New Orleans, LA- On August 12, New Orleans students and their supporters demonstrated during a 120-degree heat index against the potential U.S. intervention in the West African country of Niger. They gathered on the University of New Orleans campus with the group Students United UNO and chanted under a Nigerien flag and a banner reading “US: Hands off Africa.” Demonstrators passed information handouts to students as they returned to campus on move-in day.

The demonstration comes days after Nigerien leaders refused to meet with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland and pro-West military forces taking positions around Nigerien borders. Nuland had visited the country to threaten the new government with economic warfare such as sanctions and an end to humanitarian aid.

“Having troops on the border and saying that you want to talk peace is like putting a loaded gun on the table before starting a conversation,” said Loyola Young Democratic Socialists of America member Carson Cruse

Since the military overthrew the former Nigerien president in late July, it has moved to end French control over resources in the country. It has also demanded that France remove all troops from the territory of Niger, which France has refused. France exploited Niger as a colony until 1960 and has retained enormous economic power in the country until the recent coup.

“This is an issue that has more to do with dictating who has rights over the economic policies of a nation. Not some kind of farce about what America thinks that democracy should look like,” said Antonia Mar of New Orleans for Community Oversight of the Police.

#NewOrleansLA #International #AntiwarMovement #Africa #Protest #Niger

Metairie, LA – On July 25, over 30 people marched on a mansion in the New Orleans metro area to disrupt a fundraiser for Donald Trump. Joe Canizaro, a wealthy retired banker in Old Metairie, hosted Trump’s campaign event. Jeff Landry, Trump’s handpicked candidate for the Louisiana governorship, also attended. The noise from the protest forced the event to end early, and the campaign raised only half as much as when he visited the city in 2019.

Demonstrators began in a shopping center by Canizaro’s neighborhood, then marched up to the mansion. The Secret Service stopped them across the street from the fundraiser. It was clear that the protesters outnumbered the Trump supporters gathered nearby. Demonstrators ranged from students attending their first protest to older community members expressing their discontent with Trump and his supporters.

The protest organizers began the march by emphasizing the danger LGBTQ people face if left to the mercy of the right wing.

“No matter how many laws and attacks they throw at us, it is important that we draw a line and say this reactionary movement can’t go further, because if Trump is the president, if Landry is the governor, then they can easily attack our rights to protest, they can throw more of our movement in jail,” said Quest Riggs, an organizer with Real Name Campaign, an LGBTQ rights group.

Metairie, a suburb that lies just outside of New Orleans, has long been a conservative stronghold in the region. Despite this, protesters received more support than condemnation from the community. Evidently, pressure from the demonstration was too much for Trump and his wealthy supporters. According to local news sources, Trump stayed in the city until midnight for his previous 2019 fundraiser. This year’s fundraiser called for guests to arrive between 7 and 8 p.m., but Trump, Landry, the attendees, and their dance troupe left by 7:40 p.m.

Chants from anti-Trump demonstrators like “Lock him up!” “No hate, no fear, Donald Trump ain’t welcome here!” and “New Orleans hates Trump!” drowned out pro-Trump jeers. Some Trump supporters turned on their car alarms, but protesters chanted to the beat of the horns and the event grew louder. One neighbor activated his sprinklers on the sidewalk that the protesters stood on to deter them. Many welcomed the relief from the evening heat. As more protesters gathered, community activists took the opportunity to agitate the crowd and keep pressure on Trump and his lackeys.

“This mansion and the $23,000 photoshoots show the lie in Trump saying he represents the working man. It’s the mass movements for justice and equality that represent what working people want and need in this country!” yelled Serena Sojic-Borne, an organizer with Freedom Road Socialist Organization. Although Trump allegedly raised $2 million from this event, this came far short of the over $4 million from his last fundraiser at Canizaro’s mansion in 2019.

Activists from other organizations linked the fight against Trump to other campaigns like community control of the police and defending education.

“Although Trump is the leading candidate for the Republican nomination, DeSantis is rallying the right wing towards even more oppressive policies. The Tampa 5 are an example of what our movements will suffer under a Trump or DeSantis presidency. We must dare to struggle against these reactionaries! Our comrades in Tampa may be suffering, but that hasn’t stopped us from rallying to their aid. I know they’d do the same for me. Justice for the Tampa 5!” declared Carson Cruse, a member of Loyola University New Orleans’ Young Democratic Socialists of America, an affiliate of Students for a Democratic Society.

