San Jose, CA – FRSO San Jose has reached a major milestone in the month-long nationwide General Membership drive: the district has recruited 50 people to sign up for FRSO General Membership within the past month. People from all walks of life have signed up, from workers with years of experience in the labor movement, to longtime immigrant rights activists, to college students who are newly interested in socialism, to those who have been radicalized by the Trump administration, and beyond.

FRSO San Jose has taken an ambitious approach to the General Membership drive, with tabling events occurring almost daily in a variety of locations, including San Jose State University, East Side San Jose, and Gilroy, and at several different protests. The District has already surpassed their goal of 30 tabling sessions in 30 days, and they plan to continue right up until the last day of the drive, November 15.

Members of FRSO San Jose are already making plans to consolidate these new General Members and lead them in political struggle.

“For our December General Meeting, we will be holding an orientation for our new General Members, to get people up to speed on FRSO's strategy for revolution and how General Members can get involved in our on-the-ground work in the anti-war, immigrant rights, student, labor, and LGBTQ movements,” stated FRSO San Jose District Organizer Drusie Kazanova.

Kazanova continued, “The General Membership drive has been an enormous success. It proves the excellent conditions for carrying out our central task of party-building. As the decline of monopoly capitalism continues to accelerate, more and more people are joining the side of revolution, socialism, and liberation with every passing day.”

To join the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, visit frso.org/join.

#SanJoseCA #CA #PeoplesStruggles #FRSO

Minneapolis, MN – La campaña de reclutamiento de OSCL está superando todas expectativas. La campaña, que inició el 15 de octubre, a partir del 29 de octubre ha resultado con 189 nuevos miembros generales. En San Jose, CA, 29 personas se han inscrito en la OSCL.

En todas partes del país, miembros de la OSCL han puesto mesas en las manifestaciones y pedido que la gente se inscriban. Los grupos de la OSCL ya tienen planes aspiracionales para registrar nuevos miembros en dónde se encuentren.

Tom Burke, el Secretario Organizacional de la OSCL proclamó, “Es ahora el momento en el que nos criamos de gran manera. El capitalismo monopolista está en plena caída, y la situación para nosotros es excelente para construir una organización revolucionaria.”

Burke habló a continuación, “Hemos establecido como meta el reclutamiento de 300 nuevos miembros generales, y ya se nota que hacemos lo que decimos. Con toda fuerza nos dedicamos a desarrollar la OSCL y nos quedamos fijos a reemplazar el capitalismo con el socialismo.”

#MinneapolisMN #MN #FRSO #PeoplesStruggles #LaLuchadelaGente #Socialismo

Tacoma, WA – On November 4, over 70 community members gathered in the Tacoma Municipal Building to go over election results and discuss next steps. The crowd chanted, “Trump, escucha! Estamos en la lucha!” in opposition to Trump’s racist agenda. The event featured speeches opposed to Trump’s ongoing attacks against working and oppressed peoples and celebrating the many wins this election season.

While many of the backwards items on this year’s ballot were defeated, due in no small part to the efforts of local organizations, a particularly reactionary anti-trans initiative won out in Washington state. This initiative involves the genital inspection of any school-aged girl to ensure all athletes are “biologically female” before being allowed to join in girls’ school sports. This event highlights that while we have made progress at the polls, we need to continue building the people’s movement.

Community member Robbie Canton stated, “What I’m doing, and what I think others should be doing, is to get involved! Talk to people. I was lucky to have a friend who roped me into this network.”

Protesters took to the street, leaving the Tacoma Municipal Building and heading to the U.S. Federal Courthouse. While marching, a truck was used as a mobile stage to host more speeches and protest songs along the march route.

Lauren Puzon, a member of the United Food and Commercial Workers stated, “The biggest thing is to get money out of politics. Stop backing AIPAC, stop backing candidates that receive money from AIPAC.”

Once arriving at the U.S. Federal Courthouse, attendees hoisted and smashed a Trump-faced piñata. The Pierce County Immigration Alliance and the Freedom Road Socialist Organization tabled and talked with attendees on how to stay in the fight and continue making wins both locally and nationally.

Freedom Road member Xanat Romo stated, “The most important thing is to talk to people. Talk to your neighbors. Exchange stuff, like how neighborhoods used to be.” Romo continues, “If we all get to know our neighbors, we all feel more inclined to fight for each other. And we need people who are different from us, so we’ll have a stronger community. The biggest problem is we are all so disconnected from each other. I think that's the best place to start, especially for someone who has never done activism before.”

