Fight Back! News

News and Views from the People's Struggle

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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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By staff

Tacoma workers on the picket line for the right to organize.  | Fight Back! News/staff

Tacoma, WA – On September 4, members of the IBEW Local 46 and community members picketed at the Tacoma location of Auto-Chlor to demand an end to illegal firing and intimidations and for the company to acknowledge workers’ lawful right to organize.

“We are tired of the always increasing workloads, pressure to get more done with less, more and more time away from our families, and not being compensated at market value for our skills and the profits we bring to the company,” said Dametrius Ballarad, an Auto-Chlor technician.

Talison Crosby, a member of Teamsters Local 174, said, “I'm out here today because as a rank-and-file Teamster, I know the power of a union. We gotta stand with our siblings in the working class who are fighting for what's right. Tacoma is a proud union town, and we won't let this union-busting go unchallenged!”

Wrapping up the picket, community member Sean Renning commented, “The sentiment was one of solidarity and visibility. We were there to show the workers of Auto-Chlor that they're not alone and that they have our support in the struggle for fair pay and working conditions.”

“Ultimately our goal as a labor union is to elevate the industry in which we represent working-class people,” said Shannon Hagen, senior organizer with IBEW Local 46.

#TacomaWA #WA #Labor #IBEW

By Jonathan Staub

Celebration of Chicano Moratorium in Tacoma, Washington.  | Fight Back! News/staff

Tacoma, WA – On Friday, August 30, about 20 people gathered in person and online to celebrate the 54th anniversary of the historic Chicano Moratorium, at an event hosted by Freedom Road Socialist Organization. The commemoration was held in a community organizing space shared by the Black Panther Party of Washington, 350 Tacoma, La Resistencia and other local groups.

The event kicked off with a presentation by local organizer Jami Cortez. During the presentation, the history of the events that led up to the moratorium where highlighted.

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By staff

Vilma Arias, a member of La Resistencia, holds a laptop as a detainee inside the NWDC addresses the crowd over the speaker system.  | Fight Back! News/staff

Tacoma, WA – Over 150 demonstrators gathered outside the Northwest ICE Immigrant Detention Center Sunday, September 1 to demand closure of the facility.

“We are here to show solidarity with those inside who are protesting their wrongful imprisonment,” said Rufina Reyes, director of La Resistencia. “We are here every day, but today is special because we are joined by the organization Tsuru for Solidarity, celebrating the resilience of their ancestors who survived the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.”

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By Haze Bender

Tacoma activists hold signs in front of City Hall that push for progressive changes to the city charter.

Tacoma, WA – Tacoma residents gathered outside the Tacoma Public Utilities auditorium on July 2, to make their last statements ahead of the finalization of the city’s new charter.

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By staff

Tacoma students join walkout for Palestine. | Fight Back! News/staff

Tacoma WA – On Tuesday, April 23, over 150 students and faculty members from Tacoma School of the Arts, University of Washington Tacoma, and University of Puget Sound walked out of classes at 10:30 a.m. They rallied at Tollefson Plaza to demonstrate student solidarity with Palestine and demand that the United States of America divest from Israel.

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By staff

Chicago Earth Day rally in opposition to planned mega warehouse in Tacoma, Washington. | Fight Back! News/staff

Chicago, IL – An energetic crowd of protesters gathered in Federal Plaza in downtown Chicago to celebrate Earth Day, April 21, and protest the construction of a mega-warehouse in South Tacoma, Washington. The mega warehouse is currently under construction by the Chicago-based real estate company Bridge Industrial.

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