Fight Back News Service is circulating the text of a speech by a leader of Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Fernando Figueroa, which was delivered shortly before the July 18 march on the RNC in Cleveland, OH.

My name is Fernando Figueroa, and I am a proud member of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization. I became a revolutionary in 2008 while organizing students to defeat John McCain. I honed my theory and practice as an organizer during the 2012 March on the RNC in Tampa, Florida, where we said no to Mitt Romney. Today I am a rank-and- file Teamster active in the trade union movement, and I’m standing with you all to stop Trump and the system he represents.

History has shown us that there’s only one response capable of stopping bigots and billionaires like Donald Trump. The mass political movement we’re forming today as we march on the RNC is a firm step forward for poor and oppressed people. This is true not only in the U.S., but for people all over the world. This mass movement has the 1% and all of their backwards supporters terrified – as evidenced by the police they’ve sent to welcome us to Cleveland.

The 1% that rule this country are terrified of us, and they should be. Their system of protecting the rich and powerful at the expense of working and oppressed peoples is coming to an end. The age we’re living in is like a pathetic giant, lashing out as the working class and oppressed nations of Black and Chicano people organize. We’re organizing because we believe a better world is possible, a just society where people’s needs are taken care of and capitalist greed is abolished. By uniting today to stop Trump, we are delivering a blow to the 1% and their pathetic giant.

My friends, the road ahead of us is long and treacherous. It is fraught with attempts by the enemy to frighten and discourage us, but by uniting activists and supporters from across movements, across the country and across the world, we will overcome the obstacles that lay before us, like Donald Trump.

Our mass movement is growing by leaps and bounds as we build the fight of oppressed nationalities fighting for justice and an end to police crimes. Our movement grows as we build the struggle of queer people and women, and the fight for equality and liberation. It grows when we demonstrate solidarity with people oppressed by our government in places like Colombia, the Philippines and Palestine. It grows when we struggle to protect the environment and ensure everybody receives a good education and healthcare. The working class will realize it is the most powerful force ever created, and it will rise up to smash the political parties of the 1% including the Republicans and their figurehead, Donald Trump.

Victory is ours if we choose to work for it. This year, we are going to stop Trump, and it’s up to us to bring the lessons we learn here today back to our communities and workplaces.

There’s nobody I am happier to call my comrades than all of you assembled here today. The Freedom Road Socialist Organization is proud to stand among so many veteran and rising organizers. Together we will scale the wall that tyranny, backwardness and hatred are building to keep us from political and economic power. I’ll see you on the other side.

#ClevelandOH #AntiwarMovement #CapitalismAndEconomy #InJusticeSystem #US #PeoplesStruggles #RepublicanNationalConvention #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganizationFRSO #ohio #RNC #Antifascism #Elections #RNC2016 #FernandoFigueroa

Cleveland, OH – More than 1000 people rallied with the Coalition to Stop Trump and March on the RNC on the opening day of the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Cleveland on July 18.

Speakers and activists representing more than 40 groups from the immigrant rights, labor, anti-war, student and Muslim civil rights movements gathered in downtown Cleveland for a rally lasting longer than one hour. Activists from more than 20 cities were represented at the rally. Many of the activists and speakers had organized local protests in their home cities against the racist and xenophobic Trump/Republican Party agenda in the days leading up to the convention.

Local community members in Cleveland joined the protesters for the rally and march toward the convention center.

Tom Burke of the Coalition to Stop Trump and March on the RNC stated, “Today was a great day. We took our message to stop Trump right down to as close to the convention center as anyone will get. The Republicans, including the delegation from Texas who walked out of their hotel to see a thousand people taking a stand against the racist, anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim attacks engineered by the Republicans and their presidential nominee, Donald Trump, were shocked to see throngs of protesters in the streets speaking out against Trump and the Republican Party’s agenda of fear and racist hate.”

#ClevelandOH #SDS #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganizationFRSO #RNC #DonaldTrump #DumpTrump #RNC2016 #Republican

While Trump is an unabashed advocate of capitalism and greed, many of the rich and powerful are nervous about handing him the keys to the White House. They see him as erratic and unfit to run the empire they have built. As for the people of this country, most reject Trump’s reactionary agenda.

