Fight Back! News

News and Views from the People's Struggle

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By Chiara Garcia

Tacoma protest against ICE.

Tacoma, WA – In the early afternoon of November 9, around 100 people rallied for “Masks-Off ICE” to prevent ICE and DHS from operating anonymously. The Pierce County Immigration Alliance (PCIA or La Alianza) organized to demand community accountability and spread the word about need for rapid response.

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By Lane Zeski

Día de los Muertos in Tacoma, Washington.

Tacoma, WA – On November 1, La Resistencia held its 11th annual Día de los Muertos protest and celebration in front of the Northwest Detention Center (NWDC), a privately-owned detention facility with a number of reports of human rights abuses lodged against it over its 20 years of operation.

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By Catelynn Henion

 Tacoma protest demands shutdown ofNorthwest Detention Center \[NWDC\].

Tacoma, WA – On October 25, around 50 community members gathered in the stormy weather conditions outside of the Northwest Detention Center (NWDC) to stand in solidarity with those detained inside and to honor the anniversary of José Manuel Sánchez-Castro’s death.

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By Danielle Krizic

Tacoma protest against liquid natural gas facility. | Saiyare Refaei

Tacoma, WA – On October 14, a group of several dozen Tacoma activists gathered in the sunset of Fireman's Park to oppose the expansion of the city’s liquid natural gas (LNG) plant. The event was organized by a broad coalition of Black, brown, indigenous, and other liberation movement groups, led by the of the Coast Salish Water Warriors (WW).

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By Samuel Keiser

Global Sumud Flotilla support action in Tacoma, Washington.

Tacoma, WA – On September 22, community members gathered around the Federal Courthouse in solidarity with the 50-vessel lotilla heading to Gaza to deliver aid. The rally, a coalition effort of Democratic Socialists of America, Jewish Voice for Peace, and Freedom Road Socialist Organization stood together to call for an end to the Israeli genocide of Palestinians.

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By Jonathan Staub

Tacoma, WA – El 1ro de septiembre, la Alianza Internacional de Migrantes – USA (International Migrant’s Alliance – USA, IMA USA) y La Resistencia organizaron un mitin en solidaridad con los inmigrantes y para cerrar el Centro de Detención del Noroeste (Northwest Detention Center). El mitin Todos por la Defensa Migrante (All Out for Migrant Defense) fue atendido por más de 850 personas.

Muchos de los presentes viajaron desde Portland, Oregon como parte del evento final de la Conferencia Política de 2025 de IMA USA y Tanggol Migrante. Esto incluía una gran caravana de más de 50 carros y dos buses escolares.

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By Haze Leviathan

A group of protesters hold a banner that says, "Stop the Deportations!" They are also holding Mexican flags and their fists in the air.

Tacoma, WA – Immigrant justice advocates and organized labor united on August 29 to celebrate Chicano liberation at our local Teamsters Union Hall. After a presentation of Chicano history, a short march was held to unveil a banner with the bilingual message “Stop the deportations!/Alto a las deportaciones!” over Interstate 5.

The event was held by Pierce County Immigration Alliance/La Alianza de Imigracion Condado de Pierce, in collaboration with Freedom Road Socialist Organization. Founded in March 2025, Pierce County Immigration Alliance was created in response to increased attacks on immigrants by ICE in the wake of Donald Trump’s presidential re-election in November 2024.

“I feel as though that the greatest thing that we can do for Chicanos in our community and for immigrants is standing shoulder to shoulder with them and hearing migrant perspectives on what's going on,” said Treveon Parish, an attending community member. “You know, really just going to your local community and safeguarding your community and standing arm in arm with them.”

55 years ago, on August 29, 1970, 30,000 demonstrators marched in East Los Angeles to protest the Vietnam War. The presentation held in celebration of the Chicano Moratorium educated the audience about this event, and talked about the land seizures, Chicano workers’ strikes in the decades leading up to the moratorium, as well as the accomplishments and struggles of Chicano people post-1970.

Armed with knowledge, the crowd then took to the streets with chants such as “Stand up and shut it down! This is a sanctuary town!” “Say it loud and say it clear! Immigrants are welcome here!” and “Power to the people! No one is illegal!” Attendees marched uphill through blackberry bushes to deliver their message to drivers coming home on Interstate 5.

After the event, attendees came away with new knowledge and vigor for fighting against the latest administration’s attacks on immigrants, Chicanos and other groups.

“If you see an ICE agent, make noise. If you see your neighbors taken, don’t let them be taken,” said Moon Gosserand, a general member with Freedom Road Socialist Organization. “These are your neighbors, this is your family. This is your community.”