#MetairieLA #Protest #NewOrleans #Trump

Minneapolis, MN – On August 20, activists held banners from five bridges along Interstate 35W to highlight the role the U.S. plays in endorsing and funding the Israeli occupation of Palestine. The protest took place during the Democratic National Convention to draw attention to the need for the Democratic Party to break with the apartheid state of Israel.

Drivers saw banners on the 35th, 36th, 38th and 40th Street bridges on I-35W in South Minneapolis and on a bridge in Lakeville over I-35. The protest was initiated by the MN Anti-War Committee. Many groups signed on and helped make banners and organized their members to protest on bridges, including American Muslims for Palestine (AMP-MN), Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN), Northfielders for Justice in Palestine/Israel, and Women Against Military Madness.

During the DNC, Joe Biden, the Democratic nominee for president, has gone out of his way to pledge his support for Israel, denouncing the Boycott, Divest and Sanctions (BDS) movement, and attack leaders in the BDS movement like Linda Sarsour.

The news website Mondoweiss reported this week that Daniel Shapiro, President Obama’s former ambassador to Israel, is a member of the platform committee and blocked language about cutting or even conditioning aid to Israel over human rights violations, and about the Israeli occupation of Palestine. Every night during the DNC proceedings, Israeli warplanes bombed Gaza, the world’s largest open air prison, and the Biden campaign was silent on these atrocities.

Andrew Josefchak, a new member of the Anti-War Committee, explained the significance of the action during the DNC, saying, “Right now we’re seeing a sea change in the opinions of the Democratic party’s base when it comes to Palestine. Here in Minnesota, Representative Ilhan Omar recently defeated a very well-financed opponent despite the political establishment, and much of the media, attempting to portray her as an anti-Semite for having said that U.S. support for Israel has to end. Additionally, Representative Betty McCollum just introduced the Israeli Annexation Non-Recognition Act, saying, ‘I reject Israeli annexation. And I will work to ensure the U.S. does not...legitimize any plan to annex Palestinian lands.’ We’re holding this event to show the growing momentum in the movement to end U.S. aid to Israel. Now more than ever people are demanding money for human needs, not for war.”

Activists were cheered on by honks, raised fists and waves while they waved Palestinian flags and held banners that read “Free Palestine,” “End aid to Israel” and “Free, free Palestine. This wall will fall.”

The MN Anti-War Committee’s next Palestine solidarity action will be to mark the anniversary of the Sabra and Shatila Massacre and also to draw attention to the situation in Lebanon. It will be another banner drop, from the Loring Park footbridge over I-94 at 5 p.m. on September 17.

On September 16-18, 1982, pro-Israel militiamen associated with the Lebanese Phalanges (Kataeb Party) murdered over 1000 Palestinian civilians in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camp in Beirut, Lebanon. The massacre was carried out at the orders of the invading Israeli Defense Forces, which had besieged the neighborhood before the attacks.

This past August 4, a massive explosion in Beirut, reportedly caused by ignition of an impounded shipment of ammonium nitrate, killed at least 180 and destroyed important Lebanese national infrastructure. Lebanon’s economy and pandemic response already had been struggling under U.S. sanctions, imposed in June as punishment for the growing effectiveness of the Lebanese resistance group Hezbollah against Israeli intrusions. On August 12, the Wall Street Journal reported that the Trump administration was preparing even more sanctions on Lebanon.

#MinneapolisMN #Palestine #Protest #DemocraticNationalConventionDNC #MNAntiWarCommittee #IsraeliOccupationOfPalestine #MiddleEast

The Coalition to March on the Democratic National Convention led the charge for both of those protests and is doing the same again. Several other organizations and allies have joined in the effort, including rank-and-file trade unionists and United Action Oshkosh (UAO).

UAO is a local organization working on reopening the case of Isaiah Tucker, a Black man murdered by Officer Aaron Achterberg of the Oshkosh Police Department on July 31, 2017. Members of Tucker’s family are joining UAO and the Coalition on August 20 when they march on the DNC in Milwaukee.