#TacomaWA #WA #PeoplesStruggles #2026MidtermElections #Midterms #UnitedStates

The November 3rd blue wave that swept the country isn’t the main headline in Chicago’s elections.

The theme of activists opposing the Trump agenda in a number of battleground states has been “working people versus billionaires.” In Michigan and elsewhere, the American Israeli Political Action Committee (AIPAC) also made headlines for spending tens of millions of dollars trying to stop the election to Congress and the Senate of any candidates opposed to the genocide in Gaza and the disastrous war on Iran.

But in Chicago’s first-ever all-elected school board elections, also held November 3, the AIPAC and billionaire-backed candidates were Democrats. Their target here is the movement that brought Mayor Brandon Johnson to office.

Since 2010, there has been an insurgent movement rooted in Black and Latino working-class communities, with significant leadership coming from the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU).

The outcome of the election has been extremely close. Out of 20 seats on the board, nine out of 14 candidates endorsed by CTU won, with a tenth candidate in the lead with counting almost over. Most school board members elected seem to want to fully-fund schools to provide good education and all the features that a family thinks of when they think of schools: libraries and librarians, nurses and counselors, art, music, after-school programs, and nutritious meals.

Why do the rich care about who leads the public schools?

The children of billionaires don’t go to the Chicago Public Schools. What the billionaires want is to make money from education. The privatized model of charter schools boomed in Chicago starting in the 1990s and resulted in the closing of 50 schools in Black and Latino communities. Today, there are 150 schools that are threatened by the privatizers because enrollment is around half their capacity. This disinvestment contributed to Chicago losing more than 10% of its population – 340,000 residents – during the years that Richard M. Daley, Rahm Emanuel and Lori Lightfoot were mayors.

The main target for negative ads paid for by the billionaires was Hilario Dominguez, candidate for school board president. Dominguez is a special education teacher and union organizer.

One statistic cited by CTU President Stacy Davis Gates shows the extent the ruling class went to try to elect candidates beholden to them, “A seat on the Chicago Board of Education is an unpaid position. Billionaires spent a million dollars a week trying to buy it.”

The movement has to now turn to re-electing Mayor Johnson; to elect city council candidates aligned with the progressive agenda Johnson has put forward; and candidates for Chicago’s first-in-the-country civilian police district councilors to hold the infamous Chicago Police Department accountable.

When Johnson announced his campaign for re-election in October, his slogan was, “We can't go backward!” He spoke of the candidates looking to unseat him by saying they look to, “close schools and militarize our streets.”

He linked together the struggle for good schools and police accountability, and, of course, Chicago’s Black and Latino communities, which have long fought for both.

Frank Chapman is the field organizer and education director of the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression. He is also a prominent supporter of Mayor Johnson. Responding to the outcome of the school board elections and millions of dollars being spent to stop the movement, Chapman said, “What’s the task of our movement? We have to hit the streets for the police district councilors and to re-elect Brandon Johnson.”

Chapman continued, “We can’t match their money. We need feet in the street – volunteers for a ground game to get our message to the people in these oppressed and occupied communities.”

#ChicagoIL #IL #PeoplesStruggles #Education #SchoolBoard #Elections #BrandonJohnson #CTU

Minneapolis, MN – The Freedom Road Socialist Organization fall membership drive is picking up speed. The campaign, which began on October 15, has resulted in 260 new general members as of November 5. In San Jose, California, 45 people have joined FRSO.

The membership drive will end on November 15.

Across the country, FRSO members have been reaching out to other activists, to coworkers and setting up tables at protests. FRSO groups in many places are carrying out outreach plans to enlist new members.

Mick Kelly, the political secretary of FRSO, stated, “The situation is very good for building revolutionary organization. Our numbers are rapidly growing, and we are developing work in new cities and towns every month. We are sure to surpass our goal of 300 new general members in 30 days.”

Kelly continued, “Monopoly capitalism is a failed system. We need socialism.”

#MinneapolisMN #MN #FRSO #PeoplesStruggles #Featured

Dallas, TX – The Dallas District of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization began with a steady flow of General Membership recruitment, starting with No Kings on October 17. It now ranks second in the FRSO nationwide campaign to recruit 300 new members in 30 days. Currently, the San Jose District is in the lead.

The Dallas District set an initial target of 20, but that goal was smashed within 15 days. The goal was then increased to 50. The district has currently recruited 24 new general members, achieving 48% of its goal.