#TacomaWA #WA #OppressedNationalities #ChicanoMoratorium #Chicanos #ImmigrantRights #PICA

By Samuel Keiser

Tacoma rally demands freedom for Zahid Chaudhry.

Tacoma, WA – On August 24, standing in intense heat, over 200 supporters rallied outside of Tacoma’s Northwest Detention Center in response to the detainment of Zahid Chaudhry.

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A group of protesters holding signs.

Tacoma, WA – On July 1, 15 members of Climate Alliance of the South Sound (CASS) gathered at Tacoma, Washington’s weekly city council meeting to speak out against the undemocratic city management and demand a strong climate commission.

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By Talison Crosby

Tacoma, Washington educators rally against layoffs.

Tacoma, WA – Several hundred community members gathered for a Save Our Students rally and march on May 22. The demonstration was in protest of the recent layoffs at Tacoma Public Schools (TPS). The march led demonstrators directly into the business meeting held by the TBS board of directors. The crowd gathered at 5 p.m. in the parking lot of the First United Methodist Church for a program of speeches before the march. The themes were outrage and the importance of unity.

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By Aife Pasquale

Tacoma trade unions and Filipino solidarity organizations

Tacoma, WA – On May 23, labor unions and Filipino community groups rallied with a unified message: “Free them all and shut it down!”

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By staff

May Day march in Tacoma, Washington.

Tacoma WA – Around 1000 people took to the streets of Tacoma on May 1, to rally for immigrants and workers’ rights. The crowd gathered around 4 p.m. and began chanting with messages such as “Stand up and shut it down, Tacoma is a union town!” and “Power to the people! No one is illegal!” Energy was high, and the mood of the event was angry but also celebratory.

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Tacoma, WA action against attacks on immigrants.

Tacoma, WA – On Saturday, April 26, several dozen people performed a prayer walk through a Sustainability Expo. The prayer walk was led by local indigenous organizers to show solidarity between indigenous people and immigrants, as well as to fight the horrific attacks on immigrants happening all around the country.

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By Gemini Gnull

Tacoma, Washington rally marks International Women's Month.

Tacoma, WA – Over 150 people gathered outside the Federal Courthouse in Tacoma, Washington on March 22 to rally for women in honor of International Women’s Month. Under the slogan “Stand up, fight back!” community members from many of the 16 endorsing organizations gave speeches addressing topics of indigenous sovereignty, Palestinian liberation and immigrant rights as they pertain to women.

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By staff

Black History Month event in Tacoma, Washington.

Tacoma, WA – Community members gathered at the South Tacoma Library on Tuesday, February 25, for a “Black Liberation and Scientific Socialism” panel hosted by Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) and the All-African People’s Revolutionary Party (AAPRP).

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By Catelynn Henion and Jami Cortes

Protestors wearing KN95 masks hold signs and banners that read slogans like “No Trump, Billionaires won’t lead us” and “We rise for climate justice”.

Tacoma, WA – Seventeen coalitions came together January 20, rallying hundreds of people at Fireman’s Park before taking to the streets to protest Trump’s inauguration on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. 

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By Talison Crosby

Protesters demanding a stronger climate change commision ordinance disrupt Tacoma, Washington city council meeting.  | Fight Back! News/staff

Tacoma, WA – Dozens of community members gathered at the Tacoma City Council chambers on Tuesday, December 17, in preparation for the city of Tacoma’s vote to pass the city’s first Climate and Sustainability Commission into law.

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By Aife Pasquale

Tacoma, WA – More than 20 students rallied at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma on November 22, to condemn Donald Trump’s win in the presidential election and demand justice for Palestine. Protesters headed to the entrance of the school, where campus tours were being held. Students and community members voiced their anger and demanded justice.

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By Talison Crosby

Protest at Tacoma, Washington detention center

Tacoma, WA – On Saturday morning November 30, about 30 people gathered outside the Northwest Detention Center (NWDC) in the port of Tacoma for a routine trash pickup. As the cleanup began however, community members expressed surprise to see multiple fire trucks and other emergency vehicles rapidly approaching the building.

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By Aife Pasquale and Jami Cortes

Tacoma protest against deploying ShotSpotter surveillance system.  | Staff/Fight Back! News

Tacoma, WA – The people united to reject the city of Tacoma’s proposed implementation of Israeli-developed surveillance technology intended to escalate the over-policing of Tacoma's low income and oppressed nationality communities.

Gathering outside the city council chambers, a rally celebrated the Palestinian resistance and condemned the militaristic trade relationship between Tacoma and Israel. ShotSpotter, a gunshot-detection system developed in Israel, has been proven to be ineffective in reducing gun violence in cities like Chicago, where its use has been discontinued and denounced by Chicago’s mayor, Brandon Johnson.

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