“While our Coalition exists to march on the DNC, we’ve been very clear since the start that Donald Trump is the primary enemy of working and oppressed people the world over. Trump is responsible for goading racist killer cops and vigilantes to murder Black men and others. We must defeat Trump,” said Ryan Hamann, co-chair of the Coalition to March on the DNC.

Trump is commenting on “Biden’s failures on jobs and the economy” at the Basler Flight Service on the grounds of Wittman Airport on the southside of Oshkosh. The press conference is set to begin at 4:30 p.m. The president will be met with the force of the masses of people who oppose his hateful, violent agenda. The Coalition to March on the DNC, United Action Oshkosh, and the other organizations and activists involved will be ready.

“Our first official action as an organization was back in January 2018, and it was a protest of the first year of the Trump administration. We’re proud to be in keeping with that tradition,” said Hollie Poupart, a leader with United Action Oshkosh.

Poupart went on, “On August 17 when Trump comes to town, we’re going to make sure he knows he’s not welcome here, and we’re gonna do it while raising the demand for justice for Isaiah Tucker. And after we’ve sent Trump packing, we’re going to take our message to Milwaukee for the march on the DNC on August 20. Enough is enough. We can’t breathe!”

#OshkoshWI #Protest #Antiracism #UnitedActionOshkoshUAO #CoalitionToMarchOnTheDNC

Franklin, WI – On the morning of August 7, a crowd of around 80 people marched outside a Strauss Brands meatpacking facility located in the small town of Franklin just south of Milwaukee. In the crowd were workers from United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1473 (UFCW 1473) and their families, and members of other unions and community groups; most visibly immigrant rights group Voces de la Frontera.

The crowd was gathered to call for justice for 31 line workers who had been fired for organizing for better COVID-19 protections. Strauss fired these Latino workers with Social Security No Match letters from the Social Security Administration, calling it proof that these workers can’t legally work in the U.S.

A no match letter from the SSA is used to let a worker know they may not be filing taxes correctly. It is not legal proof of immigration status, and UFCW’s contract with Strauss protects workers from firing under a No Match letter. This was an obvious racist attack on working class self-defense during a global pandemic.

The rally called for plant human resource director Cheryl Wisman to be fired, for the fired workers to be rehired, for CDC recommended safety measures to be taken, and for any fired worker who chooses not to come back to be fairly compensated and covered with a six-month insurance extension. The workers reached out to Voces to organize the rally on behalf of the workers after the UFCW grievance process failed to win the fired workers their demands.

After marching, the crowd gathered around the plant entrance to hear messages of solidarity from the presidents of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 998 and Milwaukee Teachers Education Association, endorsements from public officials, and firsthand stories from some of the fired workers. For now, Voces is following up with a public petition built around these demands.

#FranklinWI #Protest #meatpacking #UFCW #COVID19

Grand Rapids, MI – Fifty union stagehands chanted, “$600 now!” while pushing music road cases thru downtown Grand Rapids. They began their push at the U.S. Federal Building to demand Senator Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans pass the $600 workers need.

Outdoor diners gawked, homeless workers shouted approval and cars honked in solidarity as the stagehands rolled past on their way to a lively rally under the Rosa Parks statue.

“We paid into unemployment our entire working lives. It is our money and we need the Republican politicians in the Senate to pass $600 now to pay our bills, pay for housing and pay for healthcare,” said Joshua Roskamp, the business agent for IATSE Local 26.

“30 million unemployed nationwide. If we all want to compete for jobs; the value of jobs is going to bottom out. It will be a race to the bottom felt all the way up and down the working class spectrum. If the working class isn’t going to stick together, we are going to drown in a sea of sharks,” Roskamp added.

Roskamp, who is the lead rigger at Van Andel Arena and often works at DeVos Performance Hall in Grand Rapids and Miller Auditorium in Kalamazoo continued, “We need some of the big names we work directly for to understand our dire situation. Many of us have risked life and sanity to bring you your favorite shows. Making us try and start new careers in an already flooded job market doesn’t seem practical for us, or for your favorite shows, when they return in spring 2021.”