Tabling efforts occur weekly, targeting high foot-traffic areas. These include college campuses such as the University of Texas at Arlington, University of Texas at Dallas and the University of North Texas.

People approach the table with curiosity. Members usually begin by introducing FRSO, asking if the person is interested in socialism and finally concluding by discussing the work FRSO is doing and the victories it has achieved. The Dallas district has put considerable effort into developing tabling materials, such as tote bags and prints, and often offering them to people who sign up at the table by making a goody bag with a combination of different tabling items.

District members have also approached their own organizing circles within labor, community groups and anti-war organizing spaces in Dallas-Fort Worth.

People from all over Dallas-Fort Worth, including Dallas, Fort Worth, Irving, Euless, Bedford, Grapevine, Arlington, Denton and Burleson, have signed up. People from outside of DFW, including Abilene, Henderson, Quinlan and Copperas Cove have joined the FRSO as well.

Several family and friends of district members have also signed up, impressed by the FRSO Dallas district's years of credibility and community work.

FRSO Dallas leader and Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1338 member Xavi Velasquez states, “We have no plans on stopping our current momentum, we are confident that our scientific approach and dedication will enable us to hit the highest numbers in this country.”

Velasquez continued, “If the national trend reveals anything, it's that people are tired of living the way they are because of capitalism, and Chicanos and African Americans in Dallas are in no way different. FRSO is the only organization serious about building a future for oppressed nationalities, through socialism.”

#DallasTX #TX #FRSO #PeoplesStruggles #Featured

Portland, OR – On Friday October 30, Portland Public Schools students pounded on the school district headquarters doors demanding a halt to the proposed shutdown of 14 public schools in the city.

Backed by a crowd of over 300 people, the children chanted “Let us in!” with sacks full of letters to the school board written by Portland families and students.

The action was part of a protest led by Save PDX Schools, an organization created in the wake of the school boards’ announcement they intended to close schools on October 5. Since the announcement, groups of parents, students and teachers were spontaneously created to fight the closures.

Kids, parents and community members marched around the block and chanted “PPS must think we’re fools, we won’t let them close our schools!” Two students from Sellwood Middle School grabbed a megaphone and led the crowd in chanting “Save Sellwood!”

The Portland school board claims closures are necessary due to a $65 million budget deficit caused by decreased enrollment and increasing cost operations. Groups such as Save PDX Schools are calling for the school board to pause closures and are asking the state to provide more funding.

“The closure of schools will only decrease enrollment further and worsen budget crises,” said PPS parent Blaire Glennon. “Larger class sizes, less educators, programs, and worsening learning conditions will only exacerbate the issue and pave the way for charter schools to step in where public schools are being dismantled. This is a part of a larger attempt to sell off our schools to private companies.”

#PortlandOR #OR #PortlandPublicSchools #Labor #PeoplesStruggles

Portland, OR – On Friday October 30, Portland Public Schools students pounded on the school district headquarters doors demanding a halt to the proposed shutdown of 14 public schools in the city.

Backed by a crowd of over 300 people, the children chanted “Let us in!” with sacks full of letters to the school board written by Portland families and students.

The action was part of a protest led by Save PDX Schools, an organization created in the wake of the school boards’ announcement they intended to close schools on October 5. Since the announcement, groups of parents, students and teachers were spontaneously created to fight the closures.

Kids, parents and community members marched around the block and chanted “PPS must think we’re fools, we won’t let them close our schools!” Two students from Sellwood Middle School grabbed a megaphone and led the crowd in chanting “Save Sellwood!”

The Portland school board claims closures are necessary due to a $65 million budget deficit caused by decreased enrollment and increasing cost operations. Groups such as Save PDX Schools are calling for the school board to pause closures and are asking the state to provide more funding.

“The closure of schools will only decrease enrollment further and worsen budget crises,” said PPS parent Blaire Glennon. “Larger class sizes, less educators, programs, and worsening learning conditions will only exacerbate the issue and pave the way for charter schools to step in where public schools are being dismantled. This is a part of a larger attempt to sell off our schools to private companies.”

#PortlandOR #OR #PortlandPublicSchools #Labor #PeoplesStruggles

Minneapolis, MN – The Freedom Road Socialist Organization Fall membership drive is exceeding expectations. The campaign, which began on October 15, has resulted in 189 new general members as of October 29. In San Jose, CA, 29 people have joined FRSO.

