnesota State Capitol demanding the immediate release of SEIU United Service Workers West (SEIU USSW) President David Huerta.

SEIU USSW represents around 45,000 members, including people who work as janitors, security, airport workers and in other property services jobs, which are jobs performed primarily by immigrants. SEIU represents around 2.1 million workers across the U.S., in property services, healthcare, public sector and Starbucks coffeeshops.

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By Michael Wood and Tracy Molm

Protest on East side of Saint Paul, Minnesota demands shutdown of Northern Iron.

St Paul, MN – Dozens of people held signs and cheered Saturday morning, June 7, since the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) announced it would revoke Northern Iron’s permit. 11-year-old Eastside resident Moses Degner Riveros said on the megaphone, “Our voices are being heard! Now we need to take the next step of shutting the foundry down.”

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By staff

Press conference slams raid in south Minneapolis.

Minneapolis, MN – On Thursday, June 5, Minnesota Immigrant Movement (MIM), Asamblea de los Derechos Civiles, and the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC) held a press conference at Minneapolis City Hall outside of Mayor Jacob Frey’s office, hosting an array of local political and social justice leaders.

The community members and organizers demanded accountability from the mayor and MPD after local law enforcement helped federal authorities terrorize the immigrant community on Lake Street on June 3.

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By staff

La protesta encima del Capitolio Estatal de Minnesota exigiendo la atención médica para todos.

Saint Paul, MN – Mientras el gobernador y legisladores de Minnesota continúan reuniéndose a puertas cerradas y con una sesión especial aún inminente, más de 50 personas del movimiento de derechos de inmigrante volvieron para protestar en la oficina del gobernador Tim Walz en el capitolio estatal el 2 de junio. Esto viene aproximadamente una semana después de una acción semejante. El mitin fue otra movilización en respuesta a que el gobernador Walz y dirigentes legislativos anunciaron su intención de aprobar un presupuesto que les quitaría el acceso a la atención médica a adultos indocumentados en el estado.

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By staff

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC) on June 3 federal operation in Minneapolis at Lake Street and Bloomington Avenue.

On Tuesday June 3, at around 10:30am, the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC) received reports of possible ICE presence and possible immigration enforcement activity at the intersection of Lake Street and Bloomington Avenue in south Minneapolis. Our members arrived at the scene quickly to observe and assess the threat level of the activity.

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By staff

Protest inside the Minnesota State Capitol demand health care for all.

Saint Paul, MN – As the Minnesota governor and legislators continue to meet behind closed doors and with a special session still looming, more than 50 people from the immigrant rights movement returned to protest Governor Tim Walz’s office in the State Capitol on June 2. This comes about a week after a similar action. The protest was another mobilization in response to Governor Walz and legislative leaders announcing that they intend to pass a budget that takes away access to healthcare from undocumented adults in the state.

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By Linden Gawboy

Press conference outside the Minnesota Department of Corrections demands freedom for the wrongfully convicted and over-sentenced.

Saint Paul, MN – A crowd gathered outside the building that houses the state of Minnesota Department of Corrections to support the calls to “Free Cornelius Jackson. Free Nico Redding. Free them all!” The May 28 protest and press conference was organized by the Wrongfully Incarcerated and Over-Sentenced Families Council MN (WIAOSFC).

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By Brad Sigal

Robyn Harbison from MIRAC speaks to the media at the protest in the Minnesota State Capitol.

Saint Paul, MN – With Governor Tim Walz and legislators huddled behind closed doors making deals for a looming legislative special session, around 50 people from the immigrant rights movement protested May 27 at Walz’s office in the State Capitol. The protest was in response to Governor Walz and legislative leaders announcing that they intend to pass a budget that takes away access to health care from adult immigrants in the state.

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By Emily Newberg

Minneapolis, MN — On May 26, the Minnesota Anti-War Committee (AWC) held a press conference outside the building that houses the offices they share with the Climate Justice Committee in South Minneapolis to address an attack over the weekend that left the building’s windows smashed and local organizers looking for answers.

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By staff

Angel Smith-El, Mira Altobell-Resendez and Loretta VanPelt say not to a Trump pardon of killer cop Derek Chauvin

Minneapolis, MN – Just days before the five-year anniversary of George Floyd’s murder, rumors swirled that Trump planned to pardon former police officer Derek Chauvin on his federal conviction for violating Floyd’s civil rights. While critical of a pardon, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz told reporters he was preparing for the possibility.

Instead of waiting for bad news, organizers from Twin Cities Coalition for Justice and Black Lives Matter Minnesota called an emergency protest on Monday, May 19. Nearly 100 people gathered outside the Hennepin County Government Center – the building where killer cop Derek Chauvin was convicted – to say, “No to a pardon!” and “No to all of Trump’s attacks!”

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