One woman’s life, millions’ experience

Lindsey Katerberg, a West Michigan stagehand for ten years, gives a detailed explanation, “As a single mom I pay for a two-bedroom apartment and buy groceries for a teenager who eats everything within a few days; without the $600 FPUC I will have to apply for food stamps.

“There is too much uncertainty regarding the future. My student loans didn't qualify for relief under the CARES Act and my healthcare requires a quarterly payment that is soon due or I lose my benefits.

“Here in Michigan I am at the maximum $362 per week payment for unemployment which doesn’t come close to covering my rent, health insurance and student loans totaling $1,720 every month.

“The $600 FPUC has been a lifeline I cannot survive without. Now that it is expiring, I don't know how I am going to get by because our industry is shut down. I am just one of 140,000 union stagehands and there are over 5 million workers in live events and entertainment not working.

“My life revolves around working gigs. I love my job and find my work fulfilling. It's very difficult having everything canceled or postponed until further notice. It's horrible not knowing what lies ahead and having little faith left in our leadership to do the right thing when all they seem to care about is us returning to work when it's not possible, and it's not safe! I look to the rest of the world and can't help but feel I would be better off with new leaders in our country. It’s not just financial ruin for me. It's millions of workers. It's the whole damn country!”

#GrandRapidsMI #Protest #CARESACT #stagehands #600UnemploymentBenefit

Grandville, MI – Stagehands held signs and rallied outside the office of U.S. Representative Bill Huizenga in this suburb of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Huizenga, like all but one Republican, voted against the HEROES Act in the House of Representatives.

Joining workers in other states, stagehands across Michigan are gathering outside politicians’ offices to demand extending unemployment into next year. The stagehands, who are normally working behind the scenes, were out in front on June 23 chanting, “They say cut back! We say fight back!” and “What do we want? $600!”

Stagehands, like other entertainment and hospitality workers, are surviving on unemployment due to the COVID-19 crisis. In West Michigan nearly 100% are out of work until March 2021, when arena concerts, Broadway tours, big church events, and conventions resume.

If the $600 boost runs out on July 25 in Michigan, the average worker will go from making 98% of their pay, down to 35% of their pay. Then around September, the regular unemployment will run out for most.

“We paid into unemployment our entire working lives. It is our money and we need it now to pay our bills, pay for housing and pay for healthcare,” said Josh Roskamp, IATSE Local 26 business agent.

Roskamp continued, “There are no sports. No concerts. No theater. No work. Economists and industry leaders are telling us our jobs will not come back until spring of 2021. We need Representative Huizenga to tell Senator Mitch McConnell and other Republican senators that we need the $600 now until we can get back to work.”

The action was well received by the thousands of people in cars passing through the busy intersection on Rivertown Parkway in Grandville where a large shopping complex sits. The majority gave thumbs up, waved and honked their horns. Many raised fists in solidarity and shouted support at the stop lights.

#GrandvilleMI #Unemployment #Protest #HEROESAct

San José, CA — On August 13, more than 500 people rallied outside the San José City Hall in solidarity with the fight against white supremacy in Charlottesville, Virginia. The candlelight rally honored Heather Heyer, who was killed by an American fascist from Ohio. San Jose activists spoke in solidarity with the 19 others injured when the fascist drove his car at high speed into people protesting the white supremacist “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville.

Masao Suzuki of Nihonmachi Outreach Committee (NOC) spoke of the rising resistance to Donald Trump and the white supremacists he emboldens. Suzuki led the crowd in a Japanese chant, “Ganbatte!” (Persevere in the struggle!).

The San Jose rally was organized by Women’s March – San José and STAND San José. It included speakers from Rise Up for Justice and Showing Up for Racial Justice. Reverend Jennifer Goto from People Acting in Community Together (PACTS) and Zahra Billoo of Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) also spoke of the fight against white supremacy.

#SanJoséCA #Protest #Antiracism #antifascism #CHarlottesville

Jacksonville, FL — Three dozen gathered in front of the Duval County Courthouse on August 11 in support of Palestine. The call for a protest came after reports began circulating on social media that Israel had bombed neighborhoods in the Gaza Strip on August 8. Israeli bombs targeted areas filled with Palestinian civilians and four were injured, one very seriously.