Hillary Clinton is a known quantity; she is a faithful servant of Wall Street and a war criminal to boot. An enemy of low-income women, she backed welfare ‘reform’ which plunged millions into deeper poverty. Why do big bankers and financiers host her speaking events and pay her big sums of money? Clinton tells them what they want to hear. From the coup in Honduras to the U.S./NATO attack on Libya – she is a candidate with a track record of leaving a trail of blood in her wake.

If anything shows the bankruptcy of the money-dominated two-party system, it is the presumed candidates of the Republican and Democratic parties – Trump and Clinton. Monopoly capitalism is an exploitive, failed and dying system, whose principal political representatives are worthy of the Jerry Springer show. Both are apologists for police crimes and terror. They have no claim to our respect and support. This is not a call to boycott elections. The point is this: the unelectable Trump is an insufficient reason to organize support for Clinton.

The outpouring of support for Bernie Sanders represented a rejection of the way things are and a yearning for something better. There is a profound dissatisfaction in this country with the billionaires, Wall Street and capitalism. Millions of people are attracted to the idea of socialism. There is the potential for this broad, progressive political current to contribute to a growing struggle against the ruling elite.

Things in the country have changed. Everywhere people are in motion. Every major city, and many of the small ones, have been rocked by protests against police crimes. This country is a prison house for the oppressed – Africans Americans, Chicanos and Latinos, Asians Americans and Native peoples. The spark has been struck and the fight is on for equality and liberation.

When the students of Chicago shut down Trump, they signaled the way forward. Every city the bigot Trump shows his face in, he should be shut down. We are building a movement against everything he stands for.

In the months ahead it is vital that the people’s movements are in the streets, advancing our demands. The billionaires have bought and paid for politicians from the two parties to represent their interests. We need to fight for our own.

The epidemic of police terror, rampant inequality, attacks on our standard of living, and endless wars serve as indictment of a system that is guilty as hell. We can do better than this. A country where things are radically wrong cries out for a revolutionary solution. We need to end the rule of the wealthy, to break the grip of the billionaires. It is not going to happen tomorrow – but in the long run we get what we fight for. Working and oppressed people need the political power and control of the economy to remake society in our interests. Capitalism must go and socialism will set us free.

#UnitedStates #CapitalismAndEconomy #US #Elections #BernieSanders #DonaldTrump #RNC2016 #HilaryClinton #USElections #Elections2016

The demonstration will start at 12 noon, July 18, in Mall A, located at Mall Drive and St. Clair Ave in downtown Cleveland. Marchers will proceed to Cleveland Public Square and will then, marching on streets and sidewalks, head to the vicinity of the Republican National Convention.

Today’s agreement came at a meeting with City officials, where Coalition organizers were appealing a City decision to deny permits for the July 18 protest at the RNC. When the understanding was reached, organizers of the ‘Stop Trump’ protest withdrew their appeal.

Tom Burke, of the Coalition to Stop Trump and March on the RNC states, “We have every right to protest at the RNC. The City has been dragging its feet and we are looking forward to using Mall A in downtown Cleveland as a place to rally. We will take our message to Trump and the Republicans.”

Mick Kelly, also of the Coalition, stated, “We are grateful to all the people who called Mayor Jackson and put pressure on the City government. The whole world is going to see that we reject the bigot Trump and his attacks on immigrants and Muslims.”

About 40 organizations are backing the large protest organized the Coalition to Stop Trump and March on the RNC that will take place on July 18, the first day of the Republican National Convention. The protest will put forward the slogans, “Dump Trump, Say No to the Republican Agenda. Stand Against Racist, Anti-immigrant and Anti-Muslim Attacks. We Demand Peace, Justice and Equality.”

#ClevelandOH #CoalitionToStopTrumpAndMarchOnTheRNC #RNC2016

The appeal meeting, which will be attended by Director Michael McGrath, Department of Public Safety-Safety Administration, is scheduled for 11 a.m., July 11, at City Hall.