Across the country, FRSO members have been setting up tables at protests and asking people to join. FRSO groups in many places have outreach plans to enlist new members.

Tom Burke, the Organizational Secretary of FRSO stated, “Now is the time for us to grow in a big way. Monopoly capitalism is declining, and the situation is excellent for us to build revolutionary organization.”

Burke continued, “We have set the goal of 300 new general members, and we do exactly what we say. We are going all out to build FRSO and we are determined to replace capitalism with socialism.”

#MinneapolisMN #MN #SanJoseCA #CA #FRSO #PeoplesStruggles #Socialism #Feature

Tallahassee, FL – Over 30 people gathered at The Bark restaurant to hear from city commission candidates and local organizers about the attacks on voting rights, and on how we can fight back.

On the panel were city commission candidates Dot Inman-Johnson and PJ Perez. The city commission has had a 3-2 conservative-to-progressive split for eight years, during which the majority has served developers over the people. Three seats are up for election this year, with progressive candidates in each, including Inman-Johnson and Perez, so the balance could swing to progressive control.

Also on the panel were Jackson Vanderley from Tallahassee SDS, Kevin Louis-Jeune from FAMU SDS, Lunchbox from Black on Black Rhyme, and Delilah Pierre with the Tallahassee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression.

Louis-Jeune, a first year FAMU student, spoke to the differences he had seen in town: “Walking around the immediate area around campus, compared to around on campus, is like walking into a whole different city.”

Lunchbox responded to an audience question about what to do when the elections are over, “We vote with our time, we vote with our dollar, we vote with our energy. So besides the election process, which is important, we have the power to have conversations with our neighbors.”

When asked about the effects in Tallahassee of racist redistricting in other parts of Florida, Inman-Johnson said, “When [former representative] Al Lawson’s district was eliminated through gerrymandering, the legislature tried to do a fairer district. Desantis vetoed it and had his team develop the district. It’s important that [Democrat nominee for governor, David] Jolly get elected because it would be a fairer governor who would oversee those decisions.”

Perez kept it simple: “Just do away with partisan gerrymandering altogether, at all levels. That’s what we should all be aspiring to.”

An audience member asked about how elected officials can balance holding their values with making small movements towards progress, especially when more and more Republican voters are moving to Florida. Pierre responded by saying, “There might be more Republican voters moving here, but there’s one unity between Republican voters and Democrat voters: we broke as hell. We ain’t got no money. We have to rephrase the question. It’s not Republicans versus Democrats; it's the working class versus the billionaires and multimillionaires.”

#TallahasseeFL #FL #PeoplesStruggles #VotingRights

Genevieve Richard, an organizer with FRSO who tabled at the event, states, “As bad as Trump is, he is ultimately a symptom of the broken system we find ourselves in. We've been fighting against capitalism long before Trump showed up, and we'll continue fighting once he's gone. We understand that we need socialism, and we need a party to get there.”

The FRSO table encouraged people to vote no on Colorado ballot measures 134 and 135, which would strip rights from transgender people, as well as no on ballot measure 81, which would increase collaboration between ICE and local law enforcement.

Brandon Rincon, another FRSO organizer who tabled at the event, states, “Socialists need to stand with the people when they stand up against reactionary attacks. We need a united front of all who can be united so we can fight back. We want to help illuminate the path forward for all those who are fed up with our current system and what’s happening around us but aren’t sure what to do about it.”

October 17 reportedly saw No Kings protests in over 2500 cities and towns across the country; all focused on opposing Trump’s agenda.

#ColoradoSpringsCO #CO #FRSO #NoKings #PeoplesStruggles

Denver, CO, On Saturday, October 17, hundreds of community members gathered at Denver’s Lincoln Veterans Memorial Park for No Kings 4. The event, branded as “No Kings: Vote Early,” was one of around 70 similar events planned across the state of Colorado on Saturday.

The event was scheduled from noon to 4 p.m., though many attendees were already walking through the park and speaking with organizational tables well before 11:30. At 1:30, a march was held, starting on Lincoln Street next to Colorado State Capitol and completing a loop through downtown Denver.

Lasting roughly an hour, the march had several hundred attendees. Marchers held signs with slogans like “Taxes for healthcare, not bombing babies” and “The only minority destroying America is the billionaires.” Denver Anti-War Action (DAWA) carried a banner reading “200+ days of war, end Trump’s assault on Iran.” Several marchers carried signs condemning ICE terror.