The emergency mobilization urged people to support the struggle for Palestinian liberation and an end to Zionist occupation. The crowd chanted,” From Ferguson to Palestine! Occupation is a crime!” and “Free! Free! Palestine!”

“We encourage folks to get involved with the first rally held by Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network. We offer space to make that possible,” said 19-year-old Sara Mahmoud, a local Palestine activist with Jacksonville Community Action Committee (JCAC).

Mahmoud explained, “Based on current estimates, Gaza will be unlivable as early as 2018, and as late as 2020. Palestinians have been resisting ethnic cleansing and genocide since 1948, 70 years in 2018. It is time for people to get strategized in fighting Zionism, a heinous form of settler-colonialism.”

Michael Sampson, also with JCAC, said, “It’s important for us in Jacksonville to stand in solidarity with our friends and comrades organizing for liberation in Palestine. The struggle for police accountability in Jacksonville, and the struggle to end Israeli Apartheid and liberate Palestine are all part of a larger movement for a more just world.”

Members of several groups attended the rally, including Students for Justice for Palestine at UNF, Students for a Democratic Society at UNF, Take ‘Em Down Jax, the Jacksonville Progressive Coalition, and the Jacksonville Community Action Committee (JCAC).

#JacksonvilleFL #Palestine #PeoplesStruggles #Protest #Israel #Antiracism #MiddleEast

St Paul, MN – Hundreds of trade unionists, supporters of immigrant rights, and other progressives have been filling the halls of the Minnesota State Capitol building today, May 24, after a Republican move that placed a host of anti-worker and anti-immigrant measures in finance bills. At one point more than 100 protesters assembled outside the office of Governor Dayton chanting “Veto everything.”

#StPaulMN #PeoplesStruggles #Protest #Minnesota

San Diego, CA – People assembled across the globe, May 20, to protest the corporate chemical behemoth Monsanto. These demonstrations are an annual event, facilitated by the organization March Against Monsanto, and organized at the grassroots level by concerned people. One such local protest was in sunny Temecula, California, known for its own booming small farming sector. People from San Diego and Riverside counties came together in 90-degree heat to show their discontent with the industrial agribusiness giant.

“Monsanto is putting small farmers out of business,” said Gary Lotspeich, a demonstrator who is also a former budget officer for the California Department of Water Resources. He was referring to Monsanto’s prohibition on seed saving. The seed saving ban forces farmers to buy new seeds each season because of the patent on genetically modified crops.

“Yeah, small farmers are struggling anyway,” added Hanna Alfaddaghi, a Cal-Poly Pomona student in the agricultural studies program. “Monsanto sends employees out to test farmers’ seeds for their patented genes and sue them out of business.”

In fact, Monsanto collected $23 million from small farmers for patent infringement by 2014. Farmers were forced to pay an average of $412,000, even if the infringement was the result of natural cross-pollination carried by insects and wind.

Monsanto is most infamous for the toxic chemical Agent Orange, used to defoliate large swaths of forest during the Vietnam War. The corporation was caught falsifying data on the amounts of toxic ingredients in Agent Orange, including PCB and dioxin. Yet Vietnam veterans overwhelmingly report devastating side effects from exposure to the chemical and many Vietnamese are still suffering from residual effects to this day, including many birth defects.

Monsanto was part of chemical warfare again under the U.S. Plan Colombia. U.S. military contractors flew over and sprayed Monsanto’s Roundup Ultra on poor peasants’ crops in Colombia, as part of the U.S. dirty war. Poor peasants were forced to abandon their land as the U.S. sprayed in areas under the control of FARC rebels, while wealthy landowners were largely untouched.

Monsanto is also an example of the revolving door between private industry and the U.S. government. Monsanto employees take jobs at the FDA and EPA, setting policy in the company’s favor regarding genetic modification and acceptable levels of toxicity. Under George W. Bush, Monsanto associates filled the office of Attorney General, Secretaries of Health and Human Services, Agriculture, and even Defense. One can only speculate as to how much data on the harmful effects of its toxic products like Roundup Ultra is concealed through such conflicts of interest.