Mick Kelly, of the Coalition to Stop Trump and March on RNC states, “A major march against Trump will take place in a little more than a week, and we hope that City is going to come through with the permits. We have a right to rally and protest at the RNC July 18. It’s time for the city to come to terms with that.”

On July 1, the City rejected the permit applications. The City was notified of the appeal July 5.

Tom Burke, also of the Coalition states, “Trade unionists, immigrant rights activists, students are others are coming to Cleveland July 18 to say ‘no’ to the Republicans’ agenda of racist attacks, greed, and austerity. The Republicans have had plenty of time to organize their event. We need permits on Monday so we have a least a week to organize rally and march.”

About 40 organizations are backing the large protest organized the Coalition to Stop Trump and March on the RNC that will take place on July 18, the first day of the Republican National Convention. The protest will put forward the slogans, “Dump Trump, Say No to the Republican Agenda. Stand against Racist, Anti-immigrant and Anti-Muslim Attacks. We Demand Peace, Justice and Equality.”

#ClevelandOH #CoalitionToStopTrumpAndMarchOnTheRNC #RNC2016

Emergency Call-in Day to demand permits for ‘Stop Trump’ march at RNC

Monday, July 11 at 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Eastern Time

Call Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson at 216-664-3990

Call Mike McGrath at 216-664-2200, Department of Public Safety

The City of Cleveland has rejected the permit applications from the Coalition to Stop Trump and March on the RNC for a rally and march on the opening day of the Republican National Convention.

Sample message:

“Hello, my name is __________, calling from ____________. I am calling to ask Mayor Jackson to issue the permits for the Monday, July 18, 12 Noon rally at Cleveland Public Square and the March on the RNC to follow it.

“I am one of millions taking a stand against the racist, anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim agenda of Donald Trump and the Republican Party. We want our permits now, so we can have a family-friendly event that sends a clear message to the Republicans. We want peace, equality and justice!

“We want our permits now!”

Coalition to Stop Trump and March on the RNC at www.protestRNC2016.com

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/574059672757617/

Contact the Coalition at StopTrumpMarchOnTheRNC@gmail.com

#ClevelandOH #CoalitionToStopTrumpAndMarchOnTheRNC #RNC2016

Burke states, “People are coming from around the U.S. to protest Trump, the RNC and their racist, reactionary agenda. It is the time for the City of Cleveland to stop putting up roadblocks to this protest, and grant decent permits that allow for a rally and a march to site of the RNC.”

Mick Kelly, a spokesperson for the Coalition states, “This protest is going to happen. We want permits, but we are prepared to rally and march without them. We have no intention of wandering around unheard and unseen on the bridge to nowhere.”

The Coalition to Stop Trump and March on the RNC is planning a rally at Cleveland Public Square, followed by a march down Ontario Street to the Quicken Loans Arena – the site of the RNC.

About 40 organizations are backing the large protest organized the Coalition to Stop Trump and March on the RNC that will take place on July 18, the first day of the Republican National Convention. The protest will put forward the slogans, “Dump Trump, Say No to the Republican Agenda. Stand Against Racist, Anti-immigrant and Anti-Muslim Attacks. We Demand Peace, Justice and Equality.”

#ClevelandOH #DumpTrump #RNC2016

Hamil told Fears that had nothing to say and the agent could contact his lawyer. Hamil has a long history of speaking out against repression and helped to lead the 2012 march on the RNC in Tampa, Florida.

“Agent Fears with the FBI called me three times today, once while I was at work. I made it real clear that I am not going to talk to him or anybody else from the FBI. There's nothing good that can come from talking to them. The FBI has a long history of harassing, intimidating and jailing activists,” said Hamil.

Special Agent Fears is based in Tampa. Early this year he tried to question Tampa activist Jessica Schwartz – who helps lead the local chapter of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression and has been active in the campaign to defend Palestinian American leader Rasmea Odeh. Schwartz did not cooperate with the FBI.