Over a dozen organizations tabled at the event, including DAWA, Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO), and both the Auraria and School of Mines chapters of Students for a Democratic Society. Food trucks and carts provided tacos, hot dogs, and more for attendees.

Some organizations gave speeches near the center of the park, keeping energy up throughout the afternoon.

Julia Swezy from FRSO was one who addressed the crowd, saying, “This two-party system doesn’t work for you and me, it works for the billionaire Epstein class.” Swezy continued, “Unfortunately, the oppression does not end with Donald Trump. The issue does not end with a Democrat in office. It’s only when the masses of working and oppressed people overthrow the system of capitalist exploitation that we are free of our chains.”

“Voting on key issues is important, but voting is not going to get us out of the oppressive system of capital that we're in,” Swezy said, and encouraged people to get involved in their communities by joining an organization like FRSO. “You can find an organization present here today that is fighting for your values and join!”

#DenverCO #CO #NoKings #PeoplesStruggles #Trump

Chicago, IL – The South Side office of the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (CAARPR) was filled by allied organizations, Saturday, October 17, in a day of campaign work for the November 3 elections.

Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO), an affiliate of CAARPR, mobilized over 30 working-class and youth activists – Black, Latino, Arab, Asian and white – to put feet in the streets for progressive candidates in the November 3 election.

Altogether, 50 canvassers from various struggles and parts of the city joined forces to fight for two champions of workers and oppressed people – Hilario Dominguez and Mayor Brandon Johnson.

Hilario Dominguez is running for school board president. A special education teacher with ten years of experience working in the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), Dominguez is a member of the community he seeks to serve.

Dominguez faces off against billionaire-backed candidates who support school closures and abandoning Chicago’s children, all to line the pockets of private interests. Chicagoans have first-hand experience of fighting the racist, neoliberal tactics of divestment in neighborhood schools that reached its apex under former mayor Rahm Emanuel. Mayor 1%, as he was known, notoriously shuttered 50 schools during his two terms. 80% of those schools were in Black communities.

Emanuel’s other legacy was the cover-up of the heinous murder of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald, a CPS student with disabilities that was shot 16 times by Chicago police.

The fight against school closures is an historic struggle of Black and Latino working-class communities. Around these elections, there is a mass mobilization led by teachers and parents to support Dominguez and a slate that includes leading figures from the Black and Chicano/Mexicano movements: Jitu Brown and Rev. Emma Lozano, two legendary community organizers.

Rally with the mayor: The main event

Mayor Brandon Johnson, the first mayor since Harold Washington who was not handpicked by the ruling class, has a history of standing with Black and Latino working-class neighbors against school closures. As a former CPS teacher himself, Mayor Johnson has fought to reverse the racist disinvestment in the South and West Sides through historic levels of funding in housing, youth jobs, public schools and mental health centers. Johnson represents the African American national struggle for political power in Chicago, and has stood firm with immigrant communities against the Trump administration’s racist deportation attacks.

When canvassers returned from several hours “on the doors” in Woodlawn, Englewood and other nearby communities, they were greeted by the mayor. The message from the billionaires and their coat carriers among the city council and the press is that Johnson can’t win. Almost all the canvassers were youth – high school or college age. They greeted Johnson with cheers of “Four more years!”

Johnson informed the crowd that, under his leadership, Chicago saw a reduction in crime rates to levels not seen since 1965 – over 60 years ago. He also pointed out that while his administration had created 20,000 youth jobs over the summer, over 50,000 children had applied, and he would keep fighting during his second term until every student who wanted a summer job could get one.

20th Ward Alderwoman Jeanette Taylor co-hosted the rally with Frank Chapman, field organizer of the Chicago Alliance. Together with Jitu Brown, Ald. Taylor is famous for leading a successful hunger strike in 2015 against Emmanuel’s attempt to close Dyett High School. She reminded the crowd that Johnson served the people, not corporate-backed interests. Taylor preached unity of the many to fight back against the greed of the few and confided in the crowd that every time she saw Mayor Johnson occupying his spot at City Hall, she saw a community member who knew what it was like to face economic hardship living on Chicago’s South and West Sides.

Elections: A front of struggle

Joe Iosbaker of FRSO introduced Ald. Taylor. He recalled the CAARPR-led struggle for community control of the Chicago police, and Taylor’s history of fighting for community control of public schools.