Monsanto is monopolizing the seed and pesticide markets through its patents on genetically modified commercial crops. This not only impacts domestic farmers, but also overseas in India, Asia and South America. Monsanto will certainly be the subject of further public actions and demonstrations because of these destructive practices.

#SanDiegoCA #PeoplesStruggles #Protest #EnvironmentalJustice #Monsanto

Minneapolis, MN – Thousands of people joined the People’s Climate Solidarity March, April 29 in downtown Minneapolis. The protest was one of the many taking place across the U.S. to push back against Trump’s anti-environment agenda and to demand government action on climate change.

#MinneapolisMN #Healthcare #Protest #EnvironmentalJustice #ClimateChange #ClimateMarch

Houston, TX – On Jan. 19 students at the University of Houston (UH) held a walkout to show their disgust with the election of Donald Trump.

The walkout began at noon and started with a rally followed by a march throughout campus. As the students marched through classrooms they disrupted ongoing classes and encouraged other students to walk out to protest Trump. The student marchers could be heard chanting, “Out of the classrooms, into the streets,” “Hey hey, ho ho, President Trump has to go,” and “Hey Trump, you liar! We’re here to say you’re fired!”

The walkout was organized by Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). Many other left-wing groups attended the student march to show solidarity, including the New People’s Black Panther Party, Socialist Alternative, and Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

#HoustonTX #SDS #US #PeoplesStruggles #Protest #Trump

Chicago, IL – After a day of protests and walkouts on the campuses of DePaul, Loyola and the University of Illinois at Chicago, 5000 people rallied and marched back and forth across Chicago’s Loop, Jan. 20, in opposition to the racist agenda of President Trump.

At one point, about 1000 of the marchers gathered on the bank of the Chicago River, in the shadow of Trump Tower. Kofi Ademola of Black Lives Matter led everyone in turning and raising a middle finger salute to the giant Trump sign.

Nesreen Hassan from the U.S. Palestinian Community Network delivered a statement that read, “We pledge to continue our resistance to the attacks coming from the likes of Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and from the Chicago Police Department.” There were passionate speeches from immigrant activists, as well as the patriotic Filipino youth organization, AnakBayan.

One common theme was to reject the message from the Democratic Party leadership to give Trump ‘the benefit of the doubt.’ Frank Chapman of the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression pointed out that Trump’s inaugural address was a call to attack the oppressed, particularly Muslims, but also the Black community. Chapman challenged those gathered to prepare for a great battle, and to defeat the attacks coming down from the administration.

#ChicagoIL #US #PeoplesStruggles #Protest #BlackLivesMatter #Trump

The walkout, rally and march is being organized by a coalition of student groups at various campuses put together by Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) at the University of Minnesota.

Students are walking out to oppose Trump as well as highlight the continued struggle against Trump-like policies on campus perpetrated by those like University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler and his administration.

According to a statement from walkout organizers, “Under Eric Kaler’s administration, students have seen tuition costs and student debt increase. Top-heavy administrators are making over $200,000/year – Eric Kaler himself making over $650,000 annually (more than President-elect Donald Trump will make). Progressive students have faced huge penalties for civil, non-violent protests on campus including some students almost having to go to trial in December 2016. All the while racist and xenophobic hate speech and actions against students of color, Muslims, immigrants and the LGBTQ community has been repeatedly defended as ‘free speech’ by the Kaler administration.”

Student groups are uniting around the following demands: No hate speech on campus, Cut administrative bloat, Drop tuition now, Diversify the university, Legalization for all, Sanctuary for all, Education for all.

The walkout is occurring in coordination with a national call from Students for a Democratic Society that has confirmed student walkouts on over 30 college campuses. For more information go to: http://www.newsds.org/2016/11/national-sds-call-to-action-student.html.

#MinneapolisMN #US #PeoplesStruggles #Protest #Elections #Trump #inauguration

This protest is part of a National Student Walkout organized by SDS to “disrupt operations on campuses everywhere.” According to the call, “We demand free tuition and equal access to education for Black, Chicano, Latino, and specifically undocumented students. We demand sanctuary campuses everywhere, the preservation of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), and an end to deportations.”