The attempt to question Hamil comes in the context of stepped-up FBI spying and harassment as the Republican and Democratic conventions approach.

Steff Yorek, of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression, states, “The FBI is using its powers to try to frighten people away from exercising our First and Fourth Amendment rights at the political conventions like the RNC in Cleveland. It's important for folks to know that the only safe course of action when confronted by an FBI agent is to decline to speak to them.”

#LosAngelesCA #FBI #PoliticalRepression #RNC2016

Cleveland, OH – Organizers of the major ‘Stop Trump’ protest, set for July 18, the opening day of the Republican National Convention, received word from City officials July 1 that the applications for a rally and march had been rejected.

Tom Burke, of the Coalition to Stop Trump and March on the RNC stated, “We put in for permits more than a month ago, and worked with City staff to make sure they had all the information they needed, now less than three weeks out from the first day of the RNC, we are told that our permits are denied. This is unacceptable. We have a right to protest Trump and his reactionary agenda in the streets of Cleveland.”

The communication rejecting the permit application came from Mike McGrath, head of Cleveland’s Department of Public Safety.

Mick Kelly, also with the Coalition stated, “People are coming from around the country to protest Trump’s agenda of racist, anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim attacks. We are serious about wanting permits, but if we do not get them, we will still march on the RNC.”

The Coalition to Stop Trump and March on the RNC is planning a July 18 noontime rally at Cleveland Public Square, followed by a march down Ontario to the arena where the RNC is meeting.

More than 40 immigrant rights, student, anti-war, labor and low-income organizations have announced their support for the protest.

The demonstration will put forward the slogans “Dump Trump. Say no to the Republican agenda. Stand against racist, anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim attacks. We demand peace, justice and equality.”

#ClevelandOH #RepublicanNationalConvention #CoalitionToStopTrumpAndMarchOnTheRNC #RNC2016

Fight Back News Service is urging all of our readers to participate in the July 6 call-in day demanding permits for the rally and march at the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Cleveland, Ohio. On July 1 the city of Cleveland contacted the Coalition to Stop Trump and March on the RNC and said that permits for the July 18 rally in Cleveland Public Square would not be granted.

Call in day to City of Cleveland Demand permits to Stop Trump and March on the RNC

Wednesday, July 6 at 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Eastern Time

Call Cleveland Mayor Jackson at 216-664-3990

Call Mike McGrath at 216-664-2200, Department of Public Safety

Say: “Hello, my name is __________, calling from ____________. I am calling to ask Mayor Jackson to issue the permits for the Monday, July 18, 12 Noon rally at Cleveland Public Square and the March on the RNC to follow it. “I am one of millions taking a stand against the racist, anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim agenda of Donald Trump and the Republican Party. We want our permits now, so we can have a family-friendly event that sends a clear message to the Republicans. We want peace, equality and justice! “We want our permits now!”

Coalition to Stop Trump and March on the RNC at www.protestRNC2016.com

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/272948203057050/

Contact the Coalition at StopTrumpMarchOnTheRNC@gmail.com

#ClevelandOH #RepublicanNationalConvention #CoalitionToStopTrumpAndMarchOnTheRNC #RNC2016

Minneapolis, MN – Large numbers of people came together July 1 on a beautiful Minneapolis summer evening for a ‘happy hour and appetizers’ fundraiser. The event raised money for a bus from Minneapolis to Cleveland to protest Donald Trump’s racist and anti-immigrant agenda on the first day of the Republican National Convention (RNC).

The 50-person bus is being organized by the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC). Several other local activist organizations are also supporting the trip and sending members on the bus, including the Anti-War Committee, Students for a Democratic Society, the Welfare Rights Committee, and others.

The fundraiser was very successful, nearly reaching the amount needed to pay for the bus and trip expenses. To help reach the total amount needed, people can donate online at gofundme.com/DumpTrumpbustoRNC.

Many volunteers donated their time and labor to make the event a success, including bringing a wide array of delicious food and beverages. A tablet computer was also raffled off.