In Chicago history, we have the legacy of Harold Washington’s campaign for mayor in 1983, with Rudy Lozano running for city council with Washington’s support to be his vice mayor. Chicago gave the country Jesse Jackson’s historic runs for president in 1984 and 1988, which also represented the Black liberation movement taking an electoral form.

From Harold and Rudy in the 1980s, to Brandon Johnson today, FRSO has long understood that while most elections in the U.S. are between two parties of monopoly capitalism, the national liberation movements can take electoral forms. When they do, revolutionaries have to get behind them and push.

The billionaire class and their racist and Zionist proxies are spending tens of millions of dollars for their handpicked tools – Jessica Biggs for president of the School Board, and Alexi Giannoulias for mayor – to defeat our movement and remove Brandon Johnson from the Fifth Floor of Chicago City Hall.

Chicago is ready for the fight.

#ChicagoIL #IL #PeoplesStruggles #Elections #SchoolBoard #BrandonJohnson

Fort Collins, CO – On Saturday, October 17, the Denver district of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) traveled to Fort Collins to talk about socialism and revolution at the fourth iteration of the No Kings protests. No Kings is an event organized to stand against the Trump agenda and has consistently seen thousands of people taking the streets.

For the first two hours of the protest, Kacey Hicks, an organizer with FRSO, set up a table to speak with the attendees of the No Kings protest. Hicks said, “It’s important for us in Freedom Road, as we’re trying to rapidly grow our organization with a drive for General Membership, to explain to people that now is the best time to come together. We have to fight back against the system that Donald Trump and his lackeys stand for, to make real political gains for the working class in the United States.”

Hicks also encouraged people to vote against ballot measures 134 and 135, initiatives on the Colorado ballot that will strip rights away from transgender youth and adults throughout the state.

In the afternoon, the Fort Collins community took to the streets and marched. Around 500 people showed up, chanting, “This is what democracy looks like!” to voice their opposition around the decisions being made in the White House.

David Stakelin, a community organizer with Fort Collins Against War and member of FRSO stated, “It is crucial that socialists show up to events like No Kings and participate in the mass movement. Avoiding events like No Kings isolates us from the people.”

Stakelin continued, “No Kings provides the perfect opportunity to unite with broad sections of the working class through shared opposition of the disgusting attacks carried out by imperialists like Donald Trump and his administration. Whether we are participating in anti-war demonstrations, labor struggles, student organizing, or movements for Black and Chicano liberation, our responsibility as revolutionaries is to lead, learn from the masses, and connect immediate struggles to the broader fight against monopoly capitalism.”

No Kings events were held in at least 50 cities in Colorado, with up to 80 total locations holding individual rallies in opposition to Trump’s reactionary agenda.

#FortCollinsCO #CO #DenverCO #PeoplesStruggles #FRSO #NoKings

San Jose, CA – The San Jose district of Freedom Road Socialist Organization has had an explosive first few days of the FRSO General Membership drive, which officially launched on October 15. By October 18, San Jose has already reached 28% of their district goal for the entire month-long drive.

FRSO San Jose began the first week of the drive with near-daily tabling sessions, sometimes tabling twice on the same day in different locations throughout the community. Their most successful tabling experience was at the No Kings protest in downtown San Jose on Saturday, October 17, where they received over a third of their total sign-ups so far.

As protest attendees walked past the table, FRSO members caught their attention by saying, “Hello! Are you interested in socialism?”

A majority of protesters responded favorably, and FRSO members continued the conversation by telling them about FRSO’s work and strategy, as well as asking them to sign up as General Members.

“We're Freedom Road Socialist Organization. We build the people's movements around immigrant rights, police crimes, labor unions, anti-war, students, women and more,” stated FRSO member Drusie Kazanova to a No Kings protester. “We're trying to build a serious revolutionary movement that can overthrow capitalism once and for all and create a government that works for the people instead of the billionaires.”

“We’re building a broad base of support from revolutionary-minded people,” continued Kazanova. “Would you like to join us by signing up as a General Member?”

FRSO members then helped people sign up on a laptop right there at the FRSO table. No Kings protesters could also purchase literature at the table, including FRSO pamphlets and programs, as well as a diverse array of over two dozen titles, from classics like Marx and Lenin to more recent publications from Carlos Martinez and Frank Chapman.

FRSO San Jose plans to carry this momentum forward into the rest of the drive, continuing their ambitious schedule of 30 tabling sessions in 30 days. They plan to particularly emphasize tabling at protests, as these tabling sessions have proven to be the most successful so far.