“We’re here to stand up for all those who are in danger because of the Trump administration; undocumented people, Muslims, women, everyone Trump has decided to make his enemies. We are calling on students to get organized and ready to fight back against every attack on oppressed people,” said Katherine Draken, an FSU student organizing the walkout and president of SDS.

#TallahasseeFL #Elections #US #PeoplesStruggles #Protest #inauguration

Salt Lake City, UT – Roughly 3000 people demonstrated against Trump's agenda, Nov. 10. The event was organized by a coalition of student, worker and community organizations. Protesters gathered at the Wallace F. Bennett Federal Building. The crowd chanted, “Racist, sexist, anti-gay, Donald Trump go away!” and “Liberation not deportation!” Several speakers representing various activist organizations in the valley spoke urging opposition to Trump's agenda.

Theresa Nielson of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization started off the event by reminding the crowd of the failure of the Democratic Party and the need for popular movements. “The Democrats are not going to save us. It will always be the people's movements that forge the way to progress.”

Sean Taylor of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) said “We believe democracy is the people fighting for the people. Democracy is building a movement independent of electoral politics, it is standing up, organizing and fighting back!”

Organizer Gabriella Killpack, a Teamsters and organizer of Utah Supports Rasmea Odeh spoke of her hope for a better world built through working class solidarity and struggle. “I'm here today because we deserve more than what this society offers us. What Trump promises, and what Clinton promised. What I've learned from organizing in my union is that together, we don't beg for more, but we stand united and demand it. When people organize together like we're doing right here, we can create a world that is just for all.”

After the speeches, the gathering took to the streets, filling both lanes of traffic of State Street, the busiest street in Salt Lake City. The energy of the crowd was high as they marched through the core of downtown Salt Lake, and voiced their outrage at Trump's election. As the march approached the end of the route, people chanted “Take it to the capitol!” They continued up the hill toward the state capitol, while hundreds more began to show up, having seen the demonstration on the news. In spite of rumors that riot police might be awaiting them at the capitol, the demonstrators were not deterred and made the decision to continue the march to the capitol building. Upon arriving, it was discovered that there were no riot cops, and demonstrators filled the capitol steps to capacity.

At the capitol many people briefly came to the mic to say how they are planning to organize. Gabriella Killpack closed the rally with a call to continue to resist Trump. “I believe there's a beautiful new world to be had and we will be the ones to bring it into existence and I believe all of you here will continue this fight to make it happen. I know I will see you at the next Utah Against Police Brutality meeting, the next anti-war demonstration and fighting for justice for Rasmea Odeh.”

#SaltLakeCityUT #SaltLakeCItyUT #US #Protest #Utah #Antiracism #Antifascism #Elections #Trump #SaltLakerCity

Houston, TX – Hundreds of people, many who were students, came out to protest the election of Donald Trump, Nov. 10. They gathered in front of City Hall and began chanting, “Hey Trump, you liar, we're here to say you're fired,” followed by a few speeches. The sentiment of the crowd was one of rage and anger.

They began marching through downtown on Main Street where many people were out at bars. They chanted “Hey, hey, ho, ho, Donald Trump has got to go,” which echoed loudly and could be heard everywhere on the street. They started marching in the streets and the cops became very aggressive. Dozens of cops on horses showed up and there was a brief confrontation with the police.

Marchers were angered by the aggressive cops, and a protester made a brief speech saying, “These are Trump's minions who are taking away our democratic right to free speech!” During this confrontation, the cops arrested five people, three of whom were major organizers for this event as well as other events in recent weeks, like the protests against police brutality and racism.

After this confrontation, the protesters marched to the police station and made some fiery speeches.

Ashley Hall, a student at the University of Houston said of Trump, “His misogyny is going to take us back to the 50s and negate all the victories of the women's liberation movement. We don't recognize him as our president and refuse to let such a male chauvinist pig run our country.”

Lee Parker, a student at the University of Houston Downtown said, “We cannot allow Trump to turn back all of the victories of the Black Liberation Movement. He wants to take us back to the era of Jim Crow. He will put more cops in the streets, which will lead to more killings of Black people. Down with Donald Trump!”