The event also included a short program. The main speaker was Kathleen Ganley, a University of Minnesota professor and long-time social justice advocate, who recently returned from a delegation to the U.S.-Mexico border. She gave a powerful and emotional presentation about the current reality on the border, which is already an incredibly heavily militarized zone, with tens of thousands of border patrol officers swarming, along with drones and an intimidating assortment of other military hardware.

The militarized presence forces people trying to cross the border into the most unforgiving sections of the desert, leading to thousands of people dying in the desert in their attempt to get across as they flee from desperate conditions created by U.S-funded war, repression and unjust ‘free trade’ agreements in their home countries.

A centerpiece of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign has been his anti-immigrant and anti-Mexican threats of mass deportations and his threat to “build a wall” to create an even more dramatic surge in border militarization beyond the already-intolerable border situation. Ganley’s first-hand report from the border drove home the urgency for supporters of immigrant rights and human rights to join the massive protest against Trump at the RNC as he is officially nominated as their presidential candidate.

MIRAC is organizing this bus to protest Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda as part of the ongoing No More Deportations campaign. The campaign will continue after the RNC to demand that the new president, whoever wins the election, break from the current administration’s practice of mass deportations, and stop deportations and border militarization.

#MinneapolisMN #ImmigrantRights #MIRAc #2012RepublicanNationalConvention #RNC2016

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following July 1 statement from Students for a Democratic Society.

In late April 2016, the remaining candidates for the 2016 Republican nominee, Ted Cruz and John Kasich, dropped out of the presidential race. This leaves Donald Trump as the presumptive nominee, without any opposing Republican candidate with support from Congress. Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) chapters, along with numerous progressive, anti-war, anti-racist organizations in the Coalition to Stop Trump and March on the RNC, are thus preparing to March on the RNC in Cleveland, Ohio, on July 18th, and to call on people everywhere to “Dump Trump!”

Since early 2016, SDS chapters have been hosting protests to Dump Trump all around the country. Trump has inflamed xenophobic sentiment against Central American immigrants and Middle Eastern refugees, using slogans like “Build the Wall” and “Make America Great Again.” He has popularized white supremacist groups such as the Ku Klux Klan, who encourage racist attacks on African-Americans. He has emboldened sexist attacks on women and members of gender minorities, and he also denounced progressive protesters and called for measures to repress them more brutally and more swiftly, many of whom include SDS members.

SDS also condemns the attempts of the City of Cleveland and the FBI to curtail the right to protest. The City attempted to limit the protest to designated parade routes, away from the site of the convention. These restrictions were overturned as unconstitutional in a hearing last Thursday, but the city has still refused to issue permits to march on the RNC.

SDS demands that Cleveland immediately issue permits to protests at the RNC. If the City of Cleveland refuses, SDS and dozens of other organizations are prepared to go forward without a permit, and march right up to the site of the convention.

SDS also condemns the FBI for their attempts to interrogate and intimidate activists in Cleveland. Their effort to create a climate of fear and stop the protests will not succeed. SDS demands the FBI immediately cease their repressive actions and encourages all activists to reject FBI questioning.

Most of all, SDS chapters calls upon progressive students everywhere to Dump Trump and attend the March on the RNC!

#UnitedStates #StudentMovement #StudentsForADemocraticSociety #SDS #US #marchOnTheRNC #Elections #Cleveland #RNC2016

Tom Burke, spokesperson for the Coalition to Stop Trump and March on the RNC states, “The city needs to stop being stubborn and give us decent permits that allow people who are coming from around the U.S. to march on the RNC.”

Mick Kelly, also a Coalition spokesperson, states, “We plan on holding the kind of protest that people can bring their families to, and we want permits. We are serious about exercising our right to protest the Republican agenda of racism and reaction. If we do not get the permits we need, we still plan on going to the Quicken Loans Arena – the site of the RNC.”

The Coalition to Stop Trump and March on the RNC is planning a July 18 noon time rally at Cleveland Public Square, followed by a march down Ontario to the arena where the RNC is meeting.