For week two of the drive, FRSO San Jose will be holding the following tabling sessions: Monday, October 19, from noon to 2 p.m. at San Jose State University; Monday, October 19, from 5 to 7 p.m. in front of Gilroy City Hall; Tuesday, October 20, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the intersection of Story & King in San Jose; Wednesday, October 21, from noon until 2 p.m. at San Jose State University; Thursday, October 22, from 6 to 8 p.m. near the intersection of Alum Rock and 33rd in San Jose; Friday, October 23, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. with the South Bay Banner 4 Palestine group on a freeway overpass in the South Bay (direct message @southbaybanner4palestine on Instagram to receive the specific location); and Saturday, October 24, from 4 to 7:30 p.m. at the San Jose Tonatuih Brown Berets and Mujeres de Aztlan Collective Fundraiser at Backesto Park in San Jose.

#SanJoseCA #CA #FSRO #PeoplesStruggles

Grand Rapids, MI – The Grand Rapids Coalition Against Trump joined hundreds of people in the October 17 No Kings Day rally. The coalition showed up as a contingent at 10:30 a.m. to lead chants against the Trump administration. Activists shouted, “Get Trump out!”

The main focus of the contingent was to speak on the attacks Trump has launched against working-class people at home and abroad. Signs read “Fight Trump's agenda” and “End Trump's war on Iran.”

The Grand Rapids Coalition Against Trump is made up of Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Palestine Solidarity Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, IATSE Local 26.

Programming for the rest of the event began at 11:30. A local band opened the rally with some live blues music, as Kent County Indivisible urged people to cast an early ballot. A speaker from UCC Powerfund stated, “There’s so much happening to us, to our neighbors and around us, but we know history has shown us that when people rise, guess what y’all? Kingdoms fall and so do oppressive systems.”

After the speeches, The Coalition Against Trump continued its chants to an energetic crowd that began to march. Hundreds of people then took to streets, chanting for an end to Trump's attacks.

#GrandRapidsMI #MI #PeoplesStruggles #Trump #NoKings

Billings, MT – On Saturday, October 17, the Billings Alliance for Immigrant Rights (BAIR) held a rally calling for “No ICE, no Trump, no Kings!” Over 50 people gathered on the Yellowstone County Courthouse lawn to stand against the Trump administration's continued attacks on immigrants and democracy.

The Billings community has been increasingly feeling the effect of ICE and Border Patrol’s presence after two families were kidnapped at the United Way backpack drive in August, and with the raid on community member Eva Sigsworth’s home last September.

BAIR has not allowed these attacks to stay in the dark with the activists organizing protests around these issues to put pressure on city council to implement a sanctuary city ordinance.

Andreas Storey, a leader in BAIR and the protest’s emcee, spoke about the raid on Eva Sigsworth's home, “Eva Sigsworth is a 90-year-old woman who has been a valued member of our Billings community for decades. Yet somehow, she still found herself in the crosshairs of Billings PD and Border Patrol. Last September Eva woke up to flashbangs outside of her home and to officers barking orders for her to come out with her hands up!”

Storey continued, “The attack on Eva Sigsworth shows exactly why we need a sanctuary city to prevent Billings PD from collaborating with ICE and Border Patrol!”

The crowd chanted “We want justice! We want rights! We want ICE out of sight!”

The No Kings rally was supported by members of the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) local 132 and the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO).

Retired APWU member Mindy Nielsen spoke and tabled at the event, sharing information about the ‘Save the Post Office’ movement and information about the APWU.

Nielsen told the crowd,. “The millionaires and the billionaires have been whittling away at the post office for a long time and they aren’t going to stop. The Postal Board of Governors are gonna have to do their jobs and take Trump to task for what he’s been doing!”

Lain Dorsey, of the FRSO, spoke about attending city council with BAIR, demanding a sanctuary city. “We were approached by city administrator Kevin Iffland, who attempted to intimidate us and say that we needed to leave the council chambers. But we refused and continued using our free speech to stand up for our neighbors!”

The crowd chanted “Mayor Nelson shame on you! Immigrant lives matter too!”

BAIR will continue to push for a sanctuary city and ICE out of Billings. To stay informed about the group’s upcoming events, follow them on Facebook or on Instagram @Billings_AIR.

#BillingsMT #MT #PeoplesStruggles #Trump #NoKings

Michigan City, IN – More than 200 people rallied outside city hall on Michigan Boulevard on October 17 as part of the national No Kings day of action called against the Trump administration.