At the end of the rally, the protesters marched to the jailhouse to demand the release of all the activists who were arrested.

Samuel Gutierrez, a student activist, said, “These cops have been put here by Trump to silence his opposition. They are trying to arrest the leadership of our movement in order to weaken the forces of resistance. We demand that all who were arrested tonight be freed immediately.”

The march was organized by Students for a Democratic Society and Black Lives Matter Houston. More protests against Trump are scheduled for this weekend.

#HoustonTX #US #PeoplesStruggles #Protest #Antiracism #Texas #Antifascism #Elections #Trump

Tallahassee, FL -The night after the election, Nov. 9, 200 Florida State University (FSU) students, faculty and community members assembled on the steps of the Old Florida Capitol to protest against President-elect Donald Trump.

After the protesters rallied, they marched through the streets of downtown Tallahassee cheering and chanting, “Not my president”, and “No Trump, no KKK, no fascist USA”, and “Black lives matter!” Accompanied by drums and other instruments, they chanted, “Shut it down” in the intersections as they blocked traffic for over an hour.

Students held homemade signs reading, “America was never great” and ”Not one more deportation.”

“We are here to stand against Donald Trump and his racist agenda. Clinton and Obama say we need to give Trump a chance, but we are here to reject that. We are ready to resist Trump in the streets,” said Zachary Schultz, a member of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS).

The protesters marched back to the steps of the Old Capitol where the organizers spoke against Trump’s plans to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border and deport undocumented immigrants.

“Trump winning the election has been a wake up call for so many people,” said Katherine Draken, a member of SDS. “People are beginning to realize that we need to organize outside of the political establishment that put Trump where he is, and build actual organizations that can fight against oppression.”

The FSU chapter of Students for a Democratic Society said they plan to continue the struggle against Trump’s racist, anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim agenda as long as he is president.

#TallahasseeFL #PeoplesStruggles #Protest #Florida #Antiracism #Antifascism #Trump

Canon Ball, ND – Resistance to the $3.8 billion Dakota Access Pipeline continues to grow. The Standing Rock Sioux, members of hundreds of tribes from around the country, as well as non-Natives have gathered to stop the pipeline.

The pipeline, which is scheduled to run under the Missouri River less than a mile north of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, extends 1134 miles and connects the Bakken and Three Forks production areas in North Dakota to Patoka, Illinois. It is projected to transport 450,000 barrels of crude oil per day along this route.

If completed, the pipeline would destroy more sacred burial sites. A leak in the pipeline will pollute the river and poison the people at Standing Rock as well as millions downstream. Furthermore, this represents a continued and expanded use of fossil fuels rather than a shift to environmentally friendly energy like wind or solar.

On Nov. 3, demonstrators put out a call to “make our way to the river” for a “river action.” Water protectors, as they call themselves, built a bridge across the Cantapeta Creek to be able to get to the sacred burial sites on the other side to pray. Despite a heroic and prolonged effort to save the bridge, it was destroyed by law enforcement in boats. Then at least 60 protectors swam across the creek. They stood in the cold water up against a line of 100 police in riot gear who peppered sprayed and tear gassed them.

Supporters on the other side chanted “the whole world is watching.” During the three-hour confrontation, 100 were injured. According to the camp medics 60 were treated for hypothermia, many for pepper spray and at least two for wounds from rubber bullets, including a journalist doing an interview.

The following day, Nov. 4, over 500 clergy from around the world, representing many faiths, came to the camp to stand in solidarity with the Standing Rock tribe. Before walking to the police blockade closest to the pipeline building site to pray, sing and speak, they burned the Doctrine of Discovery, a religious document issued in the 1400s sanctioning the taking of lands from indigenous people.

That afternoon, 100 of the clergy and supporters traveled to Bismarck, where they went to the state house and the governor’s mansion. When the governor refused to meet with them and they refused to leave, 14 were arrested and held in jail overnight.

Supporters continue to answer the call to come stand in solidarity with the Standing Rock Sioux tribe who are committed to stay as long as it takes to stop the pipeline.

#CanonBallND #PeoplesStruggles #IndigenousPeoples #Protest #oil #EnvironmentalJustice #Antiracism #StandingRock #IndigenousRights