Before the press conference, activists promoting protests at the RNC crashed the reopening of Cleveland Square Park, a major civic event featuring Mayor Jackson and many other city officials. Activist held a banner denouncing Trump, and passed out leaflets promoting the protests at the RNC.

Many of the organizations backing the protest have organized large demonstrations at Trump campaign appearances across the U.S. More than 40 immigrant rights, student, anti-war, labor and low-income organizations have announced their support for the protest.

The demonstration will put forward the slogans, “Dump Trump, Say No to the Republican Agenda. Stand Against Racist, Anti-immigrant and Anti-Muslim Attacks. We Demand Peace, Justice and Equality.”

#ClevelandOH #RepublicanNationalConvention #DonaldTrump #RNC2016

Cleveland, OH – Organizers of the main protests set for the Republican National Convention met today, June 23, with Cleveland city officials, including high-level representatives of the mayor’s office, public safety and others, to press their demand for permits to march on the Republican National Convention. The meeting followed a ruling in federal court this morning which undercut the city’s attempt to curtail the right to protest at the RNC.

Mick Kelly, a spokesperson for the Coalition to Stop Trump and March on the RNC stated, “Thousands of people are coming to Cleveland July 18 to protest against Trump and his reactionary agenda. At today’s meeting with the city, they once again refused to come across with the permits and we let them know we are prepared to go ahead no matter what.”

Tom Burke, also of the Coalition, stated, “We made it clear to the city that we want permits for a family-friendly rally that starts at 12:00 noon in Public Square Park. We also made it clear that if need be, we will negotiate our march route to the site of the RNC with police on the opening day of the convention if that is what needs to be done.”

Also attending the meeting was Larry Bresler of Organize! Ohio and Bryan Hambley of Stand Together Against Trump (STAT), who are also leading large protests at the RNC.

City officials agreed that another meeting with  protest leaders will take place next week.

#ClevelandOH #2016Elections #DumpTrump #ProtestTheRNC #RNC2016

“We’re hoping for a march that draws thousands,” states Coalition spokesperson Mick Kelly. “There is a growing tide of anger in the country, directed against Trump and the reactionary, anti-people agenda of the Republican Party. We intend to fill the streets with people who reject their racist, anti-immigrant, and anti-Muslim attacks.”

The Coalition to Stop Trump and March on the RNC is planning a rally at Cleveland Public Square, followed by a march down Ontario Street to the Quicken Loans Arena – the site of the RNC.

Tom Burke, also of the Coalition, states, “We are hearing from unions, anti-war, student, immigrant rights, and other groups that are mobilizing for the July 18 march. We have every reason to expect a large turnout.”

Some of the organizations supporting the march include, Legalization For All Network, Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee, Lucha Unida por Padres y Estudiantes (L.U.P.E.) Tucson, Arizona, Youth Empowered in the Struggle at UW-Milwaukee, Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, Utah Against Police Brutality, AFSCME Local 1216, United Workers Organization—Milwaukee, WI; International Action Center, Minneapolis Anti-War Committee, Antiwar Committee-Chicago, Utah Antiwar Committee, Tucson Antiwar Committee, Milwaukee Antiwar Committee, Peoples Opposition to War, Imperialism, and Racism- South Florida, Institute for Global Education, Grand Rapids, MI; Jacksonville Progressive Coalition, American Party of Labor, Students for a Democratic Society— West Chester University of PA, Students for a Democratic Society – Houston, TX, Students for a Democratic Society – University of Minnesota, Students for a Democratic Society -Tampa Bay, FL,

Students for a Democratic Society—Tallahassee, FL, Students for a Democratic Society -University of Utah, Students for a Democratic Society – Angelina College, Texas, Students for a Democratic Society – DuPage, IL, Community Uprise – University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, The Student Union Movement at Milwaukee Area Technical College, Students and Graduate Activists (SAGA) at University of Illinois—Chicago, BAYAN, USA, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, International League of Peoples’ Struggle – U.S., U.S. Palestinian Community Network.

#MinneapolisMN #RepublicanNationalConvention #DumpTrump #CoalitionToStopTrumpAndMarchOnTheRNC #RNC2016