Volunteers and community groups organized the protest, which was one of hundreds held across the country on Saturday. The size of the crowd stood out in an Indiana city with a population of just 32,000.

Many protesters made their own signs. Some of the slogans included, “Workers over billionaires” and “ICE murders,” denouncing the Trump administration’s attacks on immigrants. With the midterm elections just weeks away, other protesters carried signs reading, “Vote in numbers too big to manipulate.”

Saturday’s rally showed that opposition to Trump’s agenda is not confined to Indiana’s big cities or college towns. People in smaller industrial towns like Michigan City are also taking to the streets to fight back.

#MichiganCityIN #IN #PeoplesStruggles #Trump #NoKings

Atlanta, GA – On October 14, Atlanta Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) hosted an event at the Little Five Points Community Center to hear a report back from Chrisley Carpio on her recent trip to South Korea. Carpio, a member of the Central Committee of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, visited as part of the Jaju Solidarity Brigade this past August to participate in demonstrations against U.S. military occupation.

Carpio first gave a summary of the current political situation in Korea; about how the Korean peninsula was once united, but is now divided by U.S. imperialism at the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People' s Republic of Korea) as an independent, socialist state, and South Korea (Republic of Korea) still occupied by the United States.

She reported that the delegation visited military bases around the country and learned from local activists about Korea’s struggle for independence. She described that, for every horror inflicted by the US on the people of Korea, there has been protest and struggle, showing that the fight for reunification and liberation from U.S. occupation is very much alive.

Carpio also recounted how the delegation joined the annual National Liberation Day protest, the first international delegation to ever join, which mobilized 10,000 people at the march in Seoul.

To finish the event, community members asked questions about Carpio’s experiences and Korea’s political situation. One member asked if there was anything that U.S. activists could learn from the National Liberation Day protests. Carpio responded how inspiring it was to see so many different organizations from all sectors of the population all united under the same demand for peace, sovereignty and the reunification of the Korean people.

#AtlantaGA #GA #FRSO #Korea #PeoplesStruggles #JajuSolidarityBrigade

Porto, Portugal – A protest encampment sprang up in the heart of Porto on October 10 demanding affordable housing and has now continued for many days. Inspired by the massive movement that brought hundreds of thousands of people out into the streets in Spain in recent weeks, on October 10 protesters rallied and then set up tents in Porto’s Praça Dom João I, with a banner reading, “Can’t afford rent? Bring a tent!”

After one night, police removed the tents from the plaza, and Porto’s Mayor Pedro Duarte said tents absolutely would not be allowed. Protesters continued occupying the plaza without tents.

Then on October 14 during an evening rally of around 1000 people, protesters again set up around a dozen tents in the plaza. Police quickly moved in to try to remove the tents but then retreated after the protesters refused to back down.

The demands of the Porto encampment are: Down with the new anti-tenant rent law that was just passed; stop evictions; halt the buying of housing stock by capitalist investment funds; more public housing; rehabilitation of vacant housing property, and put in place a rent ceiling

Portugal’s neighboring country of Spain has been convulsed since late September by mass protests demanding affordable housing and an end to evictions, after an 87-year-old woman named Maricarmen was evicted from the Madrid home where she had lived for more than 70 years, after an investment firm bought the property and jacked up her rent. In response, encampments and protests spread throughout Spain.

Then, about a week after her eviction, Maricarmen died, with most people placing the blame squarely on the government and naming her traumatic eviction as the cause of her death. Spain’s main unions have announced a general strike for November 11, and Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called snap elections after an attempt to pass new housing legislation in response to the crisis failed. The new elections are coming up November 29.

Housing costs have skyrocketed in major European cities over the past decade, while wages have stagnated. Rent in Portugal’s main cities of Lisbon and Porto has gone up even more than in Madrid and Barcelona in Spain. So, it’s no surprise that the movement sparked in Spain has now spread to Portugal. The Porto encampment is one of several that have sprung up in cities throughout Portugal this week.

The movement seems poised to gain momentum this weekend, as Portugal’s largest and most militant union federation, the General Confederation of Portuguese Workers (CGTP), is organizing mass demonstrations on Saturday, October 17 in Lisbon, Porto and Coimbra protesting the high cost of living while wages stagnate. The CGTP’s protests are demanding higher salaries, better pensions and public services, an end to the increasing cost of living, and defending the national health care system (SNS) and social security.

#International #Portugal #PeoplesStruggles